Fire and CO safety inspection: Test your smoke and CO detectors, replace batteries, verify detector age and placement, and inspect fire extinguishers to prevent becoming one of 2,500+ annual fire deaths—working detectors cut fatalities by 50%

Tire and brake safety: Check your tire pressure, tread depth, and brakes to prevent accidents, avoid costly repairs, and ensure your vehicle can stop safely in any condition

Kitchen appliance maintenance: Run cleaning cycles and check filters on your dishwasher, refrigerator, range hood, and disposal to prevent fire hazards, extend appliance life, and avoid premature $3K-7K replacements

Test each smoke and CO detector using test button—replace batteries or unit if no loud beep

Replace batteries in battery units ($5-10 for multi-pack), verify hardwired backup batteries work

Check detector age: replace smoke detectors after 10 years, CO detectors after 5-7 years (check manufacturing date)

Verify placement: smoke detectors on every level, inside each bedroom, outside sleeping areas; CO detectors near bedrooms, each level, near garages/fuel appliances

Inspect fire extinguishers: pressure gauge in green zone, pin/seal intact, no damage/corrosion, easily accessible

Replace extinguishers if pressure low, damaged, or past manufacturer lifespan (5-15 years)

Assess additional needs: fire blankets for kitchen ($15-30), escape ladders for upper bedrooms ($40-80), fire-resistant safes ($50-300)

Verify all emergency exits open easily, aren't blocked, locks operate quickly from inside

Establish escape routes and outside meeting point with household

Cost: $5-10 batteries, $10-30 per smoke detector, $20-50 per CO detector, $20-75 per fire extinguisher

Health & Safety: Death or serious injury from fires (2,500+ annual deaths, 11,000+ injuries in U.S.), carbon monoxide poisoning deaths (hundreds annually) and injuries (thousands of ER visits), sleeping through fire's early stages without detector warning, CO poisoning from malfunctioning furnaces/water heaters/vehicles in garages, inability to escape due to blocked exits or missing escape ladders, smoke inhalation (leading cause of fire deaths), family members trapped if stairs blocked by fire

Financial Costs: Small fires escalating to structure fires ($10,000-100,000+ damage) or total loss ($200,000-500,000+) without accessible extinguishers, insurance claim reductions or denials for non-functional detectors (tens to hundreds of thousands in uncovered losses), home sale delays from missing/non-functional detectors, municipal fines for code violations, liability costs if fires spread to neighboring properties

Social Impact: Devastating trauma and guilt from preventable injuries or deaths, neighbor resentment if fire spreads from your property, extreme embarrassment from preventable incidents reflecting poorly on your responsibility as homeowner/parent

Legal Issues: Insurance policy requirements for working detectors (denial of coverage without them), state requirements for functional detectors to close home sales, municipal code violations and fines, significant landlord liability for tenant injuries/deaths from missing detectors

Check tire pressure with gauge ($5-15), compare to door jamb sticker, adjust at gas station ($0-2)

Use penny test for tread depth (Lincoln's head upside down—if you see his full head, replace tires)

Inspect tires for uneven wear, bulges, cracks, or objects

Listen for brake squealing/grinding, feel for vibrations or pulling when stopping

Check brake fluid level under hood

Cost: Free to $15 DIY, or $20-50 for professional tire inspection/rotation (brake inspections typically free)

Health & Safety: Increased stopping distance causing rear-end collisions, hydroplaning on wet roads with worn treads, tire blowouts at highway speeds, complete brake failure, loss of vehicle control, potential injuries or fatalities in accidents

Financial Costs: Reduced fuel efficiency costing $100-200+ yearly, premature tire replacement ($400-1,200+ per set), minor brake pad replacement ($100-300) becoming rotor/caliper damage ($500-1,500+), accident-related vehicle damage or total loss, medical expenses, increased insurance premiums, emergency towing and repairs

Social Impact: Visible tire damage signaling carelessness to passengers and colleagues, grinding brakes causing embarrassment, passengers declining rides due to safety concerns, damaged reputation for reliability and responsibility

Legal Issues: Traffic citations for insufficient tread or defective equipment ($100-300+), failed vehicle inspections preventing registration renewal, liability in accidents caused by poor maintenance, insurance claim denials, potential lawsuits and criminal charges in severe accidents, HOA complaints about inoperable vehicles

Run dishwasher cleaning cycle with cleaner or vinegar, remove and rinse filter

Replace refrigerator water filter, vacuum condenser coils

Clean/replace range hood grease filters (wash metal mesh or replace disposables)

Run ice cubes and citrus through disposal to clean and freshen

Check microwave vent filters

Cost: $40-110 for supplies (cleaner $3-8, fridge filters $20-60, hood filters $10-30, disposal cleaner $5-10)

Health & Safety: Grease-caked range hood filters creating fire hazards, bacteria and mold contaminating dishes and food, poor air quality from clogged vents, potential foodborne illness from unsanitary appliances

Financial Costs: 25-35% increased energy bills ($50-100+ yearly) from dirty coils, premature appliance failures requiring compressor replacement ($300-600), dishwasher pump/motor repairs ($150-500+), complete appliance replacement ($800-3,000+ per unit), early replacement of multiple appliances ($3,000-7,000+), property value reduction during sales ($1,000-5,000+), fire damage from grease ignition

Social Impact: Kitchen odors (mildew, rotting food, stagnant water) immediately noticeable to guests, dishes coming out dirty from clogged dishwasher embarrassing during meals, off-tasting water from expired filters, visible grime signaling poor hygiene, uncomfortable hosting situations, damaged reputation for cleanliness