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Home Safety Checklist For Cleveland

Being safe in your house should be your number one responsibility. But are you overlooking some useful safety components? Look over this home safety checklist for Cleveland and discover where your house requires greater attention.

We give you a few whole-home safety techniques, and then we delve down on a room level. Then, contact (216) 273-8448 or complete the form below to talk to a security professional.

Whole Home Safety Checklist

Whole Home Safety Checklist for Cleveland

While you should use a room-by-room process for home safety, there are some items that work for the entire house approach. These components can talk with one another through a touchscreen hub, and can even work off one another. You can also manage every one of your home safety devices with a smartphone app, such as ADT Control:

  • Monitored Security System: Each one of your doors and windows should have a sensor that warns you and your family to a break-in. When your alarm triggers, your monitoring expert picks up the call and sends a first responder.

  • Smart Lights For Every Major Room: Of course, you can program your smart lights to become more eco-conscience. But smart lights can also allow you to stay safe throughout an emergency. Have your downstairs lights flash on when a security alarm trips to scare off intruders or illuminate the way out to a secure area.

  • Smart Thermostat: Likewise, a smart thermostat in Cleveland could save you up to 15% in utility costs. It also can turn on your exhaust fan during a fire.

  • Monitored Fire Alarms: At the very least, you should have a smoke detector on each level. You can increase your fire readiness by installing a monitored fire detector that senses both smoke and heat, and alerts your 24-hour monitoring experts when it detects a fire.

  • Smart Locks: Every door that uses a deadbolt can upgrade to a smart lock. Now you can preset numbered codes to each family member and receive texts to your phone when they are unlocked. Your smart lock can even automatically unlock, allowing you to quickly flee the house when you have an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist

Living Room/Family Room Safety Checklist For Cleveland

You’ll spend most of your time in the family room, so it’s the most reasonable place to start your home safety optimization. Electronics, like your TV or video game console, typically sit in your family room, making it a popular space for robbers. Start with placing a motion detector or indoor camera in there, then try some of these suggestions:

  • Motion Sensors: By putting in motion detectors, you’ll have a shrieking noise if they sense suspicious motion in your family room. Look for motion detectors that filter out a dog or cat or you’ll have your sirens go off each time your dog passes through for a drink of water.

  • Security Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a constant watch on your living room. Watch real-time feeds of your room so you can know what’s happening without leaving your bed. Or talk with your kids in the room by using the two-way talk feature.

  • Surge Protector/Outlet Maintenance: Safeguard all your electronics and stop overloading your electric system with a surge protector. For extra convenience, use a smart plug with a surge protector included.

  • Furniture Bolted To The Wall: If you have babies or toddlers, you’ll want to attach your heavy furniture and entertainment center to your wall. This is extra crucial if your family room has carpeting that might make objects extra wobbly.

  • Special Locks For Sliding Glass Doors: If your family room uses a sliding door that opens to a patio, deck, or screened-in porch, you can see that the door lock is usually thin. Put in an enhanced lock, like a bottom bar or locks that secures the door to the top and bottom of the frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Cleveland

The kitchen has plenty of items that should bring comfort and safety to your house. Some of these items are also simple to add and should be purchased from the a retail store:

  • Fire Extinguisher: A fire can come from from a neglected frying pan or an errant grease splatter. Always keep a fire extinguisher in close reach for any cooking emergencies.

  • Circuit Interrupter Box On Each Outlet: A circuit interrupter outlet should be used everywhere there’s nearby running water to lessen the chance of a deadly shock. That means the plug outlets close to your kitchen counter and sink. Since 1987, it’s been required to have one circuit interrupter outlet per dedicated circuit. But all your plugs will go dead if any outlet sees a surge, so you’ll want to install a separate GFCI on each outlet.

  • Monitored CO Detector: A CO detector is advised for the kitchen if you have a gas oven and stove. If your gas lines spring a leak, the carbon monoxide detector will play a loud noise and contact your monitoring professional.

  • Cleaning Wipes Or Spray: The largest safety issue in the kitchen is actually bacteria and cross-contamination from blood from meat and other foods. Always have cleaning wipes or spray to sanitize your counters after making a meal.

  • Freezer and Refrigerator Alarm: The food items in the fridge have to remain at a chilly temperature to be safe to use. If you accidently leave the refrigerator door open, then a constant beep will remind you to close the door. Some fridges already have this installed, others don’t, and you’ll have to pick up a refrigerator alarm from the store.

Bathroom Safety Checklist

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Cleveland

Just because you may not have a bunch of square footage in your bathroom, you will still have safety issues. From water problems to electric safety, here are five safety improvements for your bathroom:

  • Flood Detectors: A leaking toilet or shower can create extensive damage. Discover water problems early with a flood detector before they generate hundreds to thousands of dollars in renovations.

  • Non-slip Bathroom Mats: A slip and fall in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing bumps, bruises, or broken bones. Make sure you avoid these problems with a non-slip bath mat for after your bath or shower.

  • No-slip Bathtub Strips: Another water hazard, a bathtub can be a slippery place to be on. It’s a good idea that each bathtub has some no-slip stickers so your feet and toes have a bumpy patch to gain traction.

  • Medicine Door Latch: If you have young kids or someone with memory complications, you have to take extra attention regarding medicine. Hide away your bottles by using a medicine cabinet with a child-proof lock.

