Home Safety Checklist For Johnson City
Keeping safe and secure in your home should be your number one concern. But are you overlooking a few big safety components? Take this home safety checklist for Johnson City and discover where your home requires some work.
We give you a few whole-house safety techniques, and then we delve down on a room level. Then, you can call (423) 241-8092 or fill out the form below to get your home set up.
Whole Home Safety Checklist for Johnson City
While you will want to take a room-by-room process for home safety in Johnson City, there are some things that are useful for your entire home. These items can sync with one another through a touchscreen hub, and oftentimes respond to one another. You can also control every one of your home safety devices with a mobile security app, such as ADT Control:
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Monitored Home Security System: Each one of your doors and windows should use a sensor that alerts you to forced entry. After your alarm goes off, your monitoring expert answers the alert and quickly contacts the police or fire department.
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Smart Lighting For Most Rooms: Of course, you can set your smart bulbs to make your house more energy-efficient. But smart lights can also help you keep safe in an emergency. Make your smart bulbs flash on when a security alarm trips to shoo off robbers or illuminate a path to a secure area.
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Smart Thermostat: Likewise, a smart thermostat in Johnson City could save you up to 15% in utility costs. It also can start an exhaust fan when your alarms senses a fire.
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Monitored Fire Detectors: It’s code that you should have a fire alarm on every floor. You can increase your fire game by utilizing a monitored fire alarm that looks for excessive smoke and heat, and pings your round-the-clock monitoring agents when it senses a fire.
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Smart Locks: Every doorway that uses a deadbolt can use a smart door lock. Now you can assign codes to each family member and receive texts to your mobile device when the locks are activated. Your smart lock can even automatically turn off, helping you to quickly flee the house during an emergency.
Family Room Safety Checklist For Johnson City
You’ll spend a lot of time in the living room, so it’s the perfect area to improve your home safety. Electronics, like a TV or video game console, probably reside in your family room, making it a tempting area for robbers. Start with hanging a motion detector or indoor camera in there, then try some of these ideas:
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Motion Detectors: By installing motion detectors, you’ll have a high-decibel alarm whenever they detect suspicious motion within your living room. You’ll want motion detectors that filter out pets or you’ll get a tripped alarm every time your pet passes through for a midnight stroll.
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Security Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a constant watch on your family room. View real-time feeds of the area so you can find out what’s going on without leaving your bed. Or chat with family members when they get back from playing with the two-way talk feature.
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Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Protect those electronics and quit overburdening your electric system with a surge protector. For added convenience, set up a smart plug with anti-surge functionality built-in.
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Furniture Attached To The Wall: If you have curious kids, you’ll want to attach your entertainment center or other heavy furniture to the wall. This is especially important if your family room uses rugs or carpet that might make furniture extra wobbly.
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Special Locks For Glass Doors: If your living room uses a sliding glass door that slides out to a patio, deck, or screened-in porch, you probably can see that the latch is pretty worthless. Install an enhanced lock, like a bottom bar or small locks that bolt to the top and bottom of the door frame.
Kitchen Safety Checklist For Johnson City
The kitchen has many items that can add comfort and safety to your home. Most of these items should be a snap to add and can be purchased from the Target or Walmart:
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Fire Extinguisher: Fire can come from from a neglected pot or a towel that’s too close to a burner. Always have a fire extinguisher at the ready for any kitchen mishaps.
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Circuit Interrupter Box On Every Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be installed everywhere there’s nearby running water to prevent electrocution. That means the outlets around your kitchen counter and sink. Since 1987, it’s been code to have one circuit interrupter outlet per dedicated circuit. But for simplicity’s sake, you’ll want to have a single GFCI for every outlet.
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Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is recommended for kitchens that have gas for the oven and stove. If your gas appliances malfunction, the carbon monoxide detector will emit a loud noise and ping your monitoring expert.
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Clorox Wipes Or Spray: The biggest safety problem in the kitchen is actually bacteria and protein that comes with raw meat and other foods. Always have antiviral wipes or spray to sanitize your counters when preparing food.
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Refrigerator Alarm: The milk, meat, and perishables in the refrigerator have to stay at a chilly temperature to stay healthy to use. If you accidently leave the fridge or freezer door open too long, then a small beep will tell you to close the door. Some appliances already have this installed, others don’t, and you’ll have to pick up a refrigerator alarm from online.
Bathroom Safety Checklist For Johnson City
Just because you don’t a bunch of space in your bathroom doesn’t mean that there aren’t safety hazards. From flood prevention to anti-surge outlets, here are some safety tips for your bathroom:
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Flood Sensors: A leaking sink or bathtub can create an expensive amount of water damage. Find out early about water problems with a flood detector and save a bunch of money from renovations.
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Textured Shower Mats: A slip and fall in the bathroom can be devastating, causing bumps, sore joints, or trips to the hospital. Make sure you avoid these problems with a textured bath mat for while you towel off.
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Non-slip Bathtub Stickers: Like a tiled floor, a tub basin can be a slippery area to stand in. It’s a good idea that each tub has some textured strips so your feet and toes have a bumpy patch for stability.
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Medicine Door Latch: If you have young kids or anyone with memory lapses, you have to take additional attention regarding medicine. Hide away your prescriptions by using a medicine cabinet with a locking latch.
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Circuit Interrupter Outlet: Just like the kitchen, you will have to also put in a safer circuit interrupter outlet on every bathroom circuit. This will cut the current if they ever get wet or you have an unusual jolt from a curling iron or hair dryer.
