Protecting Your Home: Backyard Safety

There’s no time like summer to really get outside and enjoy your backyard. Whether you’re taking a swim in the pool, barbecuing up a great summer meal, spending a night around the fire pit, or just lounging outside and enjoying the heat, it’s not all fun and games though. Safety is still important, so here are a few things to keep in mind.

Pool Safety

Pools can be a great source of fun, and a welcome shelter when the heat gets too intense. However, pools can also be a serious hazard, so it is important to keep safety in mind. One of the biggest concerns with swimming pools is children who can’t swim falling in. For this reason, the City of Toronto requires all new in-ground pools to have a permanent four-sided fence around them, or a self-closing and latching door for an indoor pool. Even if it isn’t required where you live, fencing the pool is still a great safety measure to take. It is also vital that children are always supervised in the pool, and that the supervisor is paying attention in order to avoid accidents. Another part of pool ownership some people neglect is inspections. A pool should be inspected for damage at least once a year, and you should make sure to read and follow the safety instructions that come with your pool and any accessories. By following these steps you can ensure your family has a safe time in the pool, and is free to have all the fun they want.

Barbecues

Barbequing up some good food is a summer tradition, but it is important to keep safety in mind before you fire up the grill. Before you start cooking you should do a quick inspection of your barbeque to check to see if the burners or tubes are blocked. After that, do a leak test by rubbing some soapy water over the gas lines and fittings, then checking for bubbles. If you see any bubbles that get bigger, it means you have a problem and need to get your barbecue fixed by a professional. If not, you’re almost ready to start cleaning your barbecue. If you use a metal barbecue brush you should check it before each use. If the brushes are loose you should replace it immediately. If not, the metal bristles can come off on the grill and get into food. You should soak your grills in warm soapy water to get them clean, give the rest of the barbecue a quick scrub, and clean out your grease trap. Once your barbecue is clean its ready to cook! A few quick cooking tips as well: always make sure to leave the lid open and open the gas line before turning on the burner controls and the igniter when lighting the barbecue, shut off the gas valve and let the gas burn off before turning off the burners, use long-handled cooking tools so you don’t burn yourself, and never leave a cooking barbecue unattended.

Fire Pits

Fire pits are another source of fun and warmth on cool summer evenings. However, there are a few important things to remember before you light one. The first is that wood-burning fire pits or fire pits that use other solid fuels are no longer allowed in populated areas within Ottawa city limits. Only electric, gas, propane, and oil fireplaces are allowed outside in Ottawa. As long as you are using one of these devices you will also not need to worry about getting a burn permit from the city. However, when using an outdoor fireplace it is still important to inspect it, like you would a barbecue, and follow fire safety practices, like not allowing the fire near anything flammable and keeping children and pets away from it.

It may seem like a lot of work when all you want to do is enjoy your backyard, taking the time to follow these safety precautions will help keep your summer enjoyable and safe for everyone.