Staying safe in your house should be your largest responsibility. But are you missing a few useful safety items? Use this home safety checklist for Salem and see where your house needs greater attention.
This guide begins with five whole-home safety ideas, and then we delve down to specific room ideas. Then, you can call (503) 300-4371 or complete the form below to speak to a security agent.
General Home Safety Checklist for Salem
While you will want to take a room-to-room process for home safety, there are a few items that work for the entire house approach. These components can sync with one another through a touchscreen hub, and oftentimes respond to one another. You can also manage each of your home safety devices through a mobile app, like ADT Control:
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Monitored Smoke Detectors: At the very least, you have a smoke detector on each level of your house. You can improve your fire game by hanging a monitored fire detector that looks for excessive smoke and heat, and alerts your 24/7 monitoring experts when it detects a fire.
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Smart Door Locks: Every door that utilizes a deadbolt can use a smart door lock. Now you may assign codes to family and friends and receive alerts to your mobile device when your locks are activated. Your locks can even automatically unlock, helping you to quickly leave during a fire or other emergency.
Family Room/Living Room Safety Checklist For Salem
You’ll spend a lot of time in the family room, so it may be the most reasonable area to start making your house safer. Electronics, like a big screen or stereo system, usually sit in your family room, making it a popular area for burglars. Begin with hanging a motion detector or indoor security camera in there, then continue on with some of these suggestions:
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Motion Detectors: By installing motion detectors, you’ll have a loud alarm anytime they detect suspicious movement within your living room. The best devices are motion sensors that aren’t set off by a dog or cat or you’ll see a tripped alarm every time your cat comes in for a midnight stroll.
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Security Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a constant watch on your living room. Get live feeds of your room so you can see what’s going on without leaving your bed. Or talk with your kids in the family room using the two-way talk feature.
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Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Protect those electronics and stop overburdening your electric system with a surge protector. For added convenience, use a smart plug with anti-surge functionality built-in.
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Heavy Furniture Secured To The Wall: If you have babies or toddlers, you’ll need to secure your heavy furniture and entertainment center to a wall. This is extra important if your family room has carpeting that might make furniture extra unstable.
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Enhanced Locks For Glass Doors: If your living room uses a sliding glass door that opens to a patio, deck, or porch, you already know that the lock is usually flimsy. Install a custom lock, like a cross bar or locks that bolt to the bottom and top of the door frame.
Kitchen Safety Checklist For Salem
Your kitchen has room for items that can provide safety to your home. Most of these items are also simple to add and can be purchased from the grocery store:
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Fire Extinguisher: Fire can come from from a neglected pot or an errant grease splatter. Always keep a fire extinguisher in close reach for any kitchen mishaps.
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Circuit Interrupter Box On Each Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be installed on outlets where they’re close to running water to prevent a deadly shock. That means the outlets close to your kitchen counter and sink. Since the late ‘80s, it’s been standard to have one GFCI per dedicated circuit. But each one of your plugs will go if one outlet sees a surge, so you’ll want to have an unchained GFCI per outlet.
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Monitored CO Detector: A CO detector is advised for kitchens that have a gas stove and oven. If your gas lines leak, the carbon monoxide detector will cause a loud, buzzing sound and ping your monitoring agent.
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Clorox Wipes Or Spray: The biggest safety hazard in the kitchen is the invisible bacteria and cross-contamination from uncooked meat and vegetables. Always keep antiviral wipes or a bleach spray to clean your counters before and after preparing food.
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Refrigerator/Freezer Alarm: The milk, meat, and perishables in the refrigerator need to stay at a cold temperature to stay safe to use. If you leave the freezer or refrigerator door open, then a constant beep will let you know so you can close the door. Some fridges already have a pre-installed alarm, older models won’t, and you’ll have to pick up a refrigerator alarm from the store.
