Your home should be a safe environment. However, even the smallest problems could lead to injuries or property damage. It might force you to make a claim on your homeowners insurance. Or, third parties might even have grounds to file a liability claim on your home insurance. Still, with a few easy maintenance practices steps, you can better prevent accidents. Consider a few ways to do so: 
Tighten Up Your Water System
Your leaky faucet or dripping window unit is usually your responsibility to repair. Your home insurance usually won't pay. A leak might not only create fall risks, but also damage the home’s structure.
To keep your water system working, take a few easy steps:
- Flush the pipes regularly. Never pour congealable substances like cooking oil down the drain.
- Check the water hookup to major appliances. Tighten these as necessary.
- Keep your water pressure balanced. If your pressure is too high, then it can place too much strain on your pipes.
- If your home has a gas line, then you should also inspect this item regularly.
Maintain Your Walkways
Someone could slip and fall anywhere in your home. However, keeping clean and secure walkways will help you reduce these risks:
- Try to avoid clutter. Don’t leave possessions laying on the floor, where other people walk. Also keep your furniture out of the way of your walkways.
- Repair broken flooring and walkways. A broken stair, ripped piece of carpeting or loose linoleum could cause someone to slip and fall. Repairing these items and blocking off the area in the meantime can help you avoid problems.
- It might seem simple, but keep your lights working, too. If someone cannot see where they are going, then they might fall, hit their head or otherwise get hurt. Replace bulbs or fixtures when necessary.
Put Away Dangerous Items
There will always be dangerous items in your home. They might injure a household guest, or even a family member who doesn’t use them often. That’s why you should keep these under lock and key, and only allow others to use them with supervision.
- Secure all power tools in a garage or storage shed.
- Use surge protectors in all your electrical outlets.
- Never leave firearms in an unsecured area.
- Help your pet adjust to strangers. A pet bite might qualify someone to make a liability claim on your homeowners insurance.
- Don't forget to look above your head, too. If something falls off a shelf, it could hurt someone.
It is not difficult to take a few practical steps to make your home safer. You’ll not only help yourself and your family, but also keep your household liability risks low.