Your guide to maintaining a safe home

Your home should be a place of comfort. It's also likely the biggest investment you'll make in your life. Protecting your home and your financial wellbeing mean taking steps to reduce risk with regular maintenance.

This guide will provide helpful tips for maintaining your home and steps you can take to reduce hazards. It also provides tips on how to prepare for risks outside of your control like natural disasters or severe weather. While detailed, this guide is not personalized to your unique home needs. Use this guide as a starting place for home maintenance tasks and take action to reduce the risks that your home may require.

Click on the links below to learn more about how to help keep your home maintained:

Fire prevention

Electrical safety

Water damage

Freezing risks

Tree damage

Theft prevention

Natural disaster preparation

Fire prevention

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the top causes of home fires are cooking, heating, electrical, smoking and candle related. Help prevent fire risks in your home by following these tips:

• Keep fire extinguishers in rooms where fires are most likely — kitchen, laundry room, living room and garage.
• Install smoke detectors in each room. Test smoke detectors every month. Change smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries every six months.
• Prepare and practice a home escape plan.
• Never leave cooking or candles unattended. If you smoke, fully extinguish and dispose of cigarettes and cigars, etc., appropriately.
• Heating-related fires are the second most common cause of house fires, most of which are caused by portable space heaters. Keep portable heaters away from materials that can burn.
• Keep combustible items away from any heating source, such as water heaters and furnaces.
• Clean the dryer vent pipe at least once a year.

Electrical safety

• Be sure that electrical outlets are in good shape, secured to walls and are working appropriately. Replace wall plates that are broken or missing to help prevent damage or contact to the outlet connection.
• Do not overload circuits or extension cords. Use surge protectors to help protect your electronics and where you may need to plug in more devices than your outlet provides for.
• Check your breaker box as needed to be sure that breakers aren't tripping irregularly. Consider hiring an electrician to address any issues you identify.
• Consider installing a whole-house surge protection system. A qualified electrician should install these systems, which can help protect the appliances and electronic equipment in your home.
• Consider installing a lightning protection system, which is designed to help protect your home from damage due to lightning strikes. These systems will not protect a home from electrical damage or fire from lightning entering through the telephone, cable or electrical lines to the house. To prevent this, whole-house surge protection devices are needed.

Water damage

Wherever there's a water source or connection point, there's a possibility to have a leak. Whether it's a broken pipe, a leaky bathtub or kitchen appliance, water damage can be a long and costly experience.

Check the following locations in your home periodically to help reduce the risk of water damage.

Bathroom

• Check the flushing mechanism inside each toilet and make sure it works properly. Repair or replace the mechanism if damaged or worn.
• Inspect the water supply and replace if worn or damaged.
• Make sure that the connection valve is secure.

Laundry room

• Inspect your hose connections to your washer. If you have rubber hoses, consider replacing them with steel braided hoses.
• Inspect valves and supply lines. Replace any worn or damaged parts. Consider replacing if your supply line hoses are more than five years old.
• Avoid running the washing machine when no one is home.

Kitchen

• Inspect your water supply lines to your refrigerator, if applicable. Make sure that the lines are free of any kinks or pinches and replace them if damaged.
• Inspect connections to and from your dishwasher to ensure they're free of clogs or damage. Most dishwashers will have a drain line that runs through your garbage disposal. Make sure connections are tight and secure.
• Inspect, repair or replace any additional water system appliances, such as reverse osmosis filters, if they are worn or damaged.

Water Heater

• Completely drain the hot water tank to remove sediment every six months. Consider doing this more frequently if your water is very hard.
• Inspect outside of unit for leaks.
• Consider replacing the anode rod if your system has one.
• Check the life expectancy and replace if nearing end of use. Consult your water heater warranty or manufacturer for the most accurate lifespan information.

Pipes and drains

• Know the location of the main water valve and how to shut it off.
• Visually inspect all plumbing pipes. Check for any leaks, condensation or signs of corrosion. Check to make sure that all drains are flowing.
• Check your water bill for unexpected increases in consumption. A spike may be a sign of a leak.
• If you have a basement, check the sump pump. Make sure the drain is clear of debris and install a battery backup.
• Check your air conditioning drain pan and clean it regularly. Keeping your filters changed on your air handler can prevent evaporation issues as well.

Whether you have a modern home with new smart features or an older home that you want to keep a tech-friendly eye on, consider installing smart home systems. These systems can include water detection alarms that can alert your phone if there's a possible water leak. Responding to an early warning can possibly reduce the risk of water damage and costly repairs.

Learn more about water alarms and other smart home technology available through the USAA connected home program.

Freezing risks

The cold can bring about risks to your home that you may not immediately think about. Freezing pipes or damage to your roof from harsh winter elements can impact your home significantly. Working outside to inside, use these tips to reduce the freezing damage risks:

Roof

• Have your roof inspected and repair or replace your roof deck and covering as needed. If you're replacing your roof deck, be sure to use a water repellent sealed roofing material under your roof covering.
• In colder climates, contact your city or county to ask your local building official about minimum code requirements for ice dam protection. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that can form at the edge of your roof, blocking the drainage of water. When water backs up, it can leak into your home, damaging your ceiling, walls and insulation.
• Keep gutters clear of debris to allow ice to melt and water to drain.