Bathroom Safety Checklist For Salem
Just because there’s not a bunch of room in your bathroom there’s still safety issues. From flood detectors to electric safety, here are some safety improvements for your bathroom:
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Flood Sensors: A leaking sink or shower can cause extensive damage. Discover pooling water early with a flood detector before they bring about hundreds of dollars in ruined floors, walls, and fixtures.
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No-slip Bath Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be painful, causing bumps, sore joints, or sprained ankles. Or steer clear from these hazards with a no-slip bath mat for while you towel off.
Children’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Salem
Your child’s bedroom should counterbalance safety with accessibility. If their window coverings or other things are safe but hard to use, then your children may perform unsafe activities -- like shimmying up a bookshelf -- to use them. Here are some simple, yet safe, ideas:
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Cord-Free Window Treatments: Safety agencies have long called corded window treatments a hidden hazard for kids and pets. Install motorized treatments that you can easily control via remote. Or go state-of-the-art and pair your motorized treatments to your security system so they rise without anyone’s help when it’s time to get up, and lower in the evening for an easier sleep.
Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Salem
Your main bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety components make life easier if you have an emergency event. After all, being startled awake by a wailing buzzer can be confusing.
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Personal Charging Station: We depend on our cell phones for so many things now alarm clocks, internet searches, time wasters, and --legend has it-- even phones. The only problem is that an uncharged cell will cut us off from communications if something goes wrong. So, a an easy-to-use charging station is an important part of your nightstand.
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Nightlight/Smart Lights: A small light can calm you when you’re jolted awake from a siren or other noises. If you have trouble falling asleep with an outlet light, use smart lights in your bedroom and hall. Then you can get light anytime with a button push or voice direction.
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Fireproof Lockbox: Stash your vital documents like social security cards, medical information, or a bankbook in a fireproof lockbox. This can be a big one that camps out out of the way or a smaller handheld lockbox that you can snatch as you escape during a fire or other emergency.
Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Salem
Most safety issues in the basement or garage are with your pipes or HVAC system. Discovering issues at the source can stop more devastating emergencies in the future. So, as you look around your garage or basement, pay attention to these critical items:
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CO Alarm: It’s beneficial to install a CO alarm in an area where a gas leak can happen. If you have a gas furnace, you should install a detector in the same room as your unit.
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Wireless Water Shutoff Valve: If your flood detector detects a plumbing leak or a broken pipe, then you will want to cap the main water pipe immediately. With a remote shutoff valve, you can stop water flow from any mobile device. That’s helpful when you’re visiting relatives and get an emergency leak notification on your smartphone.
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Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open brings about all types of headaches. You can waste heat through that gaping hole, and critters or thieves can just saunder in. A remote sensor will text you about an open garage door and lets you lower it through the app.
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Temperature Sensor: A temperature alarm in your garage or basement is a definite if you wonder about frozen pipes. The temperature in these rooms can be wildly different than the rest of the house, so you may want to keep a closer eye on the temperature through your mobile app.
Outside Safety Checklist for Salem
Your yard, drive, and front walk 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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Low Bushes: Overgrown shrubs can create some serenity, but they also obscure your line of sight of the outside. Don’t offer potential intruders a dark shadow to hide. Plus, tall bushes or greenery too close to your house can obstruct gutters and bring in pests.
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ADT Signs And Decals: One of the most popular disincentives for a thief is advertising to aspiring burglars that you have an updated home security system. An ADT yard stick by the main walk and a window sticker will show people that they might want to keep walking to an easier house.
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Motion Triggered Flood Light Fixtures: Light is the biggest enemy to people who skulk in the unlit places. Motion-controlled flood lights on your porch, garage, or deck can frighten possible intruders away. Flood lights also help you see the walk when you arrive back home late after work.
Use Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You With Your Home Safety Checklist for Salem
While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with non-security devices on your Salem home safety checklist, we can bring you a powerful home security. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can customize the best system for your house’s needs. Simply contact (503) 300-4371 to get started or complete the form below. Or customize your own ADT system with our Security System Designer.