4 Hot Tips to Keep Your House Safe This Halloween

10/21/2019 (Permalink)

Prevention is always easier (and cheaper) than cure

Halloween, the time the "dead" rise. A lot of fun for your family and your kids, but also a lot of fun for trouble makers. TRICK OR TREAT!

It's always better to know the information and not need it, than to need it and not know it. So we decided to write this blog post to help you be informed, if anything were to happen this halloween.

KEEPING TROUBLE MAKERS AWAY

Kids love to throw toilet paper and eggs at houses on halloween (or even, unfortunately, vandalism. Fun for them, very annoying for you. Luckily there are a few simple steps you can do that will deter them from choosing your house.

1. Keep your house well lit during the night. The last thing kids want is to get caught. The fun is in getting away with doing something naughty. So if they see your house (a well lit house with no-where to secretly throw toilet paper or eggs) or your neighbours house (a house full of dark spots or blind spots), which do you think they'll choose? Now we're not wanting your neighbours egged, so maybe tell them to read this article as well. 
2. Keep the surrounding areas of your building clear. The more clutter and bushes/trees around your property, the more tempting it is to choose your house or building for tricks. This may mean doing a little (or big) clean up outside your home or building. Annoying? Yes. But it would be more annoying to be egged, "TP'd", or even graffitied on.

Avoiding Common Fire Hazards

While it sounds obvious, there a lot of common practices that we do in West Virginia (and around the United States) that appear innocent in the moment, but can turn into avoidable fire damage. Here are a few that surprise families and business owners:

• Open Flame Candles. While open flame candles add a great ambiance, either beautiful or creepy, we advise avoiding using open flames. Instead opting for battery operated candles. These are very fairly priced today from most halloween stores. If you do insist on open flames though, make sure that all flammable items are more than 5 feet from the candle, and if on an elevated surface, such as a shelf, nothing flammable underneath the shelf.
• Avoid Flammable Decorations. This is a lesser known one than the above. Dried flowers, crepe paper, and cornstalks are all highly flammable. For this reason it is very important to keep them far from open flames, heaters and even light bulbs.

Besides all these, go out and have a lot of fun with your family on this amazing holiday. Use the day (and night) to its fullest. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the team at SERVPRO of Wood, Ritchie & Pleasants Counties

Hot tip: Read this short blog to find out how to remove egg & toilet paper effectively from your home or business building by clicking here. Remember: it's better to know and not need it, than to need it and not know.