Home Safety Checklist For Killeen

Being safe in your house should be your number one responsibility. But are you missing some key safety items? Use this home safety checklist for Killeen and see where your living space can use some work.

We give you a few whole-house safety items, and then we delve down to specific room ideas. Then, you can call (254) 236-2429 or fill out the form below to get your home set up.

General Home Safety Checklist for Killeen

While you may want to use a room-to-room approach to home safety in Killeen, there are some items that are practical for the whole home. These components can sync to each other through a touchscreen hub, and often can respond to other components. You might also control each of your home safety components with a smartphone app, such as ADT Control:

Monitored Home Security System: All your entryways should have a sensor that notifies you to intrusion. After your alarm triggers, your monitoring expert responds to the call and sends a first responder.

Smart Lights For Every Major Room: Sure, you can program your smart bulbs to become more energy-efficient. But smart lights can also allow you to stay safe throughout an emergency. Have your lights come on when an alarm triggers to frighten off robbers or brighten the way out to a outside area.

Smart Thermostat: Like your smart lights, a smart thermostat in Killeen should save you 10%-15% in energy spending. But it also can start the exhaust fan when your alarms senses a fire.

Monitored Fire Detectors: At the very least, you need to have a smoke detector on each floor. You can improve your fire preparedness by utilizing a monitored fire detector that detects both heat and smoke, and alerts your 24-hour monitoring team when it thinks that there’s a fire.

Smart Lock For Every Door: Every entryway that uses a keyed lock can use a smart door lock. Now you can program numbered 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 get out if you have an emergency.

Family Room Safety Checklist For Killeen

You’ll spend most of your time in your family room, so it may be the perfect place to optimize your home safety. Popular items, like your TV or video game console, usually are located in your living room, making it an alluring area for burglars. Start with placing a motion sensor or indoor camera by the doorway, then try some of these ideas:

Motion Detectors: By hanging motion sensors, you’ll get a loud alarm whenever they sense suspicious motion in your living room. Look for motion detectors that aren’t set off by pets or you’ll see an alert every time your dog passes through for a bite of food.
Indoor Camera: An indoor security camera puts a visual on your living room. Watch constant streams of your room so you can find out what’s going on without leaving your bed. Or talk with your kids in the family room with the two-way talk feature.
Surge Protector/Outlet Maintenance: Protect all your electronics and quit overloading your outlets with a surge protector. For added convenience, use a smart plug with a surge protector built-in.
Entertainment Center Bolted To The Wall: If you have any small children, you’ll want to attach your bookshelves and entertainment center to the wall. This is extra crucial if your living room uses carpet that can make heavy objects extra unbalanced.
Enhanced Locks For Sliding Doors: If your family room has a glass door that leads to a backyard, deck, or screened-in porch, you can see that the latch is fairly flimsy. Install a custom lock, like a bottom bar or small locks that secures the door to the bottom and top of the opening.

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Killeen

The kitchen has room for items that should add comfort and safety to your home. Most of these objects are also a snap to add and can be bought from the a retail store:

Fire Extinguisher: A fire can happen from an overfilled frying pan or an errant grease splatter. Always keep a fire extinguisher at the ready for any kitchen emergencies.
GFCI Box On Every Outlet: A GFCI outlet should be used anywhere they’re by running water to lessen the chance of an electric shock. That means the plugs close to your kitchen counter and sink. Since the late ‘80s, it’s been required to have one GFCI per dedicated circuit. But each one of your outlets will go dead if one outlet sees a surge, so you’ll want to use a single GFCI per outlet.

Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector: A carbon monoxide detector is handy in kitchens that employ gas for the oven and stove. If your gas lines malfunction, the carbon monoxide detector will cause a loud sound and ping your monitoring agent.
Clorox Wipes Or Spray: The most overlooked safety issue in the kitchen is actually bacteria and cross-contamination that comes with uncooked meat and vegetables. Always have antiviral wipes or spray to clean your counters after preparing food.
Refrigerator Alarm: The milk, meat, and perishables in the fridge have to remain at a constant temperature to be healthy to eat. If you leave the refrigerator door ajar, then an alarm beep will remind you to shut it securely. Some fridges come with a pre-installed alarm, older models don’t, and you’ll have to buy a fridge alarm from online.

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Killeen

Just because you don’t a bunch of room in your bathroom, you will still have safety hazards. From flood detectors to electric safety, here are some safety ideas for your bathroom:

Flood Detectors: A leaking sink or bathtub can cause an expensive amount of destruction. Discover pooling water early with a flood detector before they generate hundreds to thousands of dollars in renovations.
No-slip Bath Mats: A slip in the bathroom can be painful, causing bumps, gashed heads, or broken bones. Make sure you avoid these issues with a textured bath mat for your wet feet.

No-slip Bathtub Strips: Another water hazard, a bathtub can be a slippery area to move in. It’s a good idea that every has some textured strips so your toes have a rough patch to gain traction.

Medicine Door Latch: If you have little kids or anyone with memory complications, you need to take additional precautions regarding prescribed medicine. Safeguard your prescriptions by using a medicine cabinet with a child-proof lock.

GFCI Circuits: Similarly to the kitchen, you should also install a grounded GFCI outlet on each bathroom outlet. These will shut off the electricity if they ever get wet or you have a harmful jolt from a curling iron or hair dryer.

