On The Level Home Inspections Home Inspections, FHA 203K Consulting, Thermal Scans and More
NJ Home Inspector Lic #24GI00064100
FHA 203k Consultant ID #P1707
Certified Thermographer #34446
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Home Safety
Home safety is important for people of all ages. Since most accidents occur at home and many of them are preventable, it is important that your home is as safe as possible. Here are some helpful tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on making your home a safer place for everyone.
To ensure the safety of your family, it is a good idea to periodically review your home for safety hazards, paying special attention to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, potential electrical hazards (including overuse of surge protectors and/or electrical cords), anything that could potentially cause a fire (or impede a hasty exits in the case of fire), and anything that could potentially cause a slip or fall within the home.
The Home Safety Council has an interactive home safety checklist that you can create based on your specific living situation. Click here to get started.
Additional recommendations:
- Post emergency phone numbers (police, fire, poison control, a neighbor) near your phone so they are readily available.
- Be sure to have at least one corded landline (that does not require power to operate) in your house.
- Have an emergency exit plan and an alternate in place. Be sure all members of your family are familiar with the plan.
- Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly, and change the batteries at least yearly or as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Check your electrical outlets and switches periodically to see if any are unusually warm to the touch. Unusually warm or hot outlets or switches may indicate that an unsafe wiring condition exists.
- Where possible, Move appliances closer to wall outlets or to different outlets so you won't need extension cords.
- If you have a fireplace, clean your chimney yearly.
- Equip your bathtubs and showers with non-skid mats, abrasive strips, or surfaces that are not slippery.
- Lower the setting on your hot water heater to "Low" or 120 degrees.
- Keep an operating flashlight with extra batteries handy.
Other safety resources for safety in your home include:
- AARP Home Safety Checklist
- CDC on Recreational Safety for Seniors
- Real Simple Home Safety
- Housing Safety Checklist (PDF)
To help prevent falls:
- When using stairs, always grip the handrails. Keep stairs well lighted.
- Keep floors cleared and slip resistant. Remove loose carpets, cords, and other items you could trip over. Be sure all rugs, mats, and other surfaces are non-skid.
- Install grab bars and slip-resistant surfaces in your bathroom.
- Use only stable step stools with a top handrail. Don’t climb alone – have someone nearby to help you.
- Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying down position.
- Be sure your telephones and emergency numbers are easily accessible – so you can get help if you fall.
To help prevent fire deaths and injuries:
- Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every floor of your home.
- Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm outside every sleeping area.
- Don’t smoke in bed.
- Keep space heaters away from flammable materials. Hire a professional to check all fuel-burning appliances, including fireplaces, every year.
- Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves near ranges or ovens. Store combustibles away from these and all heat-producing appliances.
- Practice an emergency fire escape plan.
Hidden Home Hazards
The USCPSC cites the top 5 hidden home safety hazards:
- Magnets
- Recalled Products
- Tip-overs
- Windows & Coverings
- Pool & Spa Drains
Additional Information
Here are some additional resources on home safety:
- Safety Guide from the Home Safety Council
- Household Safety Articles from the US Consumer Products Safety Council
- Home Electrical Safety Checklist from the US Consumer Products Safety Council
- Home Fire Safety Checklist from the US Consumer Products Safety Council
- Senior Safety
- Home Safety Tips from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission
- Home Safety Information from State Farm Insurance
- Home Safety for Children - Household Checklist from KidsHealth.org
- Home Safety Checklist from HomeSafety.net - This comprehensive one-page checklist is a helpful first step to assessing your home.
- Poisonous Plants - Learn what plants are toxic and/or poisonous from listing from Cornell University.
- Product Recalls - Use this consolidated database to determine whether any consumer product has been recalled.
- Listing of Senior Home Modification Providers - The University of Southern California maintains a national listing of service providers.
- The Ultimate Home Safety Guide
- A Guide to Home Safety from How Stuff Works
- The Ultimate Guide to Home Safety and Alarm Systems
Copyright and usage policy: This document is NOT in the public domain. It may be reproduced with permission as long as the original copyright and sources are retained.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank John from On the Level Home Inspections. John was extremely thorough and found extensive termite damage in a place that wasn't at all obvious. He saved me from making a very costly mistake. I highly recommend him!"
