Home Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

Keeping safe and secure in your residence should be your number one priority. But are you overlooking some useful safety items? Take this home safety checklist for Chattanooga and find out where your home needs an update.

This guide begins with a few whole-house safety techniques, and then we whittle it down to specific room ideas. Then, call (423) 241-8594 or send in the form below for more information.

General Home Safety Checklist for Chattanooga

While you should take a room-by-room process for home safety, there are some things that work for the whole-house approach. These devices can sync together through a touchscreen hub, and oftentimes react to other things. You can also manage every one of your home safety devices through a smartphone app, like ADT Control:

Monitored Security System: All your windows and doors should employ a sensor that alerts you to a break-in. After your alarm goes off, your monitoring agent answers the call and contacts emergency personnel.

Smart Lighting For Every Major Room: Sure, you can schedule your smart bulbs to become more eco-conscience. But smart lights can also allow you to remain safe in an emergency. Make your smart bulbs flip on when an alarm trips to shoo off robbers or light your way to a safe area.

Smart Thermostat: Like your smart lights, a smart thermostat in Chattanooga could save you between 10%-15% in gas and electric costs. But it also can flip on an exhaust fan if you have a fire.

Monitored Smoke Detectors: At the very least, you need to have a fire alarm on every level of your house. You can improve your fire game by hanging a monitored fire detector that detects excessive heat and smoke, and notifies your 24/7 monitoring agents when it senses a fire.

Smart Locks: Every door that uses a keyed lock can use a smart door lock. Now you may assign key codes to friends and family and receive notifications to your mobile device when the locks are activated. Your locks can even automatically unlock, letting you quickly leave if you have an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

You’ll spend a lot of time in your family room, so it’s the perfect area to start making your house a safer place. Highly sought after items, like your TV or video game console, usually reside in your living room, making it an alluring space for thieves. Begin with installing a motion sensor or indoor camera in there, then try some of these suggestions:

Motion Detectors: By installing motion sensors, you’ll have a loud alarm whenever they sense suspicious movement in your living room. Look for motion sensors that ignore pet movements or you’ll have a tripped alarm every time your pet comes in for a midnight stroll.
Indoor Security Camera: An indoor security camera puts a visual on your family room. Watch live streams of your room so you can see what’s downstairs without leaving your bed. Or speak with family members in the living room by using the two-way talk feature.
Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Safeguard expensive electronics and stop overburdening your outlets with a surge protector. For additional comfort, install a smart plug with a surge protector built-in.
Heavy Furniture Attached To The Wall: If you have any small children, you’ll want to secure your bookshelves and entertainment center to your wall. This is especially crucial if your family room uses carpeting that might make heavy objects extra wobbly.
Enhanced Locks For Glass Doors: If your family room uses a sliding door that opens to a deck, patio, or screened-in porch, you already know that the lock is fairly worthless. Put in a special lock, like a cross bar or small locks that are located on the top and bottom of the opening.

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

The kitchen has room for items that should bring safety to your home. Some of these things are also simple to add and should be bought from the grocery store:

Fire Extinguisher: Fire can come from from an overfilled skillet or an errant grease splatter. Always store a fire extinguisher in close reach for any cooking emergencies.
Circuit Interrupter Box On Every Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be installed anywhere they’re close to water to ward off an electric shock. That means the outlets by your sink and kitchen counter. Since the late ‘80s, it’s been code to have one circuit interrupter outlet per circuit. But if you don’t want every outlet to turn off when one outlet surges, you’ll want to use a single GFCI for every outlet.

Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector: A CO detector is handy in spaces that have a gas stove and oven. If your gas lines spring a leak, the CO detector will play a high-decibel siren and contact your monitoring center.
Clorox Wipes Or Spray: The most overlooked safety hazard in the kitchen is the invisible bacteria and cross-contamination from uncooked meat and dairy. Always store antiviral wipes or spray to scrub off your surfaces after cooking.
Refrigerator Alarm: The food items in the refrigerator have to remain at a cold temperature to stay healthy to eat. If you accidently leave the freezer or refrigerator door open too long, then a constant beep will let you know so you can check the seal. Some refrigerators come with a pre-installed alarm, others don’t, and you’ll have to get a refrigerator alarm from the store.

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

Just because you don’t a lot of room in your bathroom doesn’t mean that there aren’t safety hazards. From flood detectors to medicine care, here are a few safety ideas for your bathroom:

Flood Detectors: A leaking toilet or tub can create an expensive amount of damage. Find out early about pooling water with a flood detector and save the time and money from damage.
No-slip Bathroom Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing cuts, sore joints, or sprained ankles. Make sure you prevent these hazards with a textured bathroom mat for while you towel off.

Non-slip Bathtub Stickies: Like a tiled floor, a tub can be a slippery place to move in. Make sure every has some non-slip strips so your feet have a textured patch to gain traction.

Medicine Door Latch: If you have curious toddlers or someone with memory difficulties, you should take additional precautions regarding prescribed medicine. Hide away your pills and syrups by using a medicine cabinet with a locking latch.

GFCI Circuits: Similarly to the kitchen, you need to also use a surge protecting GFCI outlet on every bathroom circuit. This will stop the flow of the electric current if water splashes on them or you have an unusual jolt from a hair dryer or curling iron.

