We don't always think about safety hazards in our homes. Day-to-day, most of us probably feel like nothing major can go wrong. However, this can blind us to some avoidable dangers.

We'll cover some of the top home safety hazards and steps you can take to identify and prevent them. Think of it as doing your own home safety inspection.

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Gas Leaks

Gas leaks are among the sneakiest home safety hazards because they're invisible. The most common gases encountered in the home are carbon monoxide, natural gas, and radon.

Carbon Monoxide

Topping the list for most dangerous home gas is carbon monoxide or CO. This colorless, odorless, toxic gas is behind 430 deaths and 50,000 emergency room visits each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Carbon monoxide gas is released as a byproduct of improper combustion, which takes place in any gas-burning appliance such as a furnace, water heater, boiler, etc. Normally, these appliances are installed with proper ventilation to prevent any carbon monoxide leakage, but damage to the system, such as a cracked heat exchanger, may cause an accidental leak into the home.

That's why it's important to get your gas appliances inspected every year by a professional who can check for any carbon monoxide threats. A good time to do this is right before heating season. That way, you will be able to get any repairs done before you need the heat.

Besides getting a professional inspection, every home should have CO detectors installed on each floor and within 10 feet of bedrooms. If there is a CO leak, these are the only devices that will detect it since you won't see, smell, or taste it. They could save your life.

Natural Gas

Some people confuse natural gas with carbon monoxide, but they are different. While carbon monoxide is a byproduct of combustion, natural gas fuels combustion. In its raw state, natural gas is also colorless and odorless. Fortunately, your gas company is required to add a chemical to it that emits a rotten egg smell for easier detection.

Natural gas leaks can happen whenever there is damaged piping, such as after an earthquake. They can also result from simple mistakes such as turning the gas stove knob without igniting the gas.

If you suspect a natural gas leak, immediately leave your home and call your gas company. They will come out and fix the issue. If it's an emergency that cannot wait, call 911. You should also know how turn off the gas yourself in an emergency. Never, under any circumstances, turn the gas back on by yourself.

Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas that can seep into your home from the ground. Unlike carbon monoxide and natural gas, radon isn't an immediate killer but a long-term home safety hazard. Prolonged exposure can increase the chance of developing lung cancer.

Not all homes have dangerous amounts of radon-it depends on the soil composition and other factors. The best way to detect radon is to hire a specialist to perform a radon test. If the radon levels exceed safe levels, you need to act.

Installing a radon mitigation system can ventilate radon out of your home. Pipes are installed beneath your house, and a radon fan vents the gas outdoors. Although the radon is not eliminated, it is reduced or mitigated to safe levels.

Fires

Fires are a major home safety hazard that killed more than 2,600 people and caused $7.3 billion in direct property damage from 2015-2019, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Cooking is the most common cause of home fires, followed by heating and electrical malfunctions. Having a way to prevent and quickly address fires is crucial to home safety.

Fire prevention starts with never leaving open flames unattended in the kitchen. Always be present when cooking. Beyond this, get heating equipment and fireplaces professionally inspected annually to catch any fire hazards.

The need for working smoke detectors goes without say, but you might be surprised at how many are recommended. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor, each bedroom, and in hallways, according to the NFPA. You should also test them monthly to ensure proper operation.

If a fire does occur on your watch, have a fire extinguisher in hand to put it out. Before doing so, assess the fire's size and intensity. If you're not confident you can put it out, leave the home and call the fire department. Should you choose to fight the fire, use the P.A.S.S. method with your fire extinguisher:

1. Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher.

2. Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.

3. Squeeze the trigger handle on the fire extinguisher.

4. Sweep the extinguisher from side to side to get the entire fire out.

Again, if at any point you lose confidence in your ability to put out the fire, or it isn't getting smaller, put down the extinguisher, exit the home, and call the fire department. Keep in mind that there are different kinds of fires depending on what is burning, and not all fire extinguishers work on all fires. For example, a fire extinguisher rated for wood fires won't work on grease fires. So, make sure you have the right extinguisher for the fire.

A sometimes-overlooked fire hazard is a clogged clothes dryer vent. We recommend cleaning the lint filter after each use and having a professional clean your dryer vent every year. Lint is highly flammable and can ignite if left to accumulate. A clogged vent can also restrict air flow, which increases clothes drying time and energy use.