Attic

• Keep the attic well-ventilated. This will help keep water from accumulating and forming ice dams, which can block drainage and enable water to leak into the roof.
• Keep the attic floor well-insulated to minimize the amount of heat rising from within the house.

Water pipes

• Wrap exposed pipes with at least 2 inches of insulation to slow the transfer of heat.
• Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulk.
• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom.
• If you'll be away during cold periods, turn off the main water supply valve and drain the water system.
• Turn the heat down, but don't turn it off altogether when you're away.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated or unprotected space.
• Consider installing water detection alarms or smart home technology systems.

Tree damage

According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, each year, falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars in damage to homes and cars. Damaged trees and limbs can also pose great danger. To help protect your loved ones and your property from damage, it's important to examine trees for signs of trouble and follow good pruning practices.

Following the guidelines on the next page regularly will help you minimize damage from dead, dying or weakened trees and limbs:

• Inspect trees for cracks in the trunk or major tree limbs, hollow and decayed areas. Mushrooms growing near the trunk can be a sign of a decayed stem.
• Inspect trees that look one-sided or lean significantly.
• Remove branches hanging over the house near the roof or limbs at risk of touching power lines.
• Prune your trees as needed. Before pruning, check with your city, county, or HOA to see if a permit is needed.
• Prune only as the tree needs it. Over-pruning or pruning improperly can expose your trees to other risks like environmental or insect damage.
• When in doubt, especially for large trees, contact a professional tree service company.

Theft prevention

Most crimes in the U.S. are property or theft related. According to the FBI, residential burglaries make up more than 60% of all burglary crimes. Use these tips to help reduce the risk of your home being a target:

• Consider installing motion-sensing lights or cameras. Doorbell and exterior cameras can help alert you as well as be a deterrent for thieves.
• Consider installing a home security system.
• Keep outside entryways lit.
• When you're away from your home, make it look “lived in” by leaving music or TV and exterior lights on.
• Be sure valuables like artwork, firearms and electronics are not visible from the street.
• Install deadbolt locks and peepholes in all exterior doors.
• Replace or repair broken and cracked windows.
• Try not to leave empty boxes outside your home. They can advertise details of new and valuable equipment which may be worth stealing.
• Take valuables out of unattended vehicles or make sure they are out of sight. Avoid leaving personal items in your car that could allow a thief access to your home like a garage door opener.

Natural disaster preparation

Floods

• Evaluate your flood risks. Review guidance from FEMA to determine your regional flood risks (Opens in New Window).^{See note1}
• Elevate or floodproof air conditioning, ducting, electrical systems and other utilities.
• Inspect your home for weaknesses in the external walls and repair with flood resistant materials. Add a waterproof veneer to prevent shallow flooding from entering your home.
• Floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S. and typically floods are not covered by homeowners insurance. Consider your risks and if you need flood insurance.

Hail

• Properly secure sunscreens to windows. While not intended to absorb the impact of hail, sunscreens can soften the blow and potentially prevent a window from shattering.
• Consider roofing materials that are more resistive to hail damage. Impact-resistant roof coverings can further reduce your roof's vulnerability to damage as well as sealing your roof deck to protect against water intrusion.
• Move outdoor furniture inside or under a covered area before a possible hailstorm.
• If possible, protect your vehicle in a garage or under a carport during a hailstorm.
• Review your insurance policy every year to ensure your deductibles are appropriate for your risk tolerance and insurance budget.

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

• Do a home inventory, use a camera to record or photograph your home to document your personal property prior to a storm.
• If you live in a tornado-prone area, build a storm shelter or reinforce a safe room.
• Have an emergency plan and “go-bag” ready prior to a storm hitting. Your emergency kit should include food, water and emergency supplies needed in case you are stranded.
• Talk with neighbors and family about evacuation plans and have a meetup spot predetermined in case phone service is disrupted.
• Learn more about other tornado safety tips.

Wildfires

• Create a defensible space around your property by trimming back trees and shrubs and by keeping your ground clear of flammable objects and debris.
• Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris and pine needles that could catch embers.
• Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles – anything that can burn.
• Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.
• Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches.
• Learn more about USAA's Wildfire Response Program.

Earthquakes

• Inspect chimneys. Consider reinforcing them with metal straps to help prevent them from toppling.
• Install protective safety film on windows to prevent glass shattering during a quake.
• Ensure that your water heater is braced to a wall. A fallen water heater can expose pipes to flooding or potential gas leaks depending on your home's energy source.
• Anchor cabinets, dressers and bookshelves to walls to help reduce the risk of them falling.
• Secure appliances to prevent them moving during a quake. Consider refrigerator door locks to prevent the doors being shook open and spilling the contents.
• Learn more tips about how to protect your home from earthquakes.

Evacuation planning

No matter the scenario, you and your loved ones are more important than any property. Having an evacuation plan in place and following it can keep your loved ones safe during a natural disaster. For helpful tips and steps to develop a plan, use USAA's evacuation planning guide.