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Home Safety Checklist For Newark

Staying safe and secure in your residence should be your largest priority. But are you forgetting a few big safety components? Take this home safety checklist for Newark and find out where your home requires greater attention.

We give you five whole-home safety ideas, and then we whittle it down room-by-room. Then, call (973) 320-7894 or fill out the form below to talk to a security expert.

Whole Home Safety Checklist

General Home Safety Checklist for Newark

While you will want to use a room-by-room method for home safety, there are some items that are good for each part of your house. These devices can talk to each other through a wireless hub, and can even respond to other things. You might also manage each of your home safety devices using a mobile security app, such as ADT Control:

  • Monitored Home Security System: Each one of your doors and windows should employ a sensor that notifies you and your family to intrusion. After an alarm goes off, your monitoring center picks up the call and quickly calls the police or fire department.

  • Smart Lights For Most Rooms: Sure, you can set your smart bulbs so your home is more eco-conscience. But they can also help you remain safe in an emergency. Have your lights flash on when an alarm goes off to shoo off robbers or illuminate the way out to a safe area.

  • Smart Thermostat: Likewise, a smart thermostat in Newark should save you up to 15% in energy spending. It also can start the exhaust fan during a fire.

  • Monitored Fire Alarms: It’s code that you need to have a fire detector on each level. You can increase your fire preparedness by utilizing a monitored fire alarm that senses unusual smoke and heat, and notifies your 24/7 monitoring agents when it senses a fire.

  • Smart Lock For Every Door: Every entryway that uses a deadbolt can upgrade to a smart lock. Now you may assign codes to family and friends and receive alerts to your mobile device when the locks are activated. Your doors can even automatically turn off, helping you to quickly leave if you have an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist

Living Room/Family Room Safety Checklist For Newark

You’ll spend most of your time in the living room, so it can be the best room to begin your home safety renovation. Highly sought after items, like a big screen or video games, probably are located in your family room, making it an alluring area for burglars. Start with hanging a motion sensor or indoor security camera in there, then continue on with the following safety protocols:

  • Motion Detectors: By hanging motion detectors, you’ll get a loud noise anytime they sense suspicious movement in your family room. The best devices are motion sensors that filter out pet movements or you’ll see a tripped alarm every time your pet passes through for a midnight stroll.

  • Indoor Security Camera: An indoor security camera puts an eye on your living room. Watch constant streams of your room so you can find out what’s downstairs through the mobile app. Or talk with your family in the living room by using the two-way talk feature.

  • Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Make sure you protect all your electronics and stop overloading your circuits with a surge protector. For added convenience, set up a smart plug with anti-surge functionality included.

  • Heavy Furniture Attached To The Wall: If you have curious kids, you’ll need to secure your entertainment center or other heavy furniture to your wall. This is extra crucial if your living room has carpet that can make heavy objects extra unstable.

  • Enhanced Locks For Sliding Doors: If your living room uses a glass door that slides out to a patio, deck, or porch, you know that the latch is usually worthless. Install a special lock, like a bottom bar or small locks that bolt to the top and bottom of the door frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Newark

Your kitchen has many items that can bring comfort and safety to your house. Many of these things are also simple to add and can be found in the grocery store:

  • Fire Extinguisher: A fire can happen from a neglected pot or an errant grease splatter. Always have a fire extinguisher at the ready for any cooking emergencies.

  • Circuit Interrupter Box On Each Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be standard everywhere they’re by running water to ward off an electric shock. That includes the plug outlets by your sink and kitchen counter. For 30 years, it’s been required to have one GFCI per dedicated circuit. But if you don’t want your whole kitchen to go dead when one outlet surges, you’re going to want to have a single GFCI for every outlet.

  • Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is recommended for the kitchen if you use natural gas for the oven and stove. If your gas appliances spring a leak, the CO detector will emit a high-decibel siren and ping your monitoring expert.

  • Clorox Wipes Or Spray: The most overlooked safety problem in the kitchen is actually bacteria and contamination from raw meat and vegetables. Always have antiviral wipes or an antibacterial spray to sanitize your area after cooking.

  • Refrigerator/Freezer Alarm: The milk, meat, and perishables in your fridge should remain at a cold temperature to stay ready to use. If you accidently leave the refrigerator door ajar, then a small beep will let you know so you can close the door. Some appliances already have an alarm, older models don’t, and you’ll have to pick up a fridge alarm from the hardware store.

Bathroom Safety Checklist

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Newark

Just because you don’t a bunch of room in your bathroom there’s still safety hazards. From flood prevention to electric safety, here are five safety ideas for your bathroom:

  • Flood Detectors: A leaking sink or tub can create extensive water damage. Discover water problems early with a flood detector and save yourself from reflooring the whole bathroom.

  • No-slip Shower Mats: A fall in the bathroom can be painful, causing bumps, gashed heads, or sprained ankles. Or avoid these hazards with a non-slip bathroom mat for while you towel off.

  • Textured Bathtub Strips: Likewise, a bathtub can be a slick surface to stand in. It’s a good idea that each tub has some no-slip strips so your toes have a bumpy patch to grip.

  • Medicine Door Lock: If you have little children or anyone with memory difficulties, you have to take extra attention regarding prescription medicine. Hide away your bottles by using a medicine cabinet with a latch that locks.

  • GFCI Circuits: Similarly to the kitchen, you will have to also install a surge protecting circuit interrupter outlet on every bathroom outlet. These will cut the current if water enters the outlet or there’s an unusual surge from a curling iron or hair dryer.

