Ultimate February Home Safety Checklist: Stay Warm & Secure
A Home Safety Checklist You Can Use Year Round Every year, we make resolutions like helping others or losing weight. However, some people forget about home safety. This is an important resolution, and it’s not too late to make it, as the year is still early. With a good home safety checklist, you can get through even the harshest part of winter. Below, you’ll find a home safety checklist you can use in February and year-round to make your home as secure as possible. Bedrooms and Other Living Spaces Practice an emergency plan with your family and create escape routes for everyone. Run through this escape route at least once a month so everyone knows it well. Make sure you have flashlights with working batteries in every storm kit. This way, you’ll be ready if snow or a general power outage knocks out your power. Hallway Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. If you have a home security system, remember that many include built-in detection for both. This means authorities are alerted even if you’re not interacting with the system when these dangerous elements are sensed. Make sure your fire extinguishers are full. The needle must point to the green zone. If it’s not, it’s time to replace or service the extinguisher. Also, check that the hose isn’t cracked and that the handle and locking pin are in place. Kitchen Keep a contact list on your refrigerator. Include all important numbers like Poison Control, your doctor, emergency services, and close family members. Check your range’s hood fan for grease buildup. This can cause a fire, so clean it regularly to ensure it works properly. Also, check your kitchen fire extinguisher to confirm the needle is in the green zone and that nothing is broken or out of place. Give your oven and range top a deep clean. For your garbage disposal, use vinegar, baking soda, ice, hot water, and some lemon or lime to clean it thoroughly. Basement Make sure you clean your circuit breaker to avoid outages and power surges. Also, cover your pipes properly to prevent them from freezing. If your basement temperature drops below 32 degrees, you risk frozen pipes. Remember to change your furnace filters every four to six weeks. Furthermore, dust your air vents regularly. Inspect your basement for cracks, leaks, or mold that could cause health hazards or other dangers. Finally, ensure any outside doors to your basement are secure. If you’re installing a security system, put a sensor on the outside basement door. This helps even if a thief would also need to go through an interior door to get into your home. Bathroom Make sure your first aid kit is full. Make sure windows have locks and that they are locked. This is something you should check throughout the entire house. Outside Check your outdoor lighting. Good outdoor lighting helps you and your visitors see where you’re walking. It also deters burglars. If you don’t have outdoor lights, get some installed. Motion lights are excellent additions. If you lack outside video surveillance, consider adding it. You can see everyone who comes to your home. This helps you identify unwelcome visitors. Additional Home Safety Checklist Items You can make your home safer with many steps, but checking fire extinguishers or cleaning garbage disposals won’t keep thieves away. Unfortunately, burglars break into homes daily across Rochester and all over New York, often because those homes lack security systems. This not only means losing belongings but also losing your sense of personal security. Contact Your Rochester Security System Installer and Finish Your Home Safety Checklist To make your home more secure, SPS Fire & Security offers a full suite of solutions. Just call us and ask about the best option for your home and your needs. Call us today at 585-770-0348 to learn more!