Home Safety Checklist For Columbia

Staying safe and secure in your house should be your number one concern. But are you overlooking one or two useful safety components? Use this home safety checklist for Columbia and see where your house requires an update.

We give you five whole-home safety items, and then we delve down to specific room ideas. Then, you can call (803) 380-6011 or fill out the form below to speak to a security agent.

General Home Safety Checklist for Columbia

While you should use a individual room method for home safety, there are some items that work for the whole-house approach. These items can talk together through a touchscreen hub, and can even respond to one another. You can also manage every one of your home safety equipment through a mobile app, like ADT Control:

Monitored Home Security System: Each one of your doors and windows should use a sensor that warns your family to a break-in. After your alarm goes off, your monitoring agent responds to the alert and quickly contacts the police or fire department.

Smart Lights For Each Room: Sure, you can schedule your smart lights to make your home more eco-conscience. But they can also allow you to keep safe throughout an emergency. Have your smart bulbs come on when a security alarm goes off to shoo off intruders or illuminate the way out to a secure place.

Smart Thermostat: Like your smart lights, a smart thermostat in Columbia could save you 10%-15% in utility spending. But it also can flip on an exhaust fan if you have a fire.

Monitored Fire Alarms: It’s code that you will have a smoke detector on every level. You can increase your fire readiness by hanging a monitored fire alarm that detects unusual heat and smoke, and pings your 24/7 monitoring agents when it thinks that there’s a fire.

Smart Lock For Every Door: Every door that utilizes a keyed lock can use a smart door lock. Now you can assign numbered codes to family and friends and get alerts to your phone when the locks are used. Your smart lock can even automatically turn off, allowing you to quickly leave during a fire or other emergency.

Living Room/Family Room Safety Checklist For Columbia

You’ll spend a lot of time in your family room, so it’s the perfect area to start making your home safer. Popular items, like a TV or stereo system, usually sit in your living room, making it a tempting space for thieves. Start with placing a motion detector or security camera in there, then continue on with all these safety protocols:

Motion Detectors: By hanging motion detectors, you’ll get a loud noise whenever they sense unexpected motion within your family room. Look for motion sensors that aren’t set off by pets or you’ll get a tripped alarm each time your pet comes in for a midnight stroll.
Indoor Security Camera: An indoor security camera offers a constant watch on your living room. Get real-time streams of the area so you can see what’s downstairs from the mobile app. Or speak with family members in the family room by using the two-way talk feature.
Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Safeguard all your electronics and quit overloading your outlets with a surge protector. For additional convenience, use a smart plug with surge protection in the unit.
Entertainment Center Secured To The Wall: If you have any small children, you’ll want to attach your entertainment center or other heavy furniture to a wall. This is extra important if your living room has carpet that can make heavy objects extra wobbly.
Enhanced Locks For Sliding Doors: If your family room uses a glass door that slides out to a patio, deck, or porch, you can see that the lock is usually flimsy. Install a custom lock, like a cross bar or small locks that bolt to the bottom and top of the opening.

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Columbia

The kitchen has plenty of items that should bring safety and security to your home. Some of these items are also simple to add and can be found in the grocery store:

Fire Extinguisher: A fire can come from from an unwatched skillet or a faulty burner. Always store a fire extinguisher at the ready for any kitchen mishaps.
GFCI Box On Each Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be standard on outlets where there’s nearby running water to prevent electrocution. That means the plugs close to your sink and kitchen counter. Since 1987, it’s been required to have one circuit interrupter outlet per circuit. But all your outlets will go if any outlet detects a surge, so you’re going to want to install a separate GFCI per outlet.

Monitored CO Detector: A CO detector is needed in kitchens that use natural gas for the oven and range. If your gas lines leak, the carbon monoxide detector will cause a high-decibel sound and call your monitoring professional.
Cleaning Wipes Or Spray: The largest safety issue in the kitchen is the viruses, bacteria, and cross-contamination that comes with uncooked meat and vegetables. Always keep antiviral wipes or spray to clean your counters when making a meal.
Refrigerator/Freezer Alarm: The items in the fridge have to stay at a cold temperature to be ready to use. If you leave the refrigerator door ajar, then a small beep will tell you to close the door. Some fridges already have this installed, older models won’t, and you’ll have to buy a fridge alarm from online.

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Columbia

Just because there’s not a lot of space in your bathroom there’s still safety hazards. From flood prevention to medicine care, here are a few safety ideas for your bathroom:

Flood Sensors: A leaking toilet or shower can cause extensive water damage. Discover leaks early with a flood detector and save the time and money from renovations.
Textured Shower Mats: A slip and fall in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing cuts, bruises, or sprained ankles. You can steer clear from these hazards with a non-slip bath mat for your wet feet.

Textured Bathtub Strips: Another water hazard, a bathtub can be a slippery area to move in. Make sure every bathtub has some textured strips so your feet have a textured patch for stability.

Medicine Door Lock: If you have little toddlers or someone with memory lapses, you need to take additional attention regarding prescribed medicine. Hide away your pills and syrups by installing a medicine cabinet with a latch that locks.

