Home Safety Checklist For Roanoke

Staying safe and secure in your home should be your largest concern. But are you forgetting one or two big safety components? Take this home safety checklist for Roanoke and find out where your living space needs greater attention.

We give you some whole-home safety techniques, and then we break it down to specific room ideas. Then, phone (540) 212-9084 or complete the form below for additional information.

Essential Home Safety Checklist for Roanoke

While you will want to use a room-to-room method for home safety in Roanoke, there are some methods that work for all of your rooms. These devices can link together through a touchscreen hub, and often can work off other things. You can also manage all your home safety equipment through a smartphone app, such as ADT Control:

Monitored Security System: All your doors and windows should have a sensor that warns your family to a break-in. After your alarm goes off, your monitoring team answers the alert and quickly calls emergency personnel.

Smart Bulbs For Every Major Room: Of course, you can schedule your smart bulbs to become more eco-conscience. But they can also allow you to remain safe throughout an emergency. Make your downstairs lights flash on when a sensor trips to scare off robbers or brighten your way to a safe area.

Smart Thermostat: Like your smart lights, a smart thermostat in Roanoke should save you between 10%-15% in utility costs. Also, it can start your exhaust fan when your alarms senses a fire.

Monitored Smoke Detectors: At the very least, you need to have a fire alarm on each floor. You can improve your fire preparedness by utilizing a monitored fire alarm that looks for unusual smoke and heat, and pings your 24-hour monitoring team when it detects a fire.

Smart Door Locks: Every entryway that needs a deadbolt can upgrade to a smart door lock. Now you can program key codes to friends and family and receive alerts to your smartphone when your locks are unlocked. Your doors can even automatically turn off, allowing you to quickly leave during an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist For Roanoke

You’ll hang out most in the family room, so it can be the perfect place to improve your home safety. Highly sought after items, like a big screen or video game console, usually reside in your living room, making it a tempting space for burglars. Start with installing a motion sensor or security camera in there, then try some of these safety protocols:

Motion Sensors: By putting in motion detectors, you’ll hear a high-decibel alarm if they sense unexpected motion in your family room. You’ll want motion sensors that filter out a dog or cat or you’ll have your sirens go off every time your pet roams by for a midnight stroll.
Security Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a visual on your family room. Get constant feeds of the area so you can find out what’s going on from the mobile app. Or speak with family members when they arrive back from school by using the two-way talk feature.
Surge Protector/Outlet Maintenance: Make sure you protect those electronics and quit overburdening your outlets with a surge protector. For additional energy-efficiency, set up a smart plug with anti-surge functionality in the unit.
Furniture Secured To The Wall: If you have babies or toddlers, you’ll want to attach your entertainment center or other heavy furniture to your wall. This is especially crucial if your family room uses rugs or carpet that could make objects extra unbalanced.
Special Locks For Glass Doors: If your family room has a sliding door that opens to a patio, deck, or porch, you can see that the lock is usually flimsy. Use a special lock, like a cross bar or small locks that are located on the bottom and top of the opening.

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Roanoke

Your kitchen has room for items that should add comfort and safety to your house. Some of these things should be simple to add and should be bought from the a retail store:

Fire Extinguisher: A fire can spring up from a neglected pot or a towel that’s too close to a burner. Always have a fire extinguisher at the ready for any cooking mishaps.
GFCI Box On Each Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be used anywhere they’re close to running water to ward off electrocution. That includes the plug outlets around your kitchen counter and sink. Since the late ‘80s, it’s been required to have one circuit interrupter outlet per circuit. But for simplicity’s sake, you’ll want to use a single GFCI on each outlet.

Monitored CO Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is advised for kitchens that have natural gas for the oven and stove. If your gas burners malfunction, the carbon monoxide detector will cause a high-decibel siren and contact your monitoring agent.
Disinfectant Wipes Or Spray: The biggest safety problem in the kitchen is the invisible bacteria and contamination that comes with blood from meat and dairy. Always store disinfectant wipes or an antibacterial spray to sanitize your counters when cooking.
Freezer and Refrigerator Alarm: The milk, meat, and perishables in your fridge should stay at a constant temperature to be healthy to eat. If you leave the freezer or refrigerator door open, then an alarm beep will tell you to close the door. Some fridges already have an alarm, older models do not, and you’ll have to get a refrigerator alarm from online.

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Roanoke

Just because there’s not a bunch of square footage in your bathroom, you will still have safety issues. From flood prevention to medicine care, here are some safety ideas for your bathroom:

Flood Detectors: A leaking sink or bathtub can cause extensive destruction. Find water problems early with a flood detector and save a bunch of money from damage.
Non-slip Bath Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing pulled muscles, gashed heads, or broken bones. Make sure you avoid these issues with a no-slip bath mat for while you towel off.

Textured Bathtub Strips: Likewise, a tub can be a slippery surface to stand in. It’s a good idea that every tub has some non-slip stickers so your feet have a textured patch to gain traction.

Medicine Door Lock: If you have curious kids or someone with memory complications, you should take additional care regarding prescribed medicine. Hide away your bottles by getting a medicine cabinet with a child-proof lock.

Circuit Interrupter Outlet: While installing better outlets in the kitchen, you should also use a grounded GFCI outlet on each bathroom outlet. These will shut off the current if they ever get wet or you have an unusual jolt from a hair dryer or curling iron.

