Household Insurance protects against unfortunate occurrences within the home.  It is always advisable to take out insurance as a safeguard should the worst happen.  However, even when your home is well insured, avoiding problems in the first place must always be preferable.

In fact, the majority of accidents which occur at home are entirely avoidable.  Although good insurance will be able to compensate you for damages, taking care to avoid careless actions which cause accidents is the only sure way to protect against disturbance and stress.

There are some very basic home safety tips that, if followed closely, should significantly reduce the chance of an accident occurring in your home.

House fires are one of the most common accidents in the home.  Causes range from gas being left on to leaving candles burning overnight and even to overheating hairdryers.  Care and diligence is required when using any item which could ignite a fire within your home.  House fires occur most often when homeowners have gone out or when they are asleep, having forgotten to turn off or extinguish dangerous sources of fire.  If you are concerned, there are often replacement items available which are less dangerous, for example convection stoves or safety candles.

Smoke alarms are also an excellent safeguard against house fire.  As long as they are well placed and frequently tested they can alert you to sources of fire before they cause larger problems.

Further protection against damage can be attained by preparing for fire outbreaks.  Readiness to respond to emergency can be the difference between minor problems and major damage to your home.  In practical terms, that means having a telephone available at all times, ideally a landline as well as a mobile.  Emergency services are well trained to deal with all kinds of fire, but can only help if you have the means to contact them immediately.

Primary response protection can help minimise damage as a precursor to the arrival of emergency services.  Stocking your home with adequate first aid kits, fire extinguishers and fire blankets can stop fire from spreading while the emergency services travel to your location.

Another type of accident within the home often reported are trips and falls.  Staircases are the major offender in this case.  Particular danger is caused by cluttered staircases, and those which are badly lit.  Handrails and good lighting both provide safeguards for you, your children, and any visitors.

Flooding caused by leaks or overspills represents a significant proportion of home damage.  Water sometimes seems an unlikely foe, but flooded rooms can damage carpets, flooring, electrics, furniture and more.  To protect against overflowing baths and sinks, automatic tap controls can be fitted which turn off water flow as soon as they fill up.  Even if your bath or sink has an overflow outlet, these can become overloaded.

To prevent against unseen flood sources, such as internal plumbing, always use a reputable tradesperson when building or changing piping.  If you notice anything unusual, such as changes in water pressure or unexplained noises, these should be reported quickly to avoid damage.

Damage to your home can cause annoyance, upset and at worst the loss of irreplaceable property.  Insurance will be able to offer compensation for many home accidents, but preventing damage in the first place should always be the first priority.