Safety Guidelines
Individual unit maintenance is crucial to the safety of all Indian Brook residents.
Because multiple units comprise each Indian Brook building, following these safety guidelines helps you and your neighbors avoid potentially devastating home disasters.
Chimney cleaning
Unit owners are responsible for the inspection and cleaning of their fireplace chimneys. Based on best practices, have fireplaces inspected twice a year and cleaned if necessary. Inspection is recommended (even if the fireplace has not been used) to check for obstructions such as bird's nests, leaves, dislodged chimney parts, etc.
Furnace filters
Unit owners are responsible for changing their furnace filters. Based on best practices, change furnace filters every 3 months.
heat
When the outside temperature is at freezing or below, never turn off the heat in a unit. Water in pipes that service all units in a building can burst and cause severe damage. The unit owner who neglects to keep their unit adequately heated is responsible for all damages.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Each unit has smoke alarm fixtures wired into that unit's electric circuitry. The alarm will not sound in other units in the building. Periodic vacuuming of units will prevent inadvertent alarms.
Massachusetts law also requires that all residential units must also be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home. Such detectors are not supplied or maintained by Indian Brook. Unit owners are responsible for purchasing, installing, and maintaining carbon monoxide detectors. Detectors need to be placed within ten feet of each bedroom door and near the furnace. For details, please contact the Hopkinton Fire Department.
Dryer Vents
Unit owners are responsible for the cleaning of their dryer vent. Based on best practices, clean dryer vents at least once every year. Uncleaned dryer vents are fire hazards to the Indian Brook community.
Tip: To help reduce the occurrence of disastrous dryer vent fires, in addition to routine dryer vent cleanings, avoid running dryers when no one is home (present in the unit).