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UtilitiesGas: Most homes are heated by gas. We already have covered heating and cooling in another section, but a very important note is what to do if you smell gas. Remember, gas is odorless, but gas companies put a chemical in it that causes an odor. The first thing is to open a few windows and call the gas company emergency number (at the same time if possible). They will respond immediately to a gas leak call. Second, DO NOT turn on any wall switches, particularly the one going to the basement. If there is a gas buildup already, the static generated from turning on that switch could cause an explosion. Third, get out of the house until the gas company arrives, solves the problem and assures you it is safe to return - and don't forget to close the windows!
Electric: It's sort of taken for granted and should be. But if you still have an old fuse box, most cities mandate that you have at least 100-amp circuit breakers, and you should have your home upgraded. It will cost $600 to $800 to upgrade in most instances. When you do, let the electrician know what you want on each circuit (e.g., my computer has its own circuit), and then BE SURE to label all the circuits so you know what's on them. If the house came with circuit breakers, but the previous owners never labeled them, take the time to go through each one (with one person at the box in the basement and one person upstairs) so you can determine what each circuit controls. You will be very thankful you did. The only other thing in the electrical area are light bulbs themselves. Fluorescent bulbs are becoming more popular and require far less electricity. I personally don't like the lighting effect. However, they now offer full-spectrum light bulbs which produce sunlight-like lighting and are very good. Soon to come will be LED light bulbs which will produce substantial light and last almost forever.
Water: You turn on the spigot and water comes out. That's pretty much all people think about. There are a couple of things you should watch for, however. If you find water backing up in your basement, there probably are branches clogging the sewer line into your house. A plumber will need to snake the line(s) out for you. Figure about $125 per instance. If you notice a strange, gas-like odor coming from the basement (not the furnace), and inspection leads you to the drain on your basement floor, it's not good news. Beneath every drain is a sewer trap. It's called that because it traps the gaseous odors from sewage and sends them back out. But when the trap breaks, it has to be replaced. Older homes like mine used the old cast iron traps, and after 61 years, one of mine finally broke. $850 later I had a brand new PVC trap that will last forever. The floor has to be broken up with a jackhammer, the old trap removed and replaced and then the hole needs to be re-cemented. Other problems are the ordinary type - if your toilet won't stop running, it's pretty easy to go to your local hardware store, get the parts to replace the innards and do the job yourself. If you have old plumbing, let the water run for a bit before you drink it. You don't need rust and lead in the pipes going into your stomach!
Detectors: You need smoke detectors on every floor of your home, including the basement. My suggestion is to have one near the furnace area of the basement, near the kitchen on the first floor if you have a two-story home and outside every bedroom upstairs. You should have a carbon monoxide detector somewhere near your furnace. And if you want to be really sure, have your home inspected for radon leaks.
Other: Every home needs at least one fire extinguisher. I have a small one-story home, so I have a First Alert extinguisher under my sink. It's a one-use extinguisher. If you have a grease fire on the stove, just pour flour, sugar or salt on it. Save the extinguisher. DO NOT pour water on a grease fire. The easy alternative, of course, is just to cover it with a large pan lid. Finally, although plastic dryer vents are popular, they can be dangerous. I recommend metal vents. Whichever you use, it is absolutely essential that you clean out your lint trap every time you dry your clothes!