Dryer booster fans can improve airflow through the dryer vent and keep it cleaner for longer periods. They are a relatively low-cost investment that can save you money and reduce the risk of fire in the long run.

Electricity

Electricity can be a double whammy for unassuming homeowners. Not only is there the obvious danger of electric shock, but it is a leading cause of home fires each year.

Prevent electric shock through common sense steps like having GFCI outlets installed near water fixtures, knowing how to turn off breaker panels before doing any electrical work, and keeping children away from cords and outlets.

As a power equipment retailer, one common mistake we see people make is backfeeding their electric generator, which essentially means they try to plug it into a home outlet in the hopes of powering their house. This is extremely dangerous and illegal in many areas. Not only is it a major fire hazard, but it can electrocute an electric worker who is repairing a line outside.

For a comprehensive summary of how to practice home safety with electricity, be sure to
check out our list of top 15 electrical safety tips.

Floods

On average, more than 100 people die from floods in the U.S. each year based on data from the National Weather Service. Beyond this, floods resulting from hurricanes, snowmelt, and overflowing lakes and rivers cause billions of dollars in property damage.

Although you have no control over flooding, you can take steps to mitigate the damage. For one, get flood insurance, which is typically not included under most home insurance plans. Flood insurance will give you the peace of mind that at least you won't need to eat the cost of flood damage.

Beyond this, have a properly sized sump pump and battery backup sump pump installed if you have a basement. The sump pump will pump water away from your home's foundation, and a battery backup sump pump serves as a second line of defense.

Unfortunately, sump pumps won't be able to protect against a high volume of incoming water, such as during a flash flood or overflowing river. At that point, you will need a water pump to quickly remove the water once the flooding event passes. Read more about flooding protection in our flood prep and cleanup guide.

Sometimes, flooding can be an inside job. If a pipe bursts in your home or your toilet starts to overflow, you may not know until it's too late. This can be especially damaging if you are out of town for a long weekend.

To prevent this, you should know how to turn off your home's water at the source, either at the water main or at the individual fixture that is leaking. You can also install an automatic water shutoff valve onto your home water supply line. This small device communicates with leak sensors throughout your home to determine if there is a leak. If it detects a leak, it will automatically shut off the water supply to your home, even if you're not around.

Bad Air

Bad indoor air quality is not something many people think about when they consider home safety, but it can be a significant problem with serious consequences. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the concentration of some pollutants can be 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors. Add this to the fact that Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, and you can see just how much of a safety hazard bad air can be.

What exactly do we mean by bad air? Examples of pollutants that could be floating in your air and entering your lungs on a constant basis are dust, pet hair, bug droppings, dead skin, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, formaldehyde, and more.

Breathing these pollutants in can cause respiratory issues, such as asthma or allergies, infection, or even long-term damage in the case of chemicals or molds. There is even a condition known as sick building syndrome, which is a general feeling of unwellness related to poor indoor air quality.

Thankfully, bad indoor air is controllable. It all starts with having a properly rated furnace/AC filter. In addition to protecting your air handler from damaging particles, it filters pollutants out of your home's air. Rated on a MERV scale from 1 to 20, the higher the number, the smaller the particles your filter can catch. In other words, if you want to curb air pollutants, go with a higher MERV.

Beyond home air filters, there are numerous more sophisticated strategies for improving indoor air quality, from electronic air cleaners, to energy recovery ventilators, to ultraviolet lamps. It's also important to consider home humidity, which can be controlled by using humidifiers during winter and dehumidifiers during summer.

When compared to fires, floods, and toxic gases, indoor air pollutants seem like a minor home safety risk, but don't underestimate them. While the other hazards may cause immediate, catastrophic damage, the cost of bad air quietly adds up over time. So, keep your air clean and your lungs grateful.

Put Home Safety First

Identifying and addressing the home safety hazards related to gas, fire, water, electricity, and air is vital to keeping a livable home for you and your family. Here at Power Equipment Direct, we put safety first and have all the products and expertise to make your home a safe place. Reach out with any questions and stay safe!

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