Home Safety Checklist For Wilmington

Staying safe and secure in your home should be your number one priority. But are you missing one or two big safety components? Look over this home safety checklist for Wilmington and see where your home requires some work.

We give you a few whole-home safety items, and then we delve down on a room level. Then, contact (910) 263-6334 or complete the form below to speak to a security expert.

Basic Home Safety Checklist for Wilmington

While you will want to employ a room-by-room approach to home safety in Wilmington, there are a few items that work for a lot of your rooms. These components can talk with one another through a smart hub, and oftentimes work off one another. You might also manage all your home safety equipment using a mobile app, like ADT Control:

Monitored Security System: Each one of your entryways should employ a sensor that alerts you to intrusion. As the alarm goes off, your monitoring agent responds to the alert and contacts a first responder.

Smart Bulbs For Each Room: Sure, you can program your smart lighting so your home is more efficient. But they can also help you keep safe throughout an emergency. Make your lights come on when a security alarm triggers to scare off robbers or brighten a path to a safe location.

Smart Thermostat: Likewise, a smart thermostat in Wilmington can save you up to 15% in gas and electric costs. It also can start your exhaust fan if you have a fire.

Monitored Fire Detectors: It’s code that you have a smoke detector on every level of your house. You can improve your fire preparedness by installing a monitored fire alarm that looks for both smoke and heat, and pings your 24/7 monitoring experts when it detects a fire.

Smart Lock For Every Door: Every door that uses a keyed lock can use a smart lock. Now you may assign codes to friends and family and receive notifications to your smartphone when they are used. Your locks can even automatically unlock, allowing you to quickly flee the house if you have an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist For Wilmington

You’ll spend a lot of time in your family room, so it’s the perfect place to start making your home a safer place. Popular items, like a TV or video game console, typically are located in your living room, making it a tempting room for robbers. Start with placing a motion sensor or indoor camera by the doorway, then try some of these safety protocols:

Motion Sensors: By putting in motion detectors, you’ll hear a loud noise whenever they sense unusual motion in your family room. Look for motion sensors that ignore pet movements or you’ll see your sirens go off every time your pet passes through for a midnight stroll.
Indoor Security Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a constant watch on your family room. Watch live streams of your room so you can know what’s happening through the mobile app. Or chat with family members when they come back from playing by using the two-way talk feature.
Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Safeguard expensive electronics and stop overburdening your circuits with a surge protector. For extra convenience, install a smart plug with anti-surge functionality built-in.
Entertainment Center Attached To The Wall: If you have curious kids, you’ll need to bolt your bookshelves and entertainment center to a wall. This is extra crucial if your living room uses rugs or carpet that could make objects extra unstable.
Enhanced Locks For Sliding Glass Doors: If your living room has a sliding door that slides out to a backyard, deck, or outside porch, you can see that the door lock is usually worthless. Put in a custom lock, like a cross bar or small locks that bolt to the bottom and top of the frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Wilmington

Your kitchen has plenty of items that can add safety to your house. Some of these things should be a snap to add and should be bought from the a retail store:

Fire Extinguisher: Fire can spring up from a neglected pot or an errant grease splatter. Always store a fire extinguisher at the ready for any cooking mishaps.
Circuit Interrupter Box On Each Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be used everywhere they’re close to running water to lessen the chance of an electric shock. That means the outlets by your sink and kitchen counter. For 30 years, it’s been code to have one GFCI per dedicated circuit. But for simplicity’s sake, try to install an unchained GFCI per outlet.

Monitored CO Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is advised for spaces that employ gas for the oven and stove. If your gas burners leak, the CO detector will emit a loud noise and ping your monitoring expert.
Clorox Wipes Or Spray: The largest safety hazard in the kitchen is the viruses, bacteria, and protein that comes with uncooked meat and dairy. Always keep cleaning wipes or a bleach spray to clean your surfaces before and after making a meal.
Refrigerator/Freezer Alarm: The items in your fridge need to stay at a chilly temperature to be safe to consume. If you leave the fridge or freezer door ajar, then a constant beep will let you know so you can close the door. Some fridges come with a pre-installed alarm, some do not, and you’ll have to buy a refrigerator alarm from online.

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Wilmington

Just because you don’t a lot of space in your bathroom doesn’t mean that there aren’t safety hazards. From flood detectors to anti-surge outlets, here are five safety tips for your bathroom:

Flood Detectors: A leaking toilet or bathtub can create an expensive amount of destruction. Find leaks early with a flood detector and save yourself from redoing the whole bathroom.
Non-slip Bathroom Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be devastating, causing bumps, sore joints, or trips to the hospital. Make sure you steer clear from these issues with a textured bathroom mat for while you towel off.

No-slip Bathtub Stickies: Like a tiled floor, a bathtub can be a slippery surface to move in. It’s a good idea that each tub has some textured stickies so your feet and toes have a rough patch for stability.

Medicine Door Latch: If you have little children or someone with memory lapses, you need to take extra care regarding medicine. Secure your pills and syrups by installing a medicine cabinet with a locking latch.

Circuit Interrupter Outlet: Similarly to the kitchen, you should also install a grounded GFCI outlet on every bathroom receptacle. These will stop the flow of the electric current if water enters the outlet or they experience a sudden jolt from a hair dryer or curling iron.

