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Home Safety Checklist For Davenport

Being safe in your home should be your number one responsibility. But are you overlooking some useful safety items? Use this home safety checklist for Davenport and find out where your living space requires some work.

This guide begins with some whole-house safety techniques, and then we whittle it down to specific room ideas. Then, phone (563) 231-4633 or fill out the form below to talk to a security agent.

Whole Home Safety Checklist

General Home Safety Checklist for Davenport

While you should take a individual room method for home safety in Davenport, there are a few items that work for multiple rooms. These devices can sync with one another through a touchscreen hub, and oftentimes work off other things. You can also control each of your home safety devices through a mobile security app, such as ADT Control:

  • Monitored Home Security System: Each one of your entryways should employ a sensor that notifies your family to forced entry. As your alarm goes off, your monitoring agent responds to the alert and immediately sends a first responder.

  • Smart Lights For Most Rooms: Of course, you can program your smart bulbs so your home is more eco-conscience. But smart lights can also allow you to keep safe during an emergency. Make your downstairs lights come on when a sensor trips to scare off robbers or brighten a path to a safe place.

  • Smart Thermostat: Like your smart lights, a smart thermostat in Davenport should save you 10%-15% in gas and electric spending. It also can turn on an exhaust fan when your alarms senses a fire.

  • Monitored Fire Detectors: At the very least, you should have a fire detector on every level. You can increase your fire preparedness by hanging a monitored fire alarm that looks for both smoke and heat, and alerts your round-the-clock monitoring team when it thinks that there’s a fire.

  • Smart Locks: Every entryway that needs a keyed lock can use a smart door lock. Now you may program numbered codes to family and friends and receive notifications to your smartphone when they are unlocked. Your smart lock can even automatically turn off, helping you to quickly get out if you have an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist

Living Room/Family Room Safety Checklist For Davenport

You’ll spend a lot of time in your family room, so it can be the best place to begin your home safety makeover. Electronics, like a big screen or video games, probably are located in your living room, making it a tempting room for thieves. Begin with placing a motion detector or security camera in your room, then continue on with the following safety protocols:

  • Motion Sensors: By hanging motion detectors, you’ll have a shrieking alarm anytime they detect unexpected movement within your family room. You’ll want motion detectors that ignore a dog or cat or you’ll see an alert every time your dog passes through for a midnight stroll.

  • Indoor Camera: An indoor security camera puts a visual on your family room. Watch live feeds of everything so you can see what’s downstairs through the mobile app. Or talk with family members when they arrive back from school by using the two-way talk feature.

  • Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Make sure you protect all your electronics and quit overburdening your outlets with a surge protector. For added comfort, use a smart plug with anti-surge functionality built-in.

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

  • Special Locks For Glass Doors: If your family room uses a glass door that slides out to a backyard, deck, or porch, you probably can see that the lock is usually flimsy. Use an enhanced lock, like a cross bar or small locks that bolt to the top and bottom of the door frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Davenport

Your kitchen has plenty of items that should bring comfort and safety to your home. Some of these items are also a snap to add and can be bought from the a retail store:

  • Fire Extinguisher: Fire can come from from an overfilled frying pan or an errant grease splatter. Always keep a fire extinguisher at hand for any kitchen mishaps.

  • GFCI Box On Each Outlet: A circuit interrupter outlet should be standard anywhere there’s nearby running water to lessen the chance of electrocution. That includes the outlets close to your kitchen counter and sink. Since 1987, it’s been code to have one circuit interrupter outlet per dedicated circuit. But if you don’t want every outlet to go dead when one outlet surges, you’re going to want to install a separate GFCI for every outlet.

  • Monitored CO Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is needed in the kitchen if you use natural gas for the stove and oven. If your gas appliances malfunction, the carbon monoxide detector will emit a loud, buzzing sound and ping your monitoring center.

  • Disinfectant Wipes Or Spray: The biggest safety problem in the kitchen is the viruses, bacteria, and cross-contamination from uncooked meat and vegetables. Always have antiviral wipes or an antibacterial spray to sanitize your surfaces when preparing food.

  • Freezer and Refrigerator Alarm: The items in the refrigerator should stay at a constant temperature to be healthy to consume. If you accidently leave the refrigerator door ajar, then a small beep will remind you to check the seal. Some appliances already have this installed, others do not, and you’ll have to pick up a refrigerator alarm from online.

Bathroom Safety Checklist

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Davenport

Just because you may not have a bunch of space in your bathroom, you will still have safety issues. From flood prevention to anti-surge outlets, here are some safety tips for your bathroom:

  • Flood Sensors: A leaking sink or bathtub can create extensive destruction. Get alerted early about leaks with a flood detector and save a bunch of money from renovations.

  • Textured Bath Mats: A slip and fall in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing bumps, sore joints, or trips to the hospital. You can avoid these problems with a no-slip bath mat for after your bath or shower.

  • Textured Bathtub Strips: Likewise, a bathtub can be a slippery area to move in. It’s a good idea that each tub has some textured stickers so your feet have a textured patch to gain traction.

  • Medicine Door Latch: If you have little toddlers or anyone with memory complications, you should take additional care regarding prescribed medicine. Safeguard your bottles by installing a medicine cabinet with a locking latch.

  • Circuit Interrupter Outlet: Just like the kitchen, you need to also use a surge protecting GFCI outlet on every bathroom circuit. This will stop the flow of the current if they ever get wet or they experience a sudden jolt from a curling iron or hair dryer.

