ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving Saginaw & Surrounding Areas

Home Safety Checklist For Saginaw

Staying safe and secure in your home should be your topmost responsibility. But are you overlooking a few key safety components? Look over this home safety checklist for Saginaw and find out where your living space can use greater attention.

This guide starts with a few whole-house safety techniques, and then we whittle it down to specific room ideas. Then, you can call (989) 214-1746 or send in the form below to get your home safe and secure.

Whole Home Safety Checklist

Whole Home Safety Checklist for Saginaw

While you may want to use a individual room process for home safety in Saginaw, there are a few items that work for a lot of your rooms. These items can sync together through a smart hub, and oftentimes respond to other components. You can also control every one of your home safety devices using a mobile security app, such as ADT Control:

  • Monitored Security System: Each one of your windows and doors should employ a sensor that alerts you to forced entry. As your alarm goes off, your monitoring agent responds to the call and immediately calls emergency personnel.

  • Smart Bulbs For Most Rooms: Sure, you can schedule your smart lights so your home is more eco-conscience. But smart lights can also help you stay safe during an emergency. Have your downstairs lights flip on when a sensor trips to frighten off intruders or light your way to a outside place.

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

  • Monitored Smoke Detectors: At the very least, you need to have a fire detector on every level. You can increase your fire readiness by hanging a monitored fire detector that senses unusual heat and smoke, and alerts your round-the-clock monitoring team when it thinks that there’s a fire.

  • Smart Door Locks: Every doorway that needs a keyed lock can be made safer with a smart door lock. Now you may program codes to friends and family and get alerts to your mobile device when the locks are used. Your smart lock can even automatically unlock, helping you to quickly get out during a fire or dangerous situation.

Family Room Safety Checklist

Family Room/Living Room Safety Checklist For Saginaw

You’ll spend a lot of time in the living room, so it may be the most reasonable room to start making your house safer. Popular items, like your TV or stereo system, usually sit in your living room, making it a popular room for burglars. Begin with placing 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 siren anytime they detect unusual motion in your family room. You’ll want motion sensors that aren’t set off by a dog or cat or you’ll have a tripped alarm every time your dog roams by for a bite of food.

  • Security Camera: An indoor security camera offers a constant watch on your living room. Watch constant streams of your room so you can know what’s downstairs without leaving your bed. Or speak with family members in the room using the two-way talk feature.

  • Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Protect those electronics and stop overloading your circuits with a surge protector. For added energy-efficiency, install a smart plug with a surge protector built-in.

  • Furniture Secured To The Wall: If you have babies or toddlers, you’ll need to secure your entertainment center or other heavy furniture to a wall. This is extra important if your family room uses rugs or carpet that could make objects extra unbalanced.

  • Enhanced Locks For Sliding Doors: If your family room has a sliding door that leads to a backyard, deck, or porch, you get that the door lock is pretty worthless. Install a special lock, like a metal bar or locks that are located on the top and bottom of the frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Saginaw

The kitchen has room for items that can add safety and security to your home. Many of these objects are also simple to add and can be found in the a retail store:

  • Fire Extinguisher: Fire can spring up from an overfilled frying pan or an errant grease splatter. Always store a fire extinguisher at the ready for any stove or oven mishaps.

  • Circuit Interrupter Box On Every Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be standard everywhere there’s nearby running water to lessen the chance of a deadly shock. That includes the plugs around your sink and kitchen counter. For 30 years, it’s been code to have one circuit interrupter outlet per dedicated circuit. But for simplicity’s sake, you’ll want to use an unchained GFCI on each outlet.

  • Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is recommended for spaces that have a gas oven and range. If your gas lines spring a leak, the CO detector will emit a loud, buzzing sound and call your monitoring professional.

  • Disinfectant Wipes Or Spray: The largest safety problem in the kitchen is actually bacteria and protein that comes with blood from meat and dairy. Always have antiviral wipes or spray to clean your area after making a meal.

  • Refrigerator Alarm: The milk, meat, and perishables in the refrigerator have to stay at a chilly temperature to be ready to eat. If you accidently leave the freezer or refrigerator door ajar, then an alarm beep will tell you to shut it securely. Some appliances already have this installed, others won’t, and you’ll have to pick up an external alarm from online.

Bathroom Safety Checklist

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Saginaw

Just because you may not have a lot of square footage in your bathroom, you will still have safety hazards. From flood prevention to electric safety, here are a few safety tips for your bathroom:

  • Flood Sensors: A leaking sink or tub can create a whole lot of water damage. Find water problems early with a flood detector before they bring about hundreds of dollars in ruined floors, walls, and fixtures.

  • No-slip Bath Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing bumps, sore joints, or sprained ankles. You can steer clear from these problems with a textured bath mat for while you towel off.

  • Textured Bathtub Stickies: Likewise, a tub basin can be a slippery area to move in. Make sure every has some non-slip stickies so your toes have a bumpy patch to gain traction.

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

  • Circuit Interrupter Outlet: Just like the kitchen, you should also put in a surge protecting circuit interrupter outlet on every bathroom receptacle. This will shut off the electricity if water splashes on them or they experience an unusual jolt from a curling iron or hair dryer.

