Home Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

Being safe in your home should be your number one concern. But are you missing a few key safety items? Look over this home safety checklist for Scottsdale and see where your house requires greater attention.

This guide starts with a few whole-home safety ideas, and then we whittle it down on a room level. Then, phone (480) 608-0061 or complete the form below to speak to a security expert.

General Home Safety Checklist for Scottsdale

While you may want to employ a room-to-room approach to home safety, there are a few things that work for a lot of your rooms. These items can talk to each other through a smart hub, and can even work off other things. You might also manage every one of your home safety devices through a mobile app, like ADT Control:

Monitored Security System: All your entryways should employ a sensor that warns your family to intrusion. After your alarm triggers, your monitoring expert responds to the call and immediately contacts a first responder.

Smart Lighting For Most Rooms: Sure, you can program your smart lighting to become more eco-conscience. But they can also help you remain safe during an emergency. Make your downstairs lights flash on when an alarm triggers to scare off burglars or illuminate the way out to a secure area.

Smart Thermostat: Likewise, a smart thermostat in Scottsdale can save you between 10%-15% in energy costs. It also can turn on your exhaust fan if you have a fire.

Monitored Fire Alarms: At the very least, you need to have a fire detector on every level of your house. You can increase your fire game by hanging a monitored fire alarm that detects both heat and smoke, and pings your round-the-clock monitoring experts when it detects a fire.

Smart Lock For Every Door: Every doorway that utilizes a keyed lock can upgrade to a smart lock. Now you can set codes to family and friends and get alerts to your mobile device when they are activated. Your smart lock can even automatically turn off, helping you to quickly leave during a fire or dangerous situation.

Family Room/Living Room Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

You’ll spend a lot of time in the living room, so it may be the perfect place to begin your home safety optimization. Electronics, like your TV or video games, typically are located in your family room, making it an alluring area for thieves. Start with placing a motion detector or indoor security camera in there, then continue on with all these ideas:

Motion Sensors: By hanging motion sensors, you’ll have a loud alarm anytime they detect suspicious motion in your family room. The best devices are motion detectors that aren’t set off by a dog or cat or you’ll have your sirens go off every time your pet passes through for a midnight stroll.
Indoor Camera: An indoor security camera gives you a visual on your family room. Watch constant streams of everything so you can know what’s happening through the mobile app. Or chat with your kids in the room using the two-way talk feature.
Surge Protector/Cord Maintenance: Make sure you protect expensive electronics and quit overloading your outlets with a surge protector. For additional comfort, install a smart plug with anti-surge functionality in the unit.
Furniture Bolted To The Wall: If you have any small children, you’ll need to secure your heavy furniture and entertainment center to the wall. This is extra important if your family room uses rugs or carpet that might make objects extra unstable.
Enhanced Locks For Sliding Doors: If your living room has a sliding glass door that slides out to a deck, patio, or porch, you get that the lock is usually thin. Put in an enhanced lock, like a cross bar or locks that are located on the bottom and top of the door frame.

Kitchen Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

The kitchen has room for items that should provide safety to your home. Many of these items should be easy to add and can be found in the Target or Walmart:

Fire Extinguisher: A fire can happen from an unwatched frying pan or an errant grease splatter. Always have a fire extinguisher at hand for any stove or oven emergencies.
Circuit Interrupter Box On Each Outlet: A circuit interrupter outlet should be standard anywhere they’re close to water to ward off a deadly shock. That means the plugs around 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 all your outlets to flip off when one outlet surges, you’re going to want to install a separate GFCI per outlet.

Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector: A CO detector is advised for kitchens that have a gas stove and oven. If your gas burners leak, the carbon monoxide detector will emit a high-decibel noise and ping your monitoring expert.
Cleaning Wipes Or Spray: The biggest safety problem in the kitchen is actually bacteria and cross-contamination from blood from meat and vegetables. Always store disinfectant wipes or spray to scrub off your area before and after making a meal.
Freezer and Refrigerator Alarm: The items in the fridge have to remain at a cold temperature to stay safe to use. If you accidently leave the fridge or freezer door open, then an alarm beep will let you know so you can close the door. Some refrigerators already have this installed, older models do not, and you’ll have to pick up an external alarm from the store.

Bathroom Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

Just because you may not have a bunch of room in your bathroom there’s still safety issues. From flood prevention to electric safety, here are a few safety improvements for your bathroom:

Flood Sensors: A leaking sink or tub can create a whole lot of damage. Discover water problems early with a flood detector and save hundreds to thousands of dollars from damage.
Non-slip Bathroom Mats: A fall in the bathroom can be a painful occurrence, causing cuts, gashed heads, or broken bones. Or steer clear from these hazards with a non-slip bath mat for your wet feet.

Non-slip Bathtub Stickers: Likewise, a bathtub can be a slick place to be on. It’s a good idea that every bathtub has some no-slip stickies so your toes have a rough patch to gain traction.

Medicine Door Lock: If you have little children or a family member with memory complications, you need to take extra precautions regarding prescribed medicine. Safeguard your bottles by getting a medicine cabinet with a locking latch.

GFCI Circuits: Just like the kitchen, you need to also put in a grounded circuit interrupter outlet on each bathroom circuit. These will shut off the electric current if water splashes on them or they experience a harmful surge from an electric razor or hair dryer.