Child’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Wilmington

Your kid’s bedroom should pair safety with simplicity. If their window shades or other things are safe but difficult to operate, then your kids may perform risky activities -- like climb a dresser -- to touch them. Try these easy, yet safe, ideas:

No Cord Window Treatments: Safety professionals have identified cords from shades and blinds a hidden hazard for kids and pets. Install motorized blinds or shades that kids can easily manage with a remote. Or go state-of-the-art and connect your motorized treatments to your security system so they can raise automatically when the sun comes up, and close at night for added darkness.

Tableside Security Camera: An indoor security camera sitting on your kid’s desk or dresser can behave as an HD baby monitor that you can view with your phone. And when they need something, they can push the intercom talk feature included on the camera.

Outlet Plug Covers: While every outlet should use outlet safety caps on them for your little children, this is especially urgent in their bedroom. It’s the one room in your house where your child will most likely hang out solo without constant additional supervision.

Window Safety Ladder: If you have bedrooms on the second story, then you should put in a window fire ladder. These should let a child get out of their room in case the stairs or lower levels are on fire. Make sure to go over how to employ them a few times a year.

Toy Box Or Low Bookshelves: It’s interesting to look at a toy box as a safety component, but you’ll get it if you’ve ever walked on an action figure in your bare feet. A clutter-free floor means a quick way out during a safety or security event.

Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Wilmington

The main bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety items make you more responsive if there's an emergency event. After all, being jerked awake by a loud alarm can be quite a shock.

Security System Touchscreen: Having a smart hub on your bedside table gives you a sense of what’s happening without getting out of bed. You could always turn on your ADT mobile app but, the large touchscreen can be faster to use when you’re yawning and confused.

Phone Charging Station: We use our phones for almost everything now alarms, internet searches, games, and --legend has it-- even phones. The only problem is that a depleted cell can cut us off from the outside world if there’s a problem. To keep it nice and ready, a charging station or cord becomes should be used nightly.

Smart Lights Or Nightlights: A small light can calm you when you’re bolted awake from an alarm or other loud noises. If you have trouble falling asleep with a small nightlight, install smart lights in your fixtures. Then you can have light simply with a push of a button or voice command.
Fireproof Safe: Stash your important papers like insurance cards, medical information, or a bankbook in a fireproof lockbox. This can be a large one that sits in your closet or a slender portable safe that you can snatch on your way out during an emergency event.

Heat Sensor: The drawback with a master bedroom is that they can be too warm or be frigid since they are far from the thermostat. A temperature sensor will communicate to your smart thermostat so you can have a pleasant, restful sleep at the perfect climate.

Garage/Basement Safety Checklist For Wilmington

Most safety needs in the basement or garage have to do with your water heater or heating system. Seeing problems at the source can stave away larger problems in the future. So, as you take a look around your storage areas, pay attention to these safety items:

Water Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Placing a flood sensor next to your water heater and sump pump drain can save you from finding a lake when you step into your garage or basement. It’s definitely better than rummaging through a heap of soiled storage boxes.

CO Alarm: It’s nice to install a CO alarm in areas where a natural gas leak can spring up. If you use gas heat, you’ll want to put an alarm in the same place as your unit.
Remote Water Shutoff Valve: If your water alarm detects a hot water heater leak or a burst pipe, then you will have to cut off the primary water valve at once. With a WiFi shutoff valve, you can block water flow from any mobile device. That’s perfect when you’re visiting relatives and receive a flood sensor text on your mobile device.
Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage up brings about all types of problems. You can lose a bunch of HVAC energy through that large opening, 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 through the app.
Heat Sensor: A temperature sensor in your garage or basement is essential if you fret about frozen pipes. The temperature in these areas can be wildly different than your main rooms of the house, so you will want to keep a closer eye on them with your security mobile app.

Outside Safety Checklist for Wilmington

Your foliage, driveway, and front porch are just as crucial to make safe as the inside of your home. Try this checklist to make your outside safe:

Doorbell Camera: See who’s arrived at the the front step before you open it and welcome guests. Get a visual on deliveries and review video clips if they are stolen.

Outdoor Camera: You can hang outdoor security cameras to guard against unusual movement in your back yard. These cameras are nice in places where you may not have a window installed -- like a side yard or by the garage.

Low Shrubbery: High bushes can offer some serenity, but they also obscure your view of the yard. Don’t provide potential burglars an area to hide. Plus, large bushes or trees too close to your structure can clog gutters and invite pests.
ADT Signs And Decals: One of the biggest disincentives for a thief is advertising to potential rogues that you use an updated security system. An ADT yard stick by the stoop and a window sticker will show ne'er-do-wells that they should move on to an easier house.

Motion Activated Flood Light Fixtures: Light is the biggest enemy to people who lurk in the dark. Motion-controlled lights on your deck, porch, or garage can shoo possible intruders away. Lights also help you see the walk when you get back home late at night.

Call Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help Complete Your Home Safety Checklist for Wilmington

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with every item on your Wilmington home safety checklist, we can install a customized security system. With easy-to-use devices and ADT monitoring, we can customize the best system for your house’s needs. Simply contact (910) 263-6334 and talk to a professional or complete the form below. Or personalize your own solution with our Security System Designer.