With summer comes the warm weather, barbecues, trips to the beach, vacations,
and, unfortunately, responsibilities around the house. There are some
ways that you should update your home security system, and summer is the
best time for it.
After all, there’s no snow, ice, and cold weather to deal with in summer,
and this makes repairs and installations easier and more pleasant. Here’s
a quick three-step guide for people looking to update their home security
this season.
Step 1: Put Together an Emergency Plan for Your Home
Every household should have an emergency plan in place, and your family
should practice regularly, just like the fire drills you did at school
when you were a kid.
Why it’s important: There are two primary reasons emergency plans are
necessary. For one, they ensure that your entire family knows what to
do, how to react, where to go, and the people to contact in the event
of any emergency-think floods, fires, tornadoes, or intruders.
Second, practicing these contingency plans regularly will reduce the chance
that a member of your family panics during a real emergency, and staying
calm can save lives. Draw up a plan of urgency that details escape routes
and exits, where fire extinguishers are, who to call if 911 isn’t
your emergency number, and where to meet (an outdoor location) in the
event of an actual emergency.
Step 2: Fix up the Signs of Wear and Tear
Anything around the house that needs attention, including broken windows,
missing screens, broken locks, chipping paint, roof repairs, broken appliances,
burnt out light bulbs, and the list goes on.
Why it’s important: Taking care of regular maintenance around the house
is just a part of life, and while it may be tempting to ignore it this
summer for a golf game or a swim, the safety of your family depends on
the proper repair of your home. Regular cleaning, inspections, and maintenance
will prevent potentially hazardous situations in your home, such as mold
growth, for instance.
Step 3: Update Your Home’s Sensors and Detectors
The number of sensors and detectors available on the market these days
will blow your mind, but there are plenty of valuable technologies out
there you can use to update your home security. If you get an outdoor
motion detector, make sure it’s rated for the outdoors and weatherproof
so that it doesn’t trip false alarms all the time.
Necessary sensors inside your house include carbon monoxide detectors and
smoke alarms, and optional ones include window and door sensors that alert
you when something’s opened, broken glass detectors, flood and water
sensors, and motion detectors.
Why it’s important: Not everyone needs an indoor/outdoor motion sensor,
but every home should have a smoke alarm, and a carbon monoxide detector
is a good idea too. Both of these could save your family from tragedy.
The other high-tech devices can alert you to an intruder, help you save
energy and money, and could keep your home safe from damage that requires
expensive repairs.
Mark Johnson Plumbing in Ruston, LA can help with any seasonal repairs
you have to do, regular maintenance, and plumbing problems and emergencies.
Call us today at (318) 255-1332 to speak with a qualified expert about updating your home security or how
to make your home and your family safer.