Child's Bedroom Safety Checklist

Children’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Newark

Your child’s bedroom should pair safety with simplicity. If their window treatments or other things are safe but difficult to use, then your kids may try unsafe activities -- like scale a dresser -- to open them. Try these easy, and safe, ideas:

  • Cord-Free Window Coverings: Safety professionals have identified window treatment cords a secret danger for children and animals. Put in motorized blinds or shades that your child can easily manage via remote. Or better yet, pair your shades to your ADT smart hub so they rise automatically at dawn, and close in the evening for extra privacy.

  • Indoor Security Camera: A security camera placed on your kid’s dresser can behave just like an HD baby monitor that you can see with your phone. And if they want something, they can use the two-way talk button that comes with the camera.

  • Outlet Covers: While each outlet should use covers on them when you have little children, this is doubly urgent in a child’s bedroom. It’s the main place in your house where your toddler will most likely be alone without consistent adult supervision.

  • Window Safety Ladder: If you have bedrooms on above the first floor, then you will want to put in a window fire ladder. These should let a child get out of their room when the hallway or lower levels are engulfed in smoke and fire. Just remember to rehearse how to use the ladder a few times a year.

  • Toy Box Or Low Bookshelves: It’s weird to look at a toy box as a safety device, but you’ll understand if you’ve ever tramped on a building block in your stocking feet. A clean floor let your child have a quick retreat when there’s a safety or security event.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist

Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Newark

Your bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety devices give you peace of mind if you have an emergency. After all, being startled awake by a wailing buzzer can be quite a shock.

  • Home Security Touchscreen: Having a smart hub on your bedside table helps you know what’s going on without leaving your bed. You could alternatively use your ADT phone app but, the HD touchscreen is often easier to control to use when you’re bleary-eyed and confused.

  • Personal Charging Area: We depend on our cell phones for so much now GPS, news readers, time wasters, and maybe even phones. However, a depleted device will cut us off from communications if during an emergency. To keep it nice and ready, a an easy-to-use charging station becomes an essential.

  • Nightlight/Smart Lights: A tiny light can be a beacon when you’re jolted awake from a siren or other loud noises. If you can’t fall asleep with a nightlight, put in smart lights in your fixtures. Then you can get light anytime with a button push or voice command.

  • Fireproof Safe: Keep your vital papers like insurance cards, stock certificates, or a bankbook in a fireproof lockbox. Your lockbox can be a large one that sits out of the way or a slender handheld safe that you can snatch on your way out during a fire or other emergency.

  • Temperature Sensor: The drawback with a master bedroom is that they tend to run too hot or be chilly because they are located far away from the thermostat. A temperature sensor can talk to your smart thermostat so you can have a comfortable, relaxing sleep at just the right temperature.

Garage Safety Checklist

Garage/Basement Safety Checklist For Newark

Most safety problems in the basement or garage deal with your water or HVAC system. Discovering hazards before they start can stop more devastating disasters in the future. So, as you walk around your garage or basement, take note of these crucial items:

  • Water Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Installing a flood sensor next to your water heater or sump pump drain can stop you from wading into a pond when you walk into your garage or basement. It’s much better than sifting through a heap of soiled storage boxes.

  • CO Detector: It’s beneficial to hang a CO alarm in an area where a natural gas leak can spring up. If you have gas heat, try to install an alarm in the same area as your inbound pipes.

  • Remote Water Shutoff Valve: If your water detector detects a plumbing leak or a burst pipe, then you will want to shut off the primary water pipe immediately. With a remote shutoff valve, you can turn off your water flow from your phone. That’s perfect when you’re out of town and get a water leak alert on your mobile device.

  • Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open causes all sorts of problems. You can waste heat through that gaping hole, and all sorts of animals or intruders can just wander in. A remote sensor will notify you about a neglected garage door and lets you lower it with your phone.

  • Heat Sensor: A temperature alarm in your garage or basement is essential if you fret about your pipes freezing. The temperature in these areas can be drastically different than the main part of the house, so you will need to maintain a closer eye on the temperature with the ADT mobile app.

Outside perimeter checklist

Outside Perimeter Safety Checklist for Newark

Your landscaping, driveway, and front porch are just as important to defend as the rest of your home. Use this checklist to defend your perimeter:

  • Outdoor Camera: You can install outdoor cameras to notify you about late night movement in your back yard. These security cameras are nice in areas where you might not have a window -- like around a cellar or by the garage door.

  • Low Shrubbery: Tall shrubs can create some privacy, but they also hinder your view of the yard and curb. Don’t provide potential thieves a place to hide. Plus, tall bushes, shrubs or trees too close to your house can jam up gutters and summon bugs.

  • ADT Yard Signs: One of the biggest discouragements for home intrusion is telling would-be burglars that you use an updated home security system. An ADT sign by the stoop and a window decal will alert lurkers that they should move on to an easier target.

  • Motion Controlled Flood Lighting: Light is the largest deterrent to people who sneak around in the unlit places. Motion-triggered flood lights on your porch, garage, or deck can shoo possible intruders away. They also help you get inside when you arrive to the house late after work.

Use Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You With Your Home Safety Checklist for Newark

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t deliver non-security devices on your Newark home safety checklist, we can bring you a state-of-the-art security system. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can install the best system for your family’s needs. Simply phone (973) 320-7894 to get started or complete the form below. Or customize your own system with our Security System Designer.