Every homeowner takes steps to protect their real estate investment, ranging from purchasing homeowners insurance to properly maintaining their properties. However, there are some common home dangers that are easy to overlook. Mitigating potential threats to a property involves anticipating dangerous scenarios and taking steps to stop them.

There are several actions homeowners can take to reduce the most prevalent, but ignored, dangers to their houses.

Interior Threats

House fires can begin and spread quickly, making it important for owners be aware of the dangers. The stove top is the culprit for most fires in a home, and 40 percent of fires begin in the kitchen, according to CNN Money. To lower the risk of a fire starting on the stovetop, owners should avoid leaving burners unattended while in use, even if it’s only for a moment. It’s easy to get distracted by things and walk in the other room for a minute, but it only takes precious seconds for paper towels or oven mitts to spark a flame. As an added protection measure, owners should also remove any items that are easy flammable far away from the cooking space.

In addition to kitchen fires, faulty electrical wiring is also known to spark fires. There are several signs owners should stay aware of that can indicate faulty wiring, including flickering lights, fuses that are blown frequently and small shocks after touching an outlet or appliance. Homeowners who have noticed these indicators may consider replacing the wiring and installing arc-fault circuit interrupters, which shut off when electrical issues occur or even better, having a professional electrician in for a consulation.

Exterior Threats

The roof and gutter systems of a home, if properly taken care of, can prevent water seepage from dripping into a home and causing damage, mildew and mold. The latter can be toxic to homeowners and may carry heavy financial ramifications. To avoid water-related damage, owners can begin by concentrating on the roof. A roof that is too warm allows snow to melt quickly, which allows it to seep into the shingles and freeze again. To avoid this issue, owners should ensure their home and roof are properly insulated. Clearly this is better to correct in the warmer months of summer than the colder months of winter. As an added bonus, insulation can help keep energy bills low throughout the year.

Clogged gutters present another problem, because they may overflow and allow water to drain around the home’s foundation and eventually reach the basement. Keeping gutters free of debris can be a quick fix to this issue.

Taking the time to mitigate these potentially dangerous home issues may take time and money but are extremely important for long-term safety.