Child's Bedroom Safety Checklist

Kid’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Saginaw

A child’s bedroom should pair safety with manageability. If their window shades or other items are safe but tricky to manage, then your kids may get around the device with unsafe activities -- like climb a chest of drawers -- to open them. Try these simple, yet safe, ideas:

  • Cord-Free Window Coverings: Safety agencies have long called corded window treatments an unsuspecting danger for children and animals. Install motorized blinds or shades that your child can easily control via remote control. Or even better, link your motorized coverings to your security system so they can raise on a schedule when the sun comes up, and close in the evening for added darkness.

  • Tableside Security Camera: A security camera sitting on your kid’s dresser can double as an HD baby monitor that you can see from a smartphone. And when they need your help, they can use the intercom talk feature included on the camera.

  • Plug Covers: While every outlet should use protective covers on them to protect your little children, this is especially urgent in their bedroom. It’s the one place in your house where your toddler will most likely play by themselves without parental supervision.

  • Window Safety Ladder: If you use bedrooms on an upper floor, then you need to install a window safety ladder. These can help a young one get out of their room in case the stairs or downstairs are on fire. Remember to rehearse how to employ the ladder one or two times a year.

  • Toy Chest Or Low Shelves: It’s strange to look at a toy chest as a safety component, but you’ll see the light if you’ve ever walked on a Lego in your bare feet. A uncluttered floor gives your child a quick way out if there’s a fire or break-in.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist For Saginaw

Your master bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety items make you more responsive when you experience an emergency. After all, being jerked awake by a high-decibel alarm can be quite a shock.

  • Security System Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your nightstand gives you a sense of what’s going on without leaving your bed. You could alternatively turn on your ADT phone app. However, the large touchscreen is often better to use when you’re yawning and finding your bearings.

  • Personal Charging Station: We use our cell phones for so many things now alarm clocks, internet searches, games, and maybe even phones. The only problem is that a depleted device can cut us off from reaching help if during an emergency. To keep it nice and ready, a charging station or cord becomes an important part of your nightstand.

  • Smart Lights Or Nightlights: A small light helps ground you when you’re jolted awake from a siren or other sounds. If you won’t drift off to sleep with a small nightlight, put in smart lights in your bedroom and hall. Then you can control light on-demand with a push of a button or voice command.

  • Fireproof Safe: Store your essential paperwork like social security cards, medical information, or a bankbook in a fireproof safe. Your lockbox can be a large one that is located in your closet or a slender portable safe that you can grab when you leave during an emergency event.

  • Heat Sensor: The problem with most bedrooms is that they might be too hot or be frigid since they sit far away from the thermostat. A heat sensor can communicate to your smart thermostat so you can have a comfortable, restful sleep at just the right temperature.

Garage Safety Checklist

Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Saginaw

Most safety issues in the basement or garage have to do with your water or HVAC system. Finding issues early can prevent more devastating disasters later on. So, as you walk around your storage areas, take note of these critical items:

  • Water Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Installing a flood alarm in back of your water heater or sump pump drain can stop you from finding a lake when you walk into your basement or garage. The last you need is to lose the weekend getting rid of standing water and going through all those ruined boxes.

  • CO Detector: It’s beneficial to hang a CO detector in an area where a gas leak can occur. If you use gas heating, you’ll want to put an alarm in the same place as your HVAC unit.

  • WiFi Water Shutoff Valve: If your flood sensor detects a hot water leak or a broken pipe, then you will want to shut off the primary water line immediately. With a WiFi shutoff valve, you can stop water flow from any mobile device. That’s nice when you’re out of town and see a water leak notification on your smartphone.

  • Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open causes all types of issues. You can waste HVAC energy through that open door, and rodents or intruders can just wander in. A remote sensor will alert you to a forgotten garage door and allow you to close it through the app.

  • Heat Sensor: A heat alarm in your basement or garage is handy if you worry about freezing pipes. The temperature in these areas can be surprisingly different than your main rooms of the house, so you may need to have a closer eye on them by using your security mobile app.

Outside perimeter checklist

Outside Safety Checklist for Saginaw

Your front yard, driveway, and front walk are just as important to make safe as the inside of your house. Try this checklist to defend your perimeter:

  • Outdoor Camera: You can place outdoor security cameras to alert you to suspicious movement in your back yard. These devices are especially useful in areas where you may not have a window installed -- like around a cellar or by the garage.

  • Window Height Shrubbery: Tall shrubs can create some solitude, but they also block your line of sight of the outside. Don’t give potential intruders a dark shadow to hide. Plus, large shrubs or foliage against your home can clog gutters and invite bugs.

  • ADT Signage: One of the biggest discouragements for home intrusion is telling potential rogues that you own a monitored home security system. An ADT sign by the stoop and a window sticker will show people that they ought to shove off to an easier house.

  • Motion Activated Outside Lights: Light is the largest obstacle to people who sneak around in the dark. Motion-activated lighting on your deck, patio, or garage can shoo lurkers away. Flood lights also help you see the walk when you get to the house late at night.

Use Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You With Your Home Safety Checklist for Saginaw

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t deliver each household item on your Saginaw home safety checklist, we can install a state-of-the-art home security system. With everything from alarms to thermostats, we can customize the ideal system for your house’s needs. Just call (989) 214-1746 to get started or send in the form below. Or customize your own solution with our Security System Designer.