Safety Repairs Every Homeowner Should Check

June 27, 2026

Most home injuries are preventable. Walk your house with this list once a year.

Smoke and CO detectors

One smoke detector per bedroom, one in the hall outside the bedrooms, one per floor
One CO detector per floor and near sleeping areas
Test monthly, replace batteries yearly, replace units every 10 years

At least one ABC-rated extinguisher in the kitchen, accessible without reaching over the stove. Check the gauge yearly.

Continuous, graspable, anchored to studs. Both sides on stairs more than four feet wide.

Deck and balcony rails should be at least 36 inches (residential) with balusters spaced so a 4-inch sphere can't pass through.

Required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, and exteriors. Push the test button quarterly.

Modern code requires arc-fault protection on bedroom circuits. Worth retrofitting if you have an older panel.

Lint buildup is a top cause of home fires. Clean the full duct annually.

Strapped against earthquakes (in seismic zones), temperature set to 120°F to prevent scalds, expansion tank installed where required.

Exterior steps and walkways should be lit. Most falls happen in the dark.

Deadbolts on every exterior door, ideally with a one-inch throw into a reinforced strike plate.

None of these are expensive. All of them matter the one time they matter.