Child’s Bedroom Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

Your child’s bedroom should pair safety with accessibility. If their window treatments or other items are safe but tricky to operate, then your kids may try dangerous methods -- like scale a chest of drawers -- to open them. Here are 5 easy, yet safe, ideas:

Cordless Window Treatments: Safety agencies have designated corded window treatments an unsuspecting problem for both children and pets. Put in motorized blinds or shades that kids can easily manage through a remote control. Or even better, pair your motorized treatments to your security system so they open without anyone’s help when the sun comes up, and close in the evening for added darkness.

Tableside Security Camera: A camera perched on your toddler’s desk or dresser can behave like a baby monitor that you can see with a mobile device. And if they need something, they can use the intercom talk button included on the camera.

Plug Covers: While each outlet should use outlet safety caps on them for your small children, this is especially urgent in a child’s bedroom. It’s the main place in your home where your child will most likely play alone without consistent additional supervision.

Window Safety Ladder: If you have bedrooms on the second level, then you will want to install a window escape ladder. These will help your children get out of their room even if the stairs or downstairs are blocked off with fire. Just remember to rehearse how to use the ladder a few times a year.

Toy Box Or Low Shelves: It’s interesting to look at a toy box as a safety item, but you’ll understand if you’ve ever walked on a Lego in your stocking feet. A uncluttered floor gives your child a quick retreat when there’s an emergency.

Master Bedroom Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

The bedroom should be an oasis, so let your safety devices make you more responsive when there's an emergency. After all, being jerked awake by a high-decibel siren can be disorienting.

Smart Hub Touchscreen: Having a touchscreen on your bedside table gives you a sense of what’s what that noise was without jumping out of bed. You could also use your ADT smartphone app. However, the large touchscreen is often better to use when you’re coming out of sleep and confused.

Device Charging Stand: We depend on our cell phones for so much now GPS, internet searches, games, and sometimes even phones. But, a depleted cell can cut us off from the outside world if something goes wrong. To make sure your phone always works, a charging cord or station is should be used nightly.

Nightlight/Smart Lights: A tiny light can be a beacon when you’re bolted awake from a fire alarm or unexpected noises. If you won’t drift off to sleep with an outlet light, put in a smart bulb in your fixtures. Then you can have light on-demand with a push of a button or vocal command.
Fireproof Lockbox: Store your essential documents like insurance cards, passports, or a bankbook in a fireproof safe. This can be a large one that sits out of the way or a smaller handheld safe that you can carry on your way out during an emergency event.

Heat Sensor: The problem with a master bedroom is that they might feel too stuffy or be frigid because they are located across the house from the thermostat. A temperature sensor will communicate to your smart thermostat so you can have a nice, relaxing sleep at the perfect temperature.

Garage/Basement Safety Checklist For Scottsdale

Most safety needs in the garage or basement are with your water heater or HVAC system. Seeing problems at the source can stop more devastating problems in the future. So, as you look around your basement or garage, check over these safety items:

Flood Detector Or Sump Pump Alarm: Placing a flood alarm next to your water heater and sump pump drain can save you from wading into a pond when you step into your garage or basement. It’s sure better than sorting through a bunch of destroyed storage boxes.

CO Alarm: It’s beneficial to have a carbon monoxide alarm in a place where a natural gas leak can happen. If you have gas heat, you’ll want to install a detector in the same room as your unit.
WiFi Water Shutoff Valve: If your flood alarm detects a hot water leak or a busted pipe, then you need to cut off the main water pipe at once. With a wireless shutoff valve, you can block water flow from anywhere in the world. That’s nice when you’re out of town and see a flood sensor text on your phone.
Garage Door Sensor: Leaving the garage door open brings about all sorts of problems. You can lose heat through that large opening, and all sorts of animals or lurkers can just wander in. A remote sensor will text you about an open garage door and lets you close it with your phone.
Temperature Sensor: A heat sensor in your garage or basement is a definite if you wonder about frozen pipes. The temperature in these areas can be surprisingly different than the main part of the home, so you may need to maintain a closer eye on the temp with your mobile app.

Home Perimeter Safety Checklist for Scottsdale

Your front yard, drive, and front step are just as crucial to make safe as the inside of your house. Use this checklist to create a safe outside:

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

Outdoor Security Camera: You can hang outdoor cameras to guard against suspicious activity in your back yard. These security cameras are nice in areas where you might not have a window -- like around a cellar or by the driveway.

Window Height Shrubs: Tall shrubs can offer some serenity, but they also block your line of sight of the yard and curb. Don’t give potential thieves a dark shadow to hide. Plus, large bushes or trees around your house can obstruct gutters and bring in bugs.
ADT Signs And Decals: One of the biggest discouragements for home intrusion is telling would-be burglars that you use a monitored ADT security system. An ADT yard sign by the front door and a window cling will show lurkers that they ought to shove off to an less prepared score.

Motion Activated Outside Light Fixtures: Light is the largest obstacle to those who lurk in the unlit places. Motion-controlled flood lights on your deck, patio, or garage can help scare possible intruders away. Flood lights also help you see the walk when you arrive back home on those dark, winter nights.

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

While Secure24 Alarm Systems can’t help you with non-security devices on your Scottsdale home safety checklist, we can install a state-of-the-art home security. With alarms, security cameras, and home automation, we can install the best system for your home’s needs. Just call (480) 608-0061 to get started or send in the form below. Or customize your own ADT system with our Security System Designer.