Keep your home safe this season by equipping your tenants to handle fire emergencies. With crisp leaves and the dry autumn air, it’s no surprise that fall coincides with the wildfire season. Even if you’re not surrounded by a forest of trees, increased temperatures mean a mishap in your workshop, an exposed candle in your living room, or a sparking appliance could spell disaster for your house. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain your rental’s heating system and share knowledge on safe fire practices. Read this article with our fire safety tips below during the fall season and protect your investment at the same time.
Importance of Well-Maintained Heating Systems in a Rental
- Improve Tenant Comfort
Create a pleasant indoor environment by ensuring your heating system is up to code. Fall tends to have chaotic weather, with temperatures swinging wildly between summer heatwaves and an impending winter freeze. As a result, being indoors with a dysfunctional heating system that can’t maintain a consistent temperature can be a nightmare. So if you want to increase the chances of renters renewing their rent, make their stay as pleasant as possible by maintaining a functional heating system.
- Safeguard Health and Safety
Reduce the risk of a fire by scheduling regular check-ups on your home’s heating system. Most American homes use a furnace to beat back the cold, and a neglected furnace could allow natural gas, oil, or a spark to cause a fire. However, it’s essential to remember that while a well-maintained heating system can reduce the risk of a fire hazard, it doesn’t eliminate it. It would still be a good idea to hire a professional property management company in Montgomery County, PA to remind tenants about fire safety drills in case of emergency.
- Boost Energy Efficiency
Spend less on your electric bill by optimizing your rental’s heating system. Frequent maintenance of your furnace, boiler, or heat pump can make it more efficient at dissipating heating throughout your house. In other words, the system would require less electricity to run, which can lower your energy consumption and save you more money in the long run. Aside from that, a well-maintained heating system that consumes less power is also more environmentally friendly and could be a selling point for potential tenants.
- Reduce Repair Costs
Cut down on emergency repairs by scheduling frequent maintenance that nips minor issues in the bud. Another advantage of being proactive with your rental’s heating system is that it allows you to identify potential problems before they escalate into expensive major problems that may occur. Neglecting your heating system for long periods could cause it to develop silent faults that eventually make it break down and necessitate costly repairs or even an entire replacement.
Educating Tenants on Fire Safety Practices
Common Fire Hazards
Keep fires at bay by educating tenants on common hazards. Use this fire safety checklist to determine what causes fires and prevent them. Aside from giving tenants a verbal pep talk, you can also make the information stick by handing out visual aids or sending links to relevant YouTube videos.
Emergency Action Plans
Provide tenants with a detailed emergency plan on what to do if there’s a fire. Despite your best attempts to prevent a fire, sometimes they happen and when they do the last thing you want is to be unprepared. So if you need to run a test fire drill or do a proper orientation covering emergency evacuation routes, you should. It would also be best to have fire extinguishers and the contact for emergency services handy. Having an emergency action plan could save lives because your tenants are more likely to make it out safely and can also act quickly to prevent further damage.
Drop Regular Reminders
Use newsletters, emails, and other forms of communication to drop fire safety reminders for tenants. It’s not enough to have a single drill or send a single flier once in three years and hope for the best. You have to keep reminding your tenants of your current emergency action plans and update them when there are changes. The constant reminders can also go a long way in reinforcing fire safety habits that keep your rental safe.
Conclusion
Keep your home safe from fire outbreaks by ensuring your tenants can handle emergencies when they rear their ugly heads. Aside from protecting your investment, it also improves your tenants’ safety from emergencies when you educate them about common fire hazards. You can start by maintaining your home’s heating system to prevent breakdowns or issues that could inconvenience tenants or compromise their safety and health. For landlords, doing regular maintenance can also boost your home’s energy efficiency, which in the long run can lower your utility bills and reduce spending on repairs.
