Most of our New Year’s resolutions are along the lines of spending less, saving more, eating less, exercising more, working less and spending more time with family.

This year consider adding a few things to the list to help keep your family safe.

• Practice “out with the old, in with the new” with appliances. If an appliance snaps, crackles or pops but shouldn’t, replace it with a safer, more energy efficient model.

• If you have light switch plates or outlets that get warm to the touch with use, or your lights dim when certain appliances come on, it’s time to call an electrician. The electrical load of most homes has increased substantially in the past 20 years, but your home’s wiring may not be up to the challenge. To keep your loved ones safe, have the wiring checked out and make the necessary improvements and repairs.

•  If you regularly find yourself headed to the breaker box with a flashlight in hand to restore power, it’s probably time for repairs or an upgrade. Have a professional electrician do an inspection and make repairs.

• Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers only help if they work properly. Regularly test and replace the batteries in smoke detectors. Replace or recharge fire extinguishers so they’ll be ready in the event of a fire.