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Home Safety Checklist For Montgomery

Being safe and secure in your home should be your topmost priority. But are you overlooking some big safety components? Look over this home safety checklist for Montgomery and see where your living space needs an update.

This guide begins with some whole-house safety techniques, and then we whittle it down to specific room ideas. Then, you can call (334) 219-7426 or send in the form below to talk to a security professional.

Whole Home Safety Checklist

Whole Home Safety Checklist for Montgomery

While you may want to employ a room-by-room process for home safety in Montgomery, there are a few items that work for multiple rooms. These components can sync with one another through a wireless hub, and often can react to other components. You can also manage each of your home safety devices through a smartphone app, like ADT Control:

  • Monitored Security System: Each one of your windows and doors should have a sensor that notifies you and your family to a break-in. When your alarm goes off, your monitoring center responds to the alert and sends emergency personnel.

  • Smart Bulbs For Most Rooms: Of course, you can set your smart lighting to become more energy-efficient. But they can also help you remain safe during an emergency. Have your lights come on when an alarm trips to shoo off intruders or brighten your way to a outside area.

  • Smart Thermostat: Like your smart lights, a smart thermostat in Montgomery should save you 10%-15% in gas and electric spending. But it also can start an exhaust fan when your alarms senses a fire.

  • Monitored Fire Detectors: At the very least, you should have a smoke detector on each level. You can increase your fire game by utilizing a monitored fire alarm that senses unusual heat and smoke, and notifies your 24/7 monitoring experts when it senses a fire.

  • Smart Door Locks: Every door that uses a deadbolt can upgrade to a smart door lock. Now you can program codes to friends and family and get alerts to your smartphone when your locks are unlocked. Your smart lock can even automatically unlock, allowing you to quickly leave during a fire or other emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist

Family Room Safety Checklist For Montgomery

You’ll spend a lot of time in the family room, so it can be the most reasonable area to start making your home more secure. Popular items, like your TV or video games, usually sit in your living room, making it an alluring room for thieves. Start with hanging a motion detector or indoor security camera by the doorway, then try all these ideas:

  • Motion Detectors: By hanging motion detectors, you’ll get a high-decibel noise whenever they sense suspicious movement within your living room. Look for motion detectors that aren’t set off by pets or you’ll get an alert each time your pet passes through for a midnight stroll.

  • Indoor Security Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a visual on your family room. Get constant streams of everything so you can find out what’s going on through the mobile app. Or talk with family members when they come home from playing using the two-way talk feature.

  • Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Protect all your electronics and stop overloading your outlets with a surge protector. For extra comfort, install a smart plug with anti-surge functionality included.

  • Furniture Bolted To The Wall: If you have any small children, you’ll need to bolt your bookshelves and entertainment center to the wall. This is especially important if your family room uses rugs or carpet that could make furniture extra unstable.

  • Enhanced Locks For Sliding Doors: If your family room uses a glass door that opens to a backyard, deck, or outside porch, you already get that the lock is usually thin. Put in a special lock, like a cross bar or small locks that secures the door to the bottom and top of the door frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Montgomery

The kitchen has plenty of items that should add safety to your house. Many of these objects are also a snap to add and should be bought from the a retail store:

  • Fire Extinguisher: Fire can happen from an overfilled skillet or an errant grease splatter. Always store a fire extinguisher at hand for any cooking mishaps.

  • Circuit Interrupter Box On Every Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be installed everywhere they’re close to water to prevent an electric shock. That includes the plugs close to your kitchen counter and sink. Since 1987, it’s been standard to have one GFCI per dedicated circuit. But if you don’t want all your outlets to flip off when one outlet surges, you’ll want to have a separate GFCI per outlet.

  • Monitored CO Detector: A CO detector is advised for kitchens that use a gas stove and oven. If your gas burners leak, the CO detector will cause a loud siren and ping your monitoring expert.

  • Disinfectant Wipes Or Spray: The most overlooked safety hazard in the kitchen is actually bacteria and cross-contamination that comes with raw meat and vegetables. Always keep disinfectant wipes or a bleach spray to clean your surfaces when making a meal.

  • Refrigerator/Freezer Alarm: The food items in the fridge need to remain at a constant temperature to be safe to consume. If you accidently leave the fridge or freezer door ajar, then an alarm beep will let you know so you can close the door. Some appliances already have a pre-installed alarm, some do not, and you’ll have to pick up an external alarm from the hardware store.

Bathroom Safety Checklist

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Montgomery

Just because there’s not a bunch of square footage in your bathroom, you will still have safety hazards. From water problems to electric safety, here are a few safety tips for your bathroom:

  • Flood Sensors: A leaking sink or shower can create extensive water damage. Discover water problems early with a flood detector and save yourself from renovating the entire bathroom.

  • Non-slip Bathroom Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing pulled muscles, sore joints, or broken bones. Make sure you prevent these problems with a non-slip bathroom mat for your wet feet.

  • Non-slip Bathtub Strips: Likewise, a tub basin can be a slick place to be on. It’s a good idea that every bathtub has some non-slip strips so your feet have a textured patch for stability.

  • Medicine Door Latch: If you have little kids or anyone with memory lapses, you should take extra attention regarding prescription medicine. Safeguard your pills and syrups by getting a medicine cabinet with a locking latch.

  • GFCI Circuits: While installing better outlets in the kitchen, you will have to also use a safer GFCI outlet on every bathroom circuit. This will stop the flow of the electric current if water enters the outlet or there’s an unusual surge from a curling iron or hair dryer.