Tommy R
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Ocean County NJ
Adamstown, Allenwood, Bamber Lake, Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Barnegat Pines, Bay Head,Bayville, Beach Haven, Beach Haven Crest, Beach Haven Garden, Beach Haven Park, Beach Haven West, Beach Haven Terrace, Beachwood, Berkeley Township, Brant Beach, Breton Woods, Brick, Brick Town, Cape Breton, Cassville, Cedar Bonnet Island, Cedar Run, Cedarcroft, Cedarwood Park, Chadwick, Clarksburg, Creamridge, Dover Township, Forked River, Freewood Acres, Harmony, Harvey Cedars, Haven Beach, Herbertsville, Holmeson, Howell, Island Beach, Island Heights, Jackson,Jackson Mills, Lake Riviera, Lakehurst, Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Center, Lakewood, Lanoka Harbor, Laurelton, Lavalette, Legler, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Island, Manahawkin, Manchester, Mayetta, Metedeconk, Midstreams, Millstone Township, Mystic Island, New Egypt, New Grenta, Normandy Beach, North Beach, North Beach Haven, Ocean Gate, Ortley Beach, Osbornville, Osborn Island, Pakertown, Peahala Park, Pelican Island, Pine Beach, Pine Lake Park, Pinewald, Plumsted, Point Pleasant Boro, Point Pleasant Beach, Riviera Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom , Shore Acres, Silver Bay, Silverton, South Toms River, Southard, Spray Beach, Stafford, Staffordville, Surf City, Toms River, Tuckerton, Wading River, Waretown, Warren Grove, Washington Township, West Creek, West Point Island, Whitesville, Whiting, Woodland Township
Atlantic County NJ
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Burlington County NJ
Beverly, Birmingham, Bordentown, Bridgeboro, Browns Mills, Burlington, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Chatsworth, Chesterfield, Cinnaminson, Cookstown, Crosswicks, Delanco, Delran, Eastampton, Eastampton Township, Fieldsboro, Florence, Fort Dix, Hainesport, Hainesport Township, Indian Mills, Jobstown, Juliustown, Kresson, Lenola, Lumberton, Lumberton Township, Mansfield, Maple Shape, Marlton, Marlton Lakes, Masonville, McGuire Air Force Base, Medford, Medford Township, Medford Lakes, Moorestown, Mount Holly, Mount Holly Township, Mount Laurel, Mount Laurel Township, New Gretna, New Lisbon, North Delran, North Hanover, North Marlton, Palmyra, Pemberton, Pine Grove, Rancocas, Rancocas Woods, Riverside, Riverton, Shamong, Southampton, Southampton Township, Tabernacle, Tabrnacle Township, Vincentown, Westampton, Westampton Township, Willingboro, Wrightstown
Monmouth County NJ
Aberdeen, Adelphia, Allenhurst, Allentown, Allenwood, Asbury Gardens, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon, Avon by the Sea, Belford, Belmar, Bradevelt, Bradley Beach, Bradley Park, Brielle, Cedar Beach, Claksburg, Cliffwood, Cliffwood Beach, Cold Indian Springs, Colonial Terrace, Colts Neck, Cream Ridge, Creamridge, Deal, Deal Park, Earle Naval Weapons Station, East Freehold, East Keansburg, Eatontown, Elberon, Elberon Park, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Farmingdale, Fort Hancock, Fort Monmouth, Freehold, Georgia, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Howell, Ideal Beach, Keansburg, Keyport,Lake Como, Leonardo, Lincroft, Little Silver, Manalapan, Manasquan, Marlboro, Matawn, Middletown, Millhurst, Monmouth Beach, Morganville, Navesink, Neptune, Neptune City, North Long Branch, North Middletown, Oakhurst, Ocean, Ocean Grove, Oceanport, Port Monmouth, Port-au-Peck, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shark River Hills, Shrewsbury, South Belmar, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Tennent, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, Wall, Wanamassa, West End, West Long Branch, Whitesville
I perform home inspections, thermal scanning and lead testing in the following areas of New Jersey:
- Ocean County, NJ including Barnegat, , Brick, Long Beach Island, Toms River, Stafford,
- Atlantic County, NJ including Atlantic City, Galloway, Margate, Northfield, and Pleasantville,
- Burlington County, NJ including Cresterfield, Cookstown, Southampton and Wrightstown
- Monmouth County, NJ including Adelphia, Belford, Middletown and Rumson
Did you know that you should only turn your faucets just until the water goes off? If you turn them too tightly, the gaskets will compress and cause your faucets to leak.
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