Child's Bedroom Safety Checklist

Children’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Davenport

Your kid’s bedroom should counterbalance safety with simplicity. If their window coverings or other things are safe but tricky to manage, then your child may get around the device with dangerous methods -- like climb a bookshelf -- to use them. Here are some simple, and safe, ideas:

  • Cord-Free Window Coverings: Safety agencies have identified cords from shades and blinds a secret hazard for children and animals. Install motorized treatments that your child can easily open and close via remote control. Or better yet, pair your shades to your ADT security system so they open on a schedule at dawn, and close at bedtime for extra privacy.

  • Tableside Security Camera: An indoor security camera sitting on your child’s desk or dresser can double as a baby monitor that you can see with a mobile device. And when they want something, they can hit the two-way talk feature that comes with the camera.

  • Outlet Covers: While every outlet should have covers on them when you have young children, this is especially urgent in their bedroom. It’s the main place in your house where your children will most likely hang out alone without constant adult supervision.

  • Window Fire Ladder: If you use bedrooms on above the first level, then you need to put in a window escape ladder. These should help a child get out of their room even if the stairway or downstairs are blocked off with fire. Remember to practice how to employ the ladder at least twice a year.

  • Toy Chest Or Low Shelves: It’s strange to think about a toy box as a safety device, but you’ll understand if you’ve ever tramped on a building block in your socked feet. A clean floor let your child have a quick way out when there’s a fire or break-in.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist

Main Bedroom Safety Checklist For Davenport

The main bedroom should be your calm space, so let your safety components make you more responsive if there's an emergency event. After all, being startled awake by a loud siren can be quite a shock.

  • Security System Touchscreen: Having a smart hub on your nightstand lets you see what’s what that noise was without jumping out of bed. You could always log into your ADT phone app. However, the touchscreen is often faster to use when you’re bleary-eyed and disoriented.

  • Device Charging Station: We use our phones for almost everything now GPS, news readers, time wasters, and maybe even phones. The only problem is that a dead device can cut us off from the outside world if something goes wrong. To keep it nice and ready, a an easy-to-use charging station is should be used nightly.

  • Nightlight/Smart Lights: A tiny light can calm you when you’re jolted awake from an alarm or unexpected sounds. If you can’t fall asleep with a nightlight, use smart bulbs in your bedroom and hall. Then you can get light anytime with a push of a button or voice command.

  • Fireproof Safe: Keep your important paperwork like insurance cards, passports, or a bankbook in a fireproof lockbox. This can be a bigger one that is located in a corner or a small handheld safe that you can snatch as you escape during a fire or break-in.

  • Heat Sensor: The drawback with most bedrooms is that they might feel too stuffy or be cold because they sit far away from the thermostat. A temperature sensor will talk to your smart thermostat so you will have a comfortable, peaceful sleep at just the right temperature.

Garage Safety Checklist

Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Davenport

Most safety issues in the garage or basement have to do with your water heater or furnace. Seeing issues early can stop larger emergencies later on. So, as you take a look around your basement or garage, check over these crucial items:

  • Flood Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Putting a flood sensor in back of your water heater or sump pump can stop you from discovering a lake when you step into your basement or garage. Do you really want to lose your day bailing out water?

  • Carbon Monoxide Alarm: It’s beneficial to have a carbon monoxide alarm in an area where a natural gas leak can spring up. If you have a gas furnace, try to put a detector in the same area as your unit.

  • WiFi Water Shutoff Valve: If your water sensor detects a hot water leak or a busted pipe, then you will want to cap the main water line immediately. With a remote shutoff valve, you can block water flow from anywhere in the world. That’s perfect when you’re out of town and see a water leak alert on your phone.

  • Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage up brings about all types of problems. You can lose heat through that large opening, and critters or intruders can just wander in. A remote sensor will text you about a forgotten garage door and lets you close it through the app.

  • Heat Sensor: A temperature sensor in your basement or garage is essential if you worry about frozen pipes. The temperature in these areas can be wildly different than your main rooms of the house, so you may need to have a closer eye on the temperature through the ADT mobile app.

Outside perimeter checklist

Outside Perimeter Safety Checklist for Davenport

Your foliage, drive, and front porch are just as imperative to make safe as the interior of your house. Try the items on this checklist to make your outside safe:

  • Outdoor Security Camera: You can hang outdoor cameras to notify you about late night lurkers in your back yard. These devices are especially useful in areas where you might not have a view -- like a side yard or by the garage door.

  • Low Bushes: Tall foliage can give you some privacy, but they also obscure your line of sight of the yard. Don’t give potential intruders a place to hide. Plus, tall shrubs or foliage against your home can obstruct gutters and invite pests.

  • ADT Signage: One of the largest disincentives for a break-in is telling aspiring burglars that you own a state-of-the-art ADT security system. An ADT yard sign by the front door and a window decal will show people that they should shove off to an less prepared house.

  • Motion Triggered Outside Lighting: Light is the best deterrent to people who sneak around in the shadows. Motion-activated lights on your deck, porch, or garage can shoo lurkers away. They also help you see the walk when you get to the house late after work.

Use Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You Finish Your Home Safety Checklist for Davenport

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t install every item on your Davenport home safety checklist, we can offer a powerful home security system. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can install the ideal system for your family’s needs. Simply contact (563) 231-4633 to get started or complete the form below. Or customize your own ADT system with our Security System Designer.