The #1 Choice for Responsible Homeowners.
Safety and Maintenance Checklist for the Exterior of your Home.
ShelterPride
Insurance Company
®
q Roof Flashing: Flashing is sheet metal designed to divert water
from joints on your roof. Flashings may separate from adjacent surfaces and allow water to leak inside. A licensed roofer can inspect these areas and make necessary repairs. q Walkways & Driveways: Repair cracked, broken or uneven
driveways and walks to help provide a safe walking surface. q Water Valves: If your home is equipped with interior shut-off
valves leading to the outside faucets, close them and drain water from the lines to avoid freezing in the winter. Disconnect outside water hoses during the winter.
Congratulations! You have taken another step towards responsible homeownership by having a ShelterPride Home Inspection. At NBIC, we believe that understanding what causes losses goes a long way towards preventing them. To that end, we offer the following ShelterPride homeowner tips to help avoid potential damages in and around your home.
q Windows & Doors: Inspect windows and exterior doors for
proper caulking and weather stripping. Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of open windows. Guards should be installed in children’s bedrooms, parents’ bedrooms, and other rooms where young children spend time. Or, install window stops that permit windows to open no more than 4 inches. Whenever possible, open windows from the top - not the bottom. Also, keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing near windows. q Window Wells: Check basement window wells to ensure that they are clear of
leaves and other debris to ensure proper drainage. Consider installing window well covers. q Yard: When mowing your lawn, keep small children out of the yard, and turn the
mower off if children enter the area. If the lawn slopes, mow across the slope with the walk-behind rotary mower, never up and down. With a riding mower, drive up and down the slope, not across it. Never carry children on a riding mower.
Safety and Maintenance Checklist for the Interior of your Home. q Appliances: Respond quickly to small leaks around refrigerators
with ice makers, dishwashers and washing machines before they become major problems. Install reinforced braided stainless steel hoses for the feed lines to your washing machines and dishwashers. Try to never leave the house when these units are running. q Carbon Monoxide Detectors: It is a good idea to install a carbon
monoxide alarm on each level of your home, and in or near each sleeping area. Try to keep the detectors at least 20 feet from fuel burning appliances. Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your carbon monoxide alarms. q Chimney: Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the
Thank you for choosing ShelterPride. ShelterPride is a unique risk appraisal and underwriting program that is provided at no charge to new NBIC policyholders. Through your participation, we are able to make certain that we have the right information on your home. This ensures you have the right amount of protection in the event of a loss.
flues and check your fireplace damper annually, especially if you have an active wood burning stove. q Dryer: Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space
under dryer. q Electrical: Replace all UL approved extension cords that have
become brittle, worn or damaged. q Escape Plan: Review your fire escape plan with your family.
Tip: When not in use it is good practice to turn the water supply off to the washing machine to eliminate constant pressure on the hoses. This may also extend the life of the hose.
q Fire Extinguishers: Always have multi-purpose fire extinguishers
accessible in your kitchen, basement, and garage.
www.NBIC.com | 800.343.3375 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Safety and Maintenance Checklist for the Interior of your Home. q Fixtures: Respond quickly to small leaks around sinks, toilets,
bathtubs and showers before they become major problems. Install reinforced braided stainless steel hoses for the feed lines to your toilets and sinks. q General: Review your water bill carefully, a substantial
increase could indicate a leak. Consider buying a water detector which can alert you to problems in much the same way as a smoke/heat detector does. Consider installing a floor drain when you have your washing machine, hot water tank or boiler located on the upper floors of your home. q Heating System: Remove all combustible materials around
your furnace, gas hot water heaters or any other ignition source to avoid the possibility of a fire in your basement. Replace your furnace filter annually. Have a heating professional check your heating and air conditioning system annually. Inspect your hot water tank and water supply lines periodically for signs of rust or any leaking q Pipes: Inspect plumbing pipes on a regular basis for kinks, leaks and corrosion.
Insulate pipes that are located in basements, attics and crawl spaces to avoid freezing. q Seasonal or Secondary Homes: The water should be turned off at the water main
shut-off valve and pipes and toilets should then be drained. If you decide to leave the water on, the heat must be set at no less than 50 degrees and/or install an automatic water shut-off alarm system (this system should be installed by a licensed plumber). q Smoke Detectors: It is recommended that a minimum of one smoke alarm be installed on every level of your
home (at the top of each stairway), including basements, and within 15 feet of each sleeping area. If the door to the sleeping area is kept closed, it is also recommended that a smoke detector be placed inside the bedroom. Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke alarms. q Valves: Familiarize responsible family members with the location of the gas main valve, main water supply and
Safety and Maintenance Checklist for the Exterior of your Home. q Child-Proofing: Don’t allow a game of hide-n-seek to become deadly. CPSC has received reports of numerous
suffocation deaths involving children who crawled inside old cedar chests, latch-type freezers and refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers and picnic coolers. Childproof old appliances and warn children not to play or hide inside them. q Deck & Patio: Check your wood deck, steps or concrete patio for possible deterioration. q Grills: Never bring charcoal grills indoors. Burning charcoal produces deadly carbon monoxide. When cooking
outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing. If you ever detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed. Newer grills and propane tanks have improved safety devices to prevent gas leaks. q Gutters/Downspouts: If you live in a wooded area, falling leaves may clog the gutters and lead to water backup
that could damage your exterior siding. In late fall (or as often as needed), have all gutters and downspouts cleared of leaves and debris. q Ice Damming: Ice may form under snow that accumulates on the roof and overhangs.
This can cause melted snow/ice to backup and leak into your attic and home. To prevent this, be sure there is adequate ventilation and proper insulation in all attics. This is best determined by a professional. q Playsets: Check your outside child apparatus like tree houses, jungle gyms, swings
and slides for defects each year for your child’s safety. Falls cause 60 percent of playground injuries, so having a safe surface is critical. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are too hard. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch. q Pools: Use layers of protection to prevent a swimming pool tragedy.
This includes placing barriers completely around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency. q Roof: Missing, worn or broken roofing materials may allow water
to penetrate and deteriorate the roof structure. Inspect (or have inspected by a professional) your roof periodically, especially after severe storms.
appliance shut off valves. Ensure that you have individual water shut-off valves for your sinks, toilets, bathtubs, showers, and refrigerators with ice makers.
Tip: Learn child CPR, which differs slightly from adult CPR. Insist that babysitters, grandparents and others who care for your child know child CPR. Post adult and child CPR instructions in the pool area.
The #1 Choice for Responsible Homeowners.
www.NBIC.com | 800.343.3375 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island