Child's Bedroom Safety Checklist

Kid’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Montgomery

A child’s bedroom should pair safety with manageability. If their window shades or other items are safe but difficult to operate, then your kids may perform dangerous methods -- like scale a bookshelf -- to touch them. Here are 5 easy, and safe, ideas:

  • No Cord Window Coverings: Safety professionals have long called window treatment cords an unsuspecting danger for children and animals. Use motorized treatments that you can easily open and close via remote control. Or better yet, connect your motorized treatments to your ADT smart hub so they open automatically when it’s time to get up, and close at bedtime for extra privacy.

  • Tableside Security Camera: A camera sitting on your kid’s desk can act as a baby monitor that you can view with a smartphone. And when they want your help, they can hit the 2-way talk feature on the camera.

  • Outlet Plug Covers: While each outlet should use protective covers on them for your young children, this is doubly important in a child’s bedroom. It’s the one place in your home where your children will most likely hang out by themselves without constant parental supervision.

  • Window Safety Ladder: If you have bedrooms on above the first level, then you should have a window escape ladder. These should let a young one escape in case the stairway or downstairs are engulfed in smoke and fire. Make sure to go over how to employ them one or two times a year.

  • Toy Chest Or Low Bookshelves: It’s strange to view a toy chest as a safety component, but you’ll see the light if you’ve ever stepped on an action figure in your bare feet. A uncluttered floor gives your child a quick way out when there’s a safety or security event.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist

Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Montgomery

Your main bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety components make you more responsive if you experience an emergency event. After all, being startled awake by a high-decibel alarm can be quite a shock.

  • Security System Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your bedside table helps you know what’s happening without jumping out of bed. You could alternatively turn on your ADT smartphone app but, the HD touchscreen can be easier to use to use when you’re bleary-eyed and confused.

  • Device Charging Stand: We use our smartphones for almost everything now GPS, internet searches, time wasters, and maybe even phones. However, a depleted phone will cut us off from reaching help if something goes wrong. So, a charging cord or station becomes an essential.

  • Nightlight/Smart Lights: A small light can calm you when you’re bolted awake from a siren or other loud noises. If you have trouble falling asleep with a nightlight, put in a smart bulb in your bedroom. Then you can get light on-demand with a button push or voice command.

  • Fireproof Safe: Keep your important documents like birth certificates, medical information, or banking information in a fireproof safe. This can be a big one that is located out of the way or a small portable lockbox that you can grab on your way out during a fire or other emergency.

  • Temperature Sensor: The problem with bedrooms is that they tend to be too stuffy or be chilly since they are located far from the thermostat. A temperature sensor will communicate to your smart thermostat so you will have a comfortable, restful sleep at the perfect temperature.

Garage Safety Checklist

Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Montgomery

Most safety needs in the basement or garage deal with your water heater or heating system. Discovering hazards early can prevent larger problems later on. So, as you take a look around your garage or basement, check over these critical items:

  • Water Sensor Or Sump Pump Alarm: Putting a flood sensor in back of your water heater and sump pump drain can stop you from finding a mess when you step into your garage or basement. Do you really want to spend your weekend bailing out water?

  • Carbon Monoxide Detector: It’s beneficial to have a CO alarm in an area where a gas leak can occur. If you employ gas heat, you’ll want to hang a detector in the same area as your inbound pipes.

  • WiFi Water Shutoff Valve: If your water alarm senses a plumbing leak or a broken pipe, then you need to cut off the primary water pipe quickly. With a WiFi shutoff valve, you can block water flow from anywhere in the world. That’s helpful when you’re out of town and see a flood sensor text on your smartphone.

  • Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open leads to all sorts of problems. You can waste HVAC energy through that large opening, and all sorts of animals or intruders can just walk in. A sensor will notify you about an open garage door and lets you close it with your phone.

  • Heat Sensor: A temperature sensor in your basement or garage is a definite if you fret about freezing pipes. The heat in these rooms can be surprisingly different than the main part of the home, so you may want to have a closer eye on the temp with the ADT mobile app.

Outside perimeter checklist

Outside Perimeter Safety Checklist for Montgomery

Your front yard, driveway, and front step are just as crucial to make safe as the inside of your home. Try this checklist to defend your perimeter:

  • Outdoor Camera: You can place outdoor security cameras to alert you to unusual movement in your back yard. These cameras are especially useful in areas where you may not have a view -- like around a cellar or by the garage.

  • Window Height Shrubbery: Tall foliage can create some solitude, but they also hinder your view of the yard. Don’t give potential burglars a dark shadow to hide. Plus, large bushes, shrubs or trees against your structure can jam up gutters and invite ants and termites.

  • ADT Yard Signs: One of the biggest discouragements for a break-in is advertising to potential intruders that you use a state-of-the-art home security system. An ADT yard stick by the front door and a window cling will alert ne'er-do-wells that they might want to shove off to an less prepared house.

  • Motion Controlled Flood Light Fixtures: Light is the largest obstacle to people who lurk in the dark. Motion-triggered lights on your deck, porch, or garage can help scare lurkers away. Lights also help you work the locks when you come back home on those dark, winter nights.

Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help Complete Your Home Safety Checklist for Montgomery

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t deliver each household item on your Montgomery home safety checklist, we can discuss a customized home security. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can customize the perfect system for your home’s needs. Simply phone (334) 219-7426 to get started or fill out the form below. Or customize your own solution with our Security System Designer.