GFCI Circuits: Just like the kitchen, you should also install a surge protecting circuit interrupter outlet on each bathroom receptacle. This will cut the current if water splashes on them or there’s a sudden spike from a curling iron or hair dryer.

Kid’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Columbia

Your kid’s bedroom should pair safety with manageability. If their window treatments or other things are safe but hard to use, then your child may perform unsafe methods -- like shimmying up a chest of drawers -- to use them. Try these straightforward, and safe, ideas:

Cordless Window Coverings: Safety professionals have identified cords from shades and blinds a hidden danger for children and animals. Put in motorized treatments that you can easily manage via remote control. Or better yet, link your motorized coverings to your ADT security system so they can raise on a schedule when the sun comes up, and lower at night for an easier sleep.

Tableside Security Camera: An indoor security camera placed on your child’s dresser can act like an HD baby monitor that you can see from your phone. And when they need your help, they can hit the intercom talk button on the camera.

Outlet Covers: While every outlet should have protective covers on them when you have young children, this is especially important in their bedroom. It’s the one place in your home where your toddler will most likely be alone without constant additional supervision.

Window Fire Ladder: If you have bedrooms on the second story, then you will want to put in a window escape ladder. These will let a young one get out of their room even if the stairs or lower levels are on fire. Make sure to practice how to use them one or two times a year.

Toy Box 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 tramped on a Lego in your bare feet. A uncluttered floor means a quick retreat during a fire or break-in.

Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Columbia

The main bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety items give you peace of mind if you have an emergency. After all, being startled awake by a wailing siren can be confusing.

Smart Hub Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your nightstand helps you know what’s happening without leaving your bed. You could always use your ADT mobile app but, the HD touchscreen can be easier to use to use when you’re coming out of sleep and disoriented.

Phone Charging Area: We use our smartphones for almost everything now alarm clocks, internet searches, time wasters, and maybe even phones. However, a depleted cell in the middle of the night cuts us off from communications if something goes wrong. So, a charging station or cord becomes should be used nightly.

Nightlights Or Voice Activated Smart Lights: A tiny light helps ground you when you’re startled awake from an alarm or other loud noises. If you have trouble falling asleep with a nightlight, put in smart lights in your bedroom and hall. Then you can have light simply with a mobile device or voice direction.
Fireproof Lockbox: Keep your important documents like insurance cards, stock certificates, or banking information in a fireproof safe. Your lockbox can be a big one that is located in a corner or a smaller handheld lockbox that you can grab as you escape during an emergency event.

Temperature Sensor: The issue with most bedrooms is that they can run too hot or be chilly since they are located far from the thermostat. A temperature sensor will talk to your smart thermostat so you can have a pleasant, restful sleep at just the right temperature.

Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Columbia

Most safety issues in the garage or basement are with your water or furnace. Discovering issues early can stop larger problems later on. So, as you walk around your storage areas, take note of these critical items:

Water Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Placing a flood sensor by your water heater or sump pump can save you from finding a lake when you go into your basement or garage. Do you really want to lose your day drying the floor?

CO Detector: It’s beneficial to install a carbon monoxide detector in a place where a natural gas leak can happen. If you employ gas heating, you’ll want to hang a detector in the same place as your unit.
Wireless Water Shutoff Valve: If your water alarm finds a plumbing leak or a broken pipe, then you will want to shut off the primary water line immediately. With a wireless shutoff valve, you can turn off your water flow from your phone. That’s nice when you’re on vacation and see a water leak text on your smartphone.
Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open leads to all types of issues. You can waste HVAC energy through that gaping hole, and all sorts of animals or lurkers can just saunder in. A sensor will text you about a neglected garage door and lets you lower it through the app.
Heat Sensor: A temperature sensor in your basement or garage is handy if you worry about freezing pipes. The temperature in these areas can be wildly different than your main rooms of the home, so you may need to maintain a constant look on them through the ADT mobile app.

Outside Perimeter Safety Checklist for Columbia

Your foliage, drive, and front walk are just as crucial to secure as the interior of your house. Try the items on this checklist to defend your perimeter:

Doorbell Camera: See who’s arrived at the front door before you open it and talk to guests. Get a visual on deliveries and look at video clips if they disappear.

Outdoor Security Camera: You can place outdoor security cameras to notify you about unusual lurkers in your yard. These cameras are nice in places where you may not have a view -- like a side yard or by the garage door.

Window Height Shrubbery: Overgrown shrubs can offer some solitude, but they also obscure your view of the outside. Don’t provide potential thieves a place to hide. Plus, large bushes or greenery too close to your house can obstruct gutters and summon ants and termites.
ADT Signs And Decals: One of the largest disincentives for home intrusion is telling potential burglars that you have an updated home security system. An ADT sign by the main walk and a window decal will tell ne'er-do-wells that they should move on to an less prepared target.

Motion Activated Outside Lighting: Light is the greatest enemy to people who skulk in the unlit places. Motion-activated lighting on your deck, porch, or garage can shoo possible intruders away. They also help you get inside when you get to the house on those dark, winter nights.

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

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with every item on your Columbia home safety checklist, we can install a state-of-the-art home security. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can personalize the ideal system for your home’s needs. Simply phone (803) 380-6011 for more information or send in the form below. Or personalize your own system with our Security System Designer.