  • Circuit Interrupter Outlet: Similarly to the kitchen, you should also install a safer GFCI outlet on every bathroom circuit. These will cut the current if water enters the outlet or you have an unusual surge from a hair dryer or curling iron.

Child's Bedroom Safety Checklist

Kid’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Cleveland

Your child’s bedroom should counterbalance safety with manageability. If their window shades or other items are safe but hard to operate, then your children may try dangerous methods -- like climb a bookshelf -- to use them. Here are 5 easy, yet safe, ideas:

  • Cordless Window Coverings: Safety professionals have identified corded window treatments a hidden hazard for kids and pets. Put in motorized shades that your child can easily control via remote control. Or better yet, pair your motorized coverings to your ADT security system so they open automatically when the sun comes up, and lower at bedtime for an easier sleep.

  • Tableside Security Camera: A camera sitting on your kid’s dresser can double as a high tech baby monitor that you can watch from a smartphone. And if they need something, they can push the two-way talk feature that comes with the camera.

  • Outlet Plug Covers: While each outlet should have outlet safety caps on them when you have small children, this is especially needed in their bedroom. It’s the main place in your house where your child will most likely play alone without constant parental supervision.

  • Window Escape Ladder: If you have bedrooms on an upper level, then you need to install a window safety ladder. These will help your children get out of their room in case the stairs or lower levels are on fire. Just remember to practice how to use the ladder at least twice a year.

  • Toy Chest Or Low Bookshelves: It’s weird to think about a toy box as a safety device, but you’ll see the light 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 fire or break-in.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist For Cleveland

Your master bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety components make you more responsive when you have an emergency. After all, being wrenched awake by a wailing buzzer can be disorienting.

  • Security System Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your nightstand gives you a sense of what’s what that noise was without jumping out of bed. You could always log into your ADT mobile app. However, the touchscreen can be better to use when you’re yawning and disoriented.

  • Device Charging Area: We rely on our smartphones for almost everything now GPS, news readers, social media, and maybe even phones. However, a depleted phone in the middle of the night cuts us off from reaching help if there’s a problem. To make sure your phone always works, a charging station or cord is should be used nightly.

  • Nightlight/Smart Lights: A tiny light can calm you when you’re jolted awake from a fire alarm or other loud sounds. If you can’t fall asleep with a nightlight, install a smart bulb in your bedroom. Then you can have light on-demand with a push of a button or voice direction.

  • Fireproof Safe: Keep your essential papers like insurance cards, passports, or banking information in a fireproof safe. This can be a bigger one that camps out out of the way or a small handheld safe that you can grab on your way out during a fire or break-in.

  • Temperature Sensor: The problem with a master bedroom is that they might feel too stuffy or be cold because they sit across the house from the thermostat. A temperature sensor can communicate to your smart thermostat so you can have a nice, peaceful sleep at just the right climate.

Garage Safety Checklist

Garage/Basement Safety Checklist For Cleveland

Most safety problems in the basement or garage deal with your water or furnace. Discovering problems at the source can stop more devastating disasters in the future. So, as you take a look around your storage areas, take note of these crucial items:

  • Flood Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Installing a flood sensor next to your water heater and sump pump can save you from finding a pond when you go into your garage or basement. It’s sure better than sifting through a heap of soggy storage boxes.

  • CO Detector: It’s nice to install a CO detector in areas where a gas leak can spring up. If you have gas heat, try to put a detector in the same place as your unit.

  • Remote Water Shutoff Valve: If your water alarm senses a hot water heater leak or a busted pipe, then you will want to cap the main water line quickly. With a remote shutoff valve, you can stop water flow from any mobile device. That’s helpful when you’re visiting relatives and see a flood sensor notification on your phone.

  • Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage door up causes all types of headaches. You can lose a bunch of heat or air through that large opening, and critters or thieves can just saunder in. A sensor will notify 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 a definite if you fret about freezing pipes. The temperature in these rooms can be drastically different than the main part of the home, so you will need to keep a closer eye on them through your mobile app.

Outside perimeter checklist

Outside Perimeter Safety Checklist for Cleveland

Your front yard, drive, and front step are just as crucial to defend as the interior of your home. Try this checklist to create a safe outside:

  • Outdoor Security Camera: You can place outdoor security cameras to notify you about suspicious movement in your yard. These security cameras come in handy in places where you might not have a window -- like a side yard or by the garage.

  • Low Shrubbery: High bushes can offer some privacy, but they also obscure your view of the outside. Don’t provide potential thieves a place to hide. Plus, large shrubs or trees around your home can obstruct gutters and bring in pests.

  • ADT Yard Signs: One of the most popular disincentives for home intrusion is alerting potential burglars that you have a state-of-the-art home security system. An ADT yard sign by the front door and a window cling will alert people that they should keep walking to an less prepared score.

  • Motion Controlled Flood Light Fixtures: Light is the greatest obstacle to people who sneak around in the shadows. Motion-activated flood lights on your deck, patio, or garage can shoo lurkers away. They also help you work the locks when you get home on those dark, winter nights.

Call Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You Finish Your Home Safety Checklist for Cleveland

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with non-security devices on your Cleveland home safety checklist, we can offer a powerful home security system. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can customize the perfect system for your house’s needs. Just call (216) 273-8448 and talk to a professional or complete the form below. Or personalize your own system with our Security System Designer.