Children’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Killeen

Your child’s bedroom should counterbalance safety with manageability. If their window treatments or other things are safe but difficult to operate, then your child may try dangerous activities -- like scale a chest of drawers -- to open them. Here are 5 simple, and safe, ideas:

Cord-Free Window Coverings: Safety professionals have designated window treatment cords a hidden hazard for both children and pets. Install motorized treatments that your child can easily control via remote. Or even better, pair your motorized coverings to your security system so they rise automatically when it’s time to get up, and go down in the evening for added darkness.

Indoor Security Camera: A camera placed on your child’s dresser can act as a baby monitor that you can watch from a mobile device. And if they want you, they can use the 2-way talk feature on the camera.

Plug Covers: While each outlet should have outlet safety caps on them for your little children, this is doubly needed in their bedroom. It’s the main place in your house where your toddler will most likely hang out solo without consistent parental supervision.

Window Fire Ladder: If you have bedrooms on the second story, then you need to put in a window fire ladder. These should let a child get out of their room when the stairs or ground floor are engulfed in smoke and fire. Remember to rehearse how to employ them at least twice a year.

Toy Chest Or Low Shelves: It’s weird to view a toy chest as a safety component, but you’ll understand if you’ve ever walked on a building block in your bare feet. A clutter-free floor means a quick escape if there’s a safety or security event.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist For Killeen

Your bedroom should be an oasis, so let your safety items give you peace of mind when there's an emergency event. After all, being startled awake by a wailing buzzer can be quite a shock.

Smart Hub Touchscreen: Having a smart hub on your bedside table helps you know what’s happening without leaving your bed. You could always turn on your ADT smartphone app. However, the HD touchscreen may be faster to use when you’re yawning and finding your bearings.

Device Charging Area: We use our cell phones for almost everything now alarms, news readers, social media, and sometimes even phones. The only problem is that a depleted device in the middle of the night cuts us off from the outside world if there’s a problem. To make sure your phone always works, a an easy-to-use charging station is an essential.

Nightlight/Smart Lights: A small light can be a beacon when you’re bolted awake from a siren or other sounds. If you have trouble falling asleep with a nightlight, use a smart bulb in your fixtures. Then you can get light simply with a push of a button or voice direction.
Fireproof Lockbox: Store your essential documents like birth certificates, stock certificates, or a bankbook in a fireproof safe. This can be a large one that camps out in your closet or a smaller portable lockbox that you can grab as you escape during a fire or break-in.

Heat Sensor: The issue with bedrooms is that they might feel too stuffy or be chilly since they are located across the house from the thermostat. A temperature sensor will communicate to your smart thermostat so you should have a pleasant, restful sleep at the perfect climate.

Basement/Garage Safety Checklist For Killeen

Most safety needs in the garage or basement deal with your water or heating system. Finding issues at the source can stave away bigger disasters later on. So, as you look around your storage areas, check over these crucial items:

Flood Sensor Or Sump Pump Alarm: Placing a flood sensor by your water heater and sump pump drain can stop you from wading into a lake when you go into your garage or basement. It’s definitely better than sorting through a heap of soiled storage boxes.

CO Detector: It’s smart to hang a CO alarm in an area where a gas leak can occur. If you employ a gas furnace, you should put a detector in the same room as your inbound pipes.
Remote Water Shutoff Valve: If your flood alarm finds a hot water leak or a busted pipe, then you need to shut off the primary water line immediately. With a WiFi shutoff valve, you can stop water flow from anywhere in the world. That’s perfect when you’re visiting relatives and see an emergency leak text on your phone.
Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage open brings about all sorts of problems. You can lose a bunch of HVAC energy through that gaping hole, and all sorts of animals or intruders can just saunder in. A remote sensor will text you about a neglected garage door and allow you to close it through the app.
Temperature Sensor: A heat sensor in your garage or basement is a definite if you wonder about your pipes freezing. The temperature in these rooms can be surprisingly different than the rest of the home, so you may need to have a constant look on them with the ADT mobile app.

Outside Safety Checklist for Killeen

Your landscaping, drive, and front step are just as imperative to defend as the inside of your home. Try the items on this checklist to defend your perimeter:

Doorbell Camera: See who’s arrived at the front door before you open it and welcome visitors. See package deliveries and look at video clips if they are taken.

Outdoor Security Camera: You can install outdoor security cameras to alert you to unusual lurkers in your back yard. These security cameras come in handy in areas where you might not have a window -- like a side yard or by the garage door.

Window Height Bushes: Overgrown foliage can offer some serenity, but they also block your view of the yard. Don’t give potential intruders a place to hide. Plus, tall shrubs or greenery too close to your structure can clog gutters and invite pests.
ADT Signage: One of the biggest disincentives for a thief is telling would-be burglars that you have a state-of-the-art ADT security system. An ADT sign by the main walk and a window decal will show lurkers that they should shove off to an less prepared target.

Motion Activated Flood Light Fixtures: Light is the best deterrent to those who lurk in the dark. Motion-activated lights on your porch, garage, or deck can frighten possible intruders away. They also help you get inside when you come home late after work.

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

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t install each household item on your Killeen home safety checklist, we can install a powerful security system. With everything from alarms to thermostats, we can customize the perfect system for your family’s needs. Simply call (254) 236-2429 to get started or complete the form below. Or personalize your own system with our Security System Designer.