Winter Home Safety and Your Parents – What Are You Missing?
You’ve taken care of the winter home safety measures at your parents’ home. Have you overlooked anything? People tend to think of testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. They have heating systems cleaned. Other safety measures often get overlooked. Make sure these issues are checked and corrected.
Homecare in Fairfax County VA: Winter Home Safety
Disconnect Hoses and Shut Off Water to Outside Faucets
Remove any outdoor hoses from faucets. Shut off water to those faucets. This prevents a frozen line from the outside that could freeze and burst in below-zero temperatures. A burst pipe wastes water, is costly to fix, and could flood the basement.
The Clothes Dryer, Dryer Hose, and Vent Must Be Cleaned and Inspected
You must clean the entire dryer hose and vent of lint. The clothes dryer should also be professionally cleaned to make sure there is no lint building up that may ignite. If it’s a gas dryer, have a gas technician clean and inspect the burner, pilot, and gas line.
A pipe cleaning brush set can clean the dryer hose for you. You’ll need to make a few passes with that brush to loosen all of the lint build-ups. Use a vacuum to remove it all. Do the same with the outside vent.
If the vent pipe is cracked or separated, have it replaced. Find out what your state or city’s codes are because some require solid pipes or a specific type of flexible metal dryer vent pipe. If you use flexible metal, you should replace it every year or two.
Vent Pipes Need to Be Clear of Snow and Ice
If the heating system’s vent is covered in snow, exhaust fumes can build up in the home. You don’t want carbon monoxide getting trapped in your parents’ house. Make sure vents are clear of snow and ice. If they’re high on a roof, hire a contractor with a roof rake who can clear any vents.
Caregiver Visits Make Sure They’re Okay
Elderly care aides can stop by your parents’ house each day or week and make sure all is okay. A caregiver can check food supplies and take your parents shopping if needed. You can have caregivers stop by to make sure the heat is on and working and that your parents are warm enough. If your parent develops a bad cold, the caregiver can help out with household chores, meal preparation, and doctor’s visits. Call an elderly care agency to make arrangements.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Fairfax County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care.
Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
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