Children’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Roanoke

Your child’s bedroom should counterbalance safety with accessibility. If their window coverings or other items are safe but difficult to use, then your children may get around the device with dangerous activities -- like climb a chest of drawers -- to touch them. Here are some straightforward, and safe, ideas:

No Cord Window Treatments: Safety agencies have identified window treatment cords a secret problem for kids and pets. Install motorized blinds or shades that your child can easily open and close via remote control. Or go state-of-the-art and pair your shades to your security system so they open without anyone’s help when it’s time to get up, and close at night for an easier sleep.

Indoor Security Camera: A security camera placed on your toddler’s desk can act just like an HD baby monitor that you can see from a smartphone. And when they need your help, they can use the two-way talk feature on the camera.

Plug Covers: While every outlet should use outlet safety caps on them when you have little children, this is especially important in their bedroom. It’s the main place in your home where your children will most likely hang out by themselves without adult supervision.

Window Escape Ladder: If you have bedrooms on above the first story, then you will want to install a window safety ladder. These should help a young one get out of their room when the hallway or lower levels are on fire. Make sure to practice how to employ the ladder at least twice a year.

Toy Box Or Low Bookshelves: It’s weird to view a toy chest as a safety component, but you’ll see the light if you’ve ever walked on an action figure in your stocking feet. A clutter-free floor means a quick way out during a fire or break-in.

Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Roanoke

The main bedroom should be an oasis, so let your safety components make life easier when you experience an emergency. After all, being wrenched awake by a loud alarm can be quite a shock.

Security System Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your nightstand helps you know what’s what that noise was without getting out of bed. You could also use your ADT mobile app. However, the HD touchscreen may be easier to manage to use when you’re bleary-eyed and finding your bearings.

Device Charging Station: We rely on our smartphones for so much now alarm clocks, web browsers, social media, and --legend has it-- even phones. But, an uncharged device in the middle of the night cuts us off from the outside world if during an emergency. So, a an easy-to-use charging station is should be used nightly.

Nightlight/Smart Lights: A tiny light helps ground you when you’re jolted awake from a fire alarm or other loud noises. If you can’t fall asleep with a small nightlight, put in a smart bulb in your bedroom and hall. Then you can get light anytime with a button push or voice direction.
Fireproof Lockbox: Store your essential documents like social security cards, stock certificates, or a spare checkbook in a fireproof safe. Your lockbox can be a bigger one that sits out of the way or a small portable lockbox that you can grab when you leave during a fire or break-in.

Temperature Sensor: The drawback with most bedrooms is that they might be too stuffy or be frigid since they are located far from the thermostat. A heat sensor can talk to your smart thermostat so you will have a nice, restful sleep at the perfect temperature.

Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Roanoke

Most safety needs in the garage or basement are with your water heater or furnace. Finding problems early can stop more devastating emergencies in the future. So, as you take a look around your storage areas, check over these crucial items:

Flood Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Placing a flood alarm by your water heater or sump pump drain can stop you from discovering a pond when you walk into your garage or basement. The last you need is to waste the weekend getting rid of standing water and sorting through all those soggy boxes.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm: It’s nice to hang a carbon monoxide alarm in areas where a natural gas leak can spring up. If you employ gas heat, you should install an alarm in the same place as your HVAC unit.
Wireless Water Shutoff Valve: If your flood detector senses a hot water heater leak or a broken pipe, then you will have to cap the primary water line immediately. With a remote shutoff valve, you can stop water flow from any mobile device. That’s nice when you’re on vacation and receive a water leak text on your smartphone.
Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage door open brings about all sorts of issues. You can lose heat or air through that gaping hole, and all sorts of animals or thieves can just saunder in. A sensor will alert you to a neglected garage door and allow you to close it through the app.
Heat Sensor: A heat sensor in your basement or garage is a definite if you fret about frozen pipes. The temperature in these rooms can be drastically different than the main part of the house, so you will want to have a closer eye on them through the ADT mobile app.

Outside Perimeter Safety Checklist for Roanoke

Your foliage, drive, and front step are just as important to defend as the inside of your house. Use this checklist to defend your perimeter:

Doorbell Security Camera: See who’s arrived at the front door before you answer it and chat with guests. See deliveries and look at video clips if they disappear.

Outdoor Security Camera: You can hang outdoor security cameras to alert you to late night activity in your yard. These cameras come in handy in areas where you may not have a view -- like around a cellar or by the garage.

Window Height Shrubbery: Overgrown foliage can give you some solitude, but they also obscure you seeing into the yard. Don’t provide potential burglars a place to hide. Plus, high bushes, shrubs or trees against your home can obstruct gutters and summon pests.
ADT Yard Signs: One of the most popular discouragements for a thief is telling potential intruders that you own a state-of-the-art security system. An ADT yard stick by the front door and a window sticker will show people that they ought to move on to an less prepared house.

Motion Controlled Porch Lights: Light is the biggest enemy to people who sneak around in the shadows. Motion-triggered flood lights on your deck, patio, or garage can frighten possible intruders away. They also help you see the walk when you arrive back home on those dark, winter nights.

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

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with every item on your Roanoke home safety checklist, we can offer a powerful home security system. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can install the best system for your house’s needs. Just call (540) 212-9084 for more information or fill out the form below. Or customize your own system with our Security System Designer.