The Homeowner’s Guide: Safety Tips for Fall
By Elise Vaidya
Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries
With Daylight Saving Time ending on Sunday, November 3, it’s time to “fall back” by turning our clocks back an hour. For those clocks that still require manual adjustment, this is the perfect reminder to check and replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. While some detectors now feature batteries designed to last up to 10 years, it’s essential to test your alarms and ensure they’re working correctly. This is especially crucial as we enter colder months when fireplaces, furnaces, space heaters, and other fuel-burning appliances are used more frequently.
Get Outta Here!
As we settle into the season and make more use of our indoor spaces, basement egress is an important safety consideration. Many homes in the Willistons have finished basements installed years ago that may not meet modern safety standards. You might assume, “I bought the house with a finished basement, so it must be up to code!” However, that’s not always the case.
What is Required
Current building codes require a second means of egress from a basement, typically through an egress window or an exterior stairwell. If your basement lacks this secondary exit, adding one is a valuable home improvement that enhances safety. On the main floors of a home, there are usually multiple exits available in case of an emergency. In a basement, however, a blocked staircase could be dangerous without an additional egress option. Egress windows are purposefully large to allow for a quick exit or entry by firefighters in an emergency.
Keep it Clear
For those with a secondary means of egress in their basement, it’s essential to keep it free from obstructions or hazards. In an emergency, you’ll want to be able to access and exit through this route without delay. Take a moment to ensure the path to your egress is clear so nothing slows you down when it matters most.
Fire Safety Month may be over, but there’s never a bad time to prioritize the safety and preparedness of your home and family!