Children’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Johnson City
Your child’s bedroom should balance safety with manageability. If their window coverings or other items are safe but tricky to manage, then your children may try unsafe activities -- like scale a chest of drawers -- to use them. Try these straightforward, yet safe, ideas:
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Cordless Window Coverings: Safety agencies have designated corded window treatments a secret danger for both children and pets. Install motorized blinds or shades that kids can easily manage with a remote. Or go state-of-the-art and pair your shades to your ADT smart hub so they open automatically when the sun comes up, and lower at night for extra privacy.
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Indoor Security Camera: An indoor security camera placed on your child’s desk or dresser can double as an HD baby monitor that you can see with your phone. And when they need something, they can push the intercom talk button included on the camera.
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Outlet Plug Covers: While every outlet should use protective covers on them to protect your young children, this is especially urgent in a child’s bedroom. It’s the one room in your home where your child will most likely play by themselves without constant parental supervision.
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Window Fire Ladder: If you use bedrooms on the second story, then you should put in a window fire ladder. These should let a young one escape in case the stairs or ground floor are on fire. Make sure to practice how to unfurl them at least twice a year.
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Toy Chest Or Low Bookshelves: It’s weird to think about a toy box as a safety item, but you’ll understand if you’ve ever walked on a Lego in your stocking feet. A uncluttered floor gives your child a quick way out if there’s an emergency.
Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Johnson City
Your master bedroom should be an oasis, so let your safety items give you peace of mind if there's an emergency. After all, being wrenched awake by a high-decibel siren can be disorienting.
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Security System Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your dresser gives you a sense of what’s what that noise was without getting out of bed. You could always turn on your ADT smartphone app but, the touchscreen can be easier to manage to use when you’re bleary-eyed and disoriented.
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Device Charging Station: We depend on our phones for almost everything now alarm clocks, internet searches, games, and maybe even phones. However, a depleted device can cut us off from communications if there’s a problem. To make sure your phone always works, a charging station or cord becomes should be used nightly.
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Smart Lights Or Nightlights: A tiny light helps ground you when you’re jolted awake from a fire alarm or other loud sounds. If you won’t drift off to sleep with a small nightlight, install smart lights in your bedroom and hall. Then you can control light anytime with a push of a button or vocal command.
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Fireproof Safe: Keep your important documents like birth certificates, medical information, or a bankbook in a fireproof safe. Your lockbox can be a bigger one that sits in a corner or a slender handheld lockbox that you can snatch on your way out during a fire or break-in.
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Heat Sensor: The drawback with a master bedroom is that they tend to run too stuffy or be cold since they are located across the house from the thermostat. A temperature sensor can communicate to your smart thermostat so you can have a comfortable, restful sleep at just the right climate.
Garage/Basement Safety Checklist For Johnson City
Most safety issues in the basement or garage are with your water heater or heating system. Discovering issues before they start can stave away bigger disasters in the future. So, as you walk around your garage or basement, pay attention to these crucial items:
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Flood Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Putting a flood sensor in back of your water heater and sump pump drain can save you from finding a mess when you step into your garage or basement. It’s much better than sorting through a heap of soggy storage boxes.
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CO Alarm: It’s beneficial to have a CO alarm in an area where a natural gas leak can spring up. If you have a gas furnace, you should install a detector in the same area as your inbound pipes.
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Remote Water Shutoff Valve: If your water detector senses a plumbing leak or a burst pipe, then you will want to cap the main water line at once. With a wireless shutoff valve, you can block water flow from anywhere in the world. That’s helpful when you’re visiting relatives and get a flood sensor text on your mobile device.
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Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open causes all types of issues. You can waste heat or air through that gaping hole, and rodents or lurkers can just saunder in. A sensor will text you about an open garage door and lets you close it through the app.
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Temperature Sensor: A temperature sensor in your garage or basement is handy if you wonder about frozen pipes. The temperature in these rooms can be drastically different than your main rooms of the home, so you will need to maintain a closer eye on the temperature with your mobile app.
Outside Safety Checklist for Johnson City
Your yard, driveway, and front porch are just as crucial to defend as the inside of your house. Try the items on this checklist to make your outside safe:
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Doorbell Camera: See who’s arrived at the front door before you answer it and welcome visitors. View packages and look at video clips if they are taken.
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Outdoor Camera: You can hang outdoor security cameras to guard against suspicious movement in your back yard. These devices are especially useful in areas where you might not have a window installed -- like a side yard or by the garage.
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Window Height Bushes: Overgrown foliage can offer some serenity, but they also block your line of sight of the yard and curb. Don’t give potential thieves an area to hide. Plus, high bushes, shrubs or trees against your structure can obstruct gutters and bring in ants and termites.
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ADT Signs And Decals: One of the largest discouragements for a thief is advertising to aspiring burglars that you have an updated home security system. An ADT sign by the main walk and a window decal will show lurkers that they might want to keep walking to an less prepared house.
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Motion Activated Porch Lighting: Light is the greatest enemy to those who lurk in the dark. Motion-controlled lighting on your deck, porch, or garage can help scare possible intruders away. Lights also help you get inside when you arrive home late after work.
Use Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You Finish Your Home Safety Checklist for Johnson City
While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with every item on your Johnson City home safety checklist, we can install a state-of-the-art home security system. With easy-to-use devices and ADT monitoring, we can customize the ideal system for your home’s needs. Just phone (423) 241-8092 to get started or send in the form below. Or personalize your own ADT system with our Security System Designer.