As a homeowner, you want to feel secure in your home and safe in your neighborhood. Fortunately, there are some relatively inexpensive steps you can take to bolster the security of your residence and make it more burglar-proof.
For instance, landscaping with safety in mind can help keep your home and its neighbors safer. Furthermore, having a smart alarm system installed gives you peace of mind as well as potential discounts on home insurance premiums.
1. Install a security system
Home security systems are an effective way to keep your family secure from potential break-ins by burglars. According to the FBI, homes without security systems are 2.7 times more likely to be targeted by burglars than those with one.
A security system monitors your property for burglary, fires, carbon monoxide leaks or any other alarms that could cause serious harm to you and your family. It also dispatches authorities when needed.
2. Install strong locks
One of the most essential ways to protect your home is ensuring all doors are locked. Burglars often target homes with weak locks, so making sure all exterior doors are strong and secure is a must.
Make sure to select high-quality lock hardware that meets ANSI and BHMA standards for durability, safety, and security. They are more resistant to break ins and manipulation than lower-grade locks.
3. Install a smoke detector
Installing a smoke detector may seem like an obvious precaution, but it’s one of the most critical steps you can take to keep your home secure. Not only will it save lives, but it is also one of the cheapest options available.
According to the NFPA, you should install at least one smoke detector on every level of your home. It’s also wise to have one in each bedroom and outside each sleeping area.
4. Install a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguishers are an integral component of home safety and security plans. Their portability and ease of use make them indispensable in the event of a fire.
Make sure to have at least one fire extinguisher in each room of the house, especially near potential hot spots like kitchens or furnaces in basements.
5. Install a sprinkler system
Sprinkler systems are an essential home safety and security investment that can protect both life and property. They have long been recognized as one of the most efficient fire fighting techniques.
Installed correctly, a fire sprinkler system can help reduce fatalities by up to 97 percent and property damage by 70 percent per fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
6. Install a carbon monoxide detector
Carbon monoxide detectors are essential home safety and security tools that detect CO gas produced by fossil fuel burning appliances like furnaces or water heaters.
These devices monitor temperature and humidity to prevent false alarms. The CPSC recommends having at least one detector on each level of a house outside sleeping areas.
7. Install a motion detector
Motion detectors are an essential element of any home security system. Not only are they small and discreet, but their capabilities to protect your house against burglary and break-ins are endless.
Motion detectors use PIR (passive infrared) and microwave technologies to detect movement. To do this, they send out microwaves and measure their reflection rates – which change when something moves.
8. Install a window alarm
Window alarms are an integral component of any home security system. They send a notification when a window has been breached, either by sounding an alarm or sending it directly to your phone or smart panel.
Window alarms come in three primary varieties — contact sensors, glass break sensors and motion sensors. While these may differ slightly between brands, all are essential elements of any reliable home security system.
9. Install a door alarm
Door alarms are an integral part of any home security system. They notify you if someone attempts to enter your house while you’re not there.
Door alarms come in a range of types, but most rely on contact sensors. These devices have two parts separated by a circuit that open when the contacts make contact.
10. Install a security camera
Installing security cameras is one of the most essential ways to protect your home or business. Not only does it deter criminals from breaking in, but it can also collect evidence which may aid with any legal claims you might make.
Home security cameras come with various features, so it is best to consult the manufacturer about which model would work best for your situation.
