If you own a home, you’ve probably insured it against a whole number of things from break ins,

to natural disasters and even obscure space material falling from the sky. Once you’ve got the big things
covered, there are a number of little things you can do to keep your home safe and prevent costly
damage and repairs in the future. So let’s break it down.

Outside: Of course nobody likes cleaning their gutters, but it’s a necessary part of owning a home. If
your gutters are clogged then they’ll overflow when it rains, allowing water to build up around the
foundation of your home. What does that mean? Basement leaks. Your roof can also be improved
by adding attic insulation and venting to help keep it cool. Why would you do that? Because a warm
roof melts snow in the winter time sending the water into your gutter where it freezes, forcing water
beneath the shingles.

Inside: If you’ve ever went to turn on a light or appliance in your home and felt a tingling sensation,
you’ve got some faulty wiring issues that need to be addressed. The same goes for a number of blown
fuses and lights that are constantly flickering. To avoid short outs and potential fires, make sure you
replace your old circuit breaker with arc-fault circuit interrupters. These cut the electricity when they
sense a dangerous situation that may cause a fire. If your electrical system is over 40 years old you
should consider replacing it. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the smallest crack in a pipe can cause
serious water damage to your home. Make sure you give your exposed pipes some foam sleeves to
keep them from cracking and remember to turn of the water supply to any outdoor faucets to avoid a
buildup of internal pressure. Lastly, treat your cooktop as it was designed; an appliance that creates fire
or high heat. It seems like common sense but you wouldn’t believe how many people leave everyday
items on top of their cook tops. Make sure to keep highly flammable items, like napkins, paper, and dish
rags away from your stove and never leave it unattended, especially if you have pets that like to jump
up on your counters. And of course, always have a fire extinguisher ready in the event of a kitchen fire,
because let’s face it, although you have homeowner’s insurance, nobody wants to have to use it.