Child’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

A child’s bedroom should pair safety with simplicity. If their window shades or other items are safe but hard to operate, then your kids may get around the device with risky methods -- like climb a bookshelf -- to use them. Here are 5 easy, and safe, ideas:

Cordless Window Treatments: Safety agencies have identified cords from shades and blinds a hidden problem for both children and pets. Use motorized blinds or shades that your child can easily manage via remote control. Or better yet, connect your motorized coverings to your security system so they rise without anyone’s help when it’s time to get up, and close at bedtime for an easier sleep.

Tableside Security Camera: A camera placed on your child’s desk or dresser can behave like a baby monitor that you can see from your phone. And if they need your help, they can use the two-way talk button included on the camera.

Outlet Covers: While every outlet should have outlet safety caps on them to protect your little children, this is especially urgent in their bedroom. It’s the main place in your house where your child will most likely hang out solo without consistent parental supervision.

Window Escape Ladder: If you use bedrooms on above the first story, then you need to install a window safety ladder. These can let your children get out of their room when the stairway or lower levels are on fire. Just remember to go over how to employ the ladder one or two times a year.

Toy Chest Or Low Bookshelves: It’s interesting to look at a toy box as a safety item, but you’ll see the light if you’ve ever stepped on a building block in your stocking feet. A clutter-free floor means a quick way out if there’s a safety or security event.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

The master bedroom should be a refuge, so let your safety devices make life easier if you experience an emergency event. After all, being jerked awake by a loud buzzer can be quite a shock.

Smart Hub Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your bedside table helps you know what’s happening without leaving your bed. You could alternatively log into your ADT phone app but, the HD touchscreen may be easier to control to use when you’re yawning and disoriented.

Phone Charging Area: We use our phones for almost everything now alarm clocks, news readers, time wasters, and sometimes even phones. The only problem is that a dead cell will cut us off from reaching help if something goes wrong. To make sure your phone always works, a an easy-to-use charging station becomes should be used nightly.

Nightlight/Smart Lights: A small light helps ground you when you’re bolted awake from an alarm or other loud sounds. If you can’t fall asleep with a small nightlight, install smart bulbs in your bedroom. Then you can get light simply with a push of a button or voice command.
Fireproof Safe: Stash your essential documents like insurance cards, medical information, or a spare checkbook in a fireproof lockbox. Your lockbox can be a large one that camps out in your closet or a slender portable lockbox that you can carry as you escape during a fire or break-in.

Heat Sensor: The problem with a master bedroom is that they might feel too hot or be chilly since they are located far away from the thermostat. A temperature sensor can talk to your smart thermostat so you can have a pleasant, relaxing sleep at the perfect temperature.

Garage/Basement Safety Checklist For Chattanooga

Most safety issues in the garage or basement deal with your pipes or HVAC system. Finding hazards at the source can stop more devastating emergencies later on. So, as you look around your garage or basement, pay attention to these crucial items:

Water Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Installing a flood sensor next to your water heater and sump pump can prevent you from discovering a lake when you go into your basement or garage. It’s much better than rummaging through a bunch of destroyed storage boxes.

Carbon Monoxide Detector: It’s smart to hang a CO alarm in a place where a natural gas leak can spring up. If you have gas heating, you should install a detector in the same place as your unit.
Wireless Water Shutoff Valve: If your water alarm finds a hot water leak or a burst pipe, then you will have to shut off the primary water valve at once. With a remote shutoff valve, you can turn off your water flow from your phone. That’s nice when you’re out of town and see a flood sensor notification on your mobile device.
Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open leads to all types of headaches. You can lose heat through that gaping hole, and all sorts of animals or thieves can just saunder in. A remote sensor will notify you about an open garage door and lets you lower it remotely.
Heat Sensor: A temperature sensor in your basement or garage is essential if you wonder about frozen pipes. The heat in these rooms can be wildly different than your main rooms of the house, so you may want to maintain a close look on the temperature by using your mobile app.

Outside Safety Checklist for Chattanooga

Your landscaping, drive, and front walk are just as important to make safe as the interior of your house. Try this checklist to make your outside safe:

Doorbell Security Camera: See who’s at the the front step before you open it and chat with visitors. Get a visual on package deliveries and look at video clips if they are stolen.

Outdoor Camera: You can install outdoor security cameras to alert you to suspicious activity in your back yard. These security cameras are especially useful in places where you might not have a view -- like around a cellar or by the driveway.

Low Shrubbery: Overgrown shrubs can give you some privacy, but they also block your view of the yard and curb. Don’t provide potential intruders an area to hide. Plus, high bushes, shrubs or greenery against your structure can obstruct gutters and invite bugs.
ADT Yard Signs: One of the most popular disincentives for a thief is alerting potential rogues that you have an updated home security system. An ADT yard sign by the stoop and a window cling will alert ne'er-do-wells that they should keep walking to an less prepared house.

Motion Activated Flood Lights: Light is the best enemy to people who skulk in the dark. Motion-activated lighting on your porch, garage, or deck can shoo lurkers away. They also help you work the locks when you arrive back home late at night.

Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems To Help You With Your Home Safety Checklist for Chattanooga

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t install each household item on your Chattanooga home safety checklist, we can offer a state-of-the-art home security system. With easy-to-use devices and ADT monitoring, we can customize the best system for your home’s needs. Just phone (423) 241-8594 for more information or send in the form below. Or customize your own ADT system with our Security System Designer.