|
|
|
Residential
|
Commercial
|
Why ADT Monitoring?
Congratulations to new homeowners!
PROTECTING YOUR HOME
| One of the biggest
enemies of home security is thinking “It won’t happen to
me.”
Although we all know that
prevention is important, most people don’t take the
steps they need to protect their home and family.
Whether it’s installing a monitored home security
system, or just being able to identify potential risks
of hidden dangers such as fire and carbon monoxide
throughout your home, these precautions can help create
a safer environment to live in.
So what can you do better
to protect your home and family from fire, break-ins or
medical emergencies?
WHO’S THERE?
The first step to keeping
unwelcome visitors out is to protect the entrances to
your home.
|
 |
 |
|
ASE Security Services operating since 2004, with over 30 years combined experience.
Southern Arizona's authorized ADT Dealer |
The Front Door
A locked front door is
your first line of defense. And with locks, you get what
you pay for. By spending a few dollars more for a good
lock, you can potentially save thousands. So get the
best quality locks you can afford. We recommend deadbolt
locks. Deadbolts provide better security than sliding
locks because they can’t be opened without a key.
Bored-in deadlocks that are embedded into the door are
even harder for a burglar to get through.
Without a deadlock,
burglars may be able to open your front door simply by
using a credit card to push back the tongue of the lock.
Doors with exposed hinges are even more vulnerable
because a burglar can simply remove the pin on the hinge
and get inside.
Locks are just the
beginning. Another good investment is a peephole.
180-degree peepholes give you the advantage of checking
to see who’s at the door before you open it. And make
sure that the area outside your door is well-lit. If you
can’t see who’s at the door, don’t open it.
Just Moved In?
If you’ve just moved into
your new home, it’s a good idea to replace all the
locks. Locks only provide security if you know who has
every key. Pay for a qualified and reputable locksmith
to change your locks. And keep track of all the keys you
have made. This is especially important if there have
been a lot of previous owners. The only keys to your new
home should be the ones you have made.
A Window of
Opportunity
To help prevent burglars
from getting into your home through a window, install
locks or pins. We recommend using the same brand of lock
for all your windows so it’s easy and convenient to use
them. And that’s an important point, because when safety
and convenience are at odds, convenience usually wins.
Make sure to keep the key in a safe but easy-to-access
location so you can get to it quickly if there’s a fire.
Also keep any trees or
shrubs around windows trimmed. While they map seem to
increase your privacy, they also increase a burglar’s
privacy while they’re breaking into your home.
In the Spotlight
Two of a burglar’s
biggest enemies are noise and light. Installing lights
around your home that are activated by movement can help
scare off unwelcome visitors. Exterior sensor lights
also help to light the path to your front door when you
come home It’s also a good idea to use timers to light
inside areas of your home if you’re home alone or away.
Setting these economical timers gives the appearance
that someone is at home, and is a good way to make sure
you’re consistently protected.
Alarming Your Home
A security system is your
best protection. There are two main types of security
systems available: a local alarm and a monitored system.
Local alarms are designed to make a lot of noise to help
scare off a potential intruder. A fully monitored system
doesn’t just make a lot of noise, it sends an emergency
signal to a monitoring center so that the right people
can respond in case of an emergency. Another benefit of
having a monitored home security system is that it may
qualify you for up to a 20% discount on your homeowner’s
insurance.
Here’s a list of things
to think about when considering a monitored alarm
system:
|
1. |
Is the system easy
to use? |
|
2. |
Does the system come
with a maintenance plan to cover parts and
service? |
|
3. |
Does the system have
a rechargeable backup battery? |
|
4. |
Is the system
connected to a U.L.-listed, 24-hour monitoring
center? |
|
5. |
Who does the
monitoring and what is their experience and
reputation? |
|
6. |
Can the system help
protect you against fire, carbon monoxide
poisoning, household flooding and other dangers,
as well as burglary? |
|

|
FIRE PREVENTION
In addition to protecting
your home against break-ins and intruders, you can also
take some simple precautions to help prevent another,
and often even more devastating threat—fire.
Check Hot Spots
The first step toward
better fire prevention is to determine where your home’s
potential hot spots are located. Hot spots are hazard
areas that can start a fire. One potential hot spot can
be faulty wiring. To help avoid this danger, be sure to
have all electrical work done by a qualified
electrician.
Check Circuit Breakers
Another common problem is
overloading your circuits. If you need more outlets,
have them installed professionally.
Check Your Kitchen
Your kitchen has a lot of
hot spots. The biggest ones are the oven and the range.
Always make sure your burners are off when you leave the
house or go to sleep at night. Make sure you have a fire
extinguisher handy in this area, and that all members of
your household know where it is and how to use it. And
of course, if you smell gas, you are advised to leave
your home immediately. Once you’re in a safe location,
call the gas company and alert them of the situation.
Grilling Safety
|
1. |
Keep your grill away
from anything flammable – including your home,
shrubs and cars. |
|
2. |
Protect yourself
with oven mitts and a heavy apron. |
|
3. |
Avoid carbon
monoxide poisoning by never using a charcoal or
gas grill inside your home or in an enclosed
area. |
|
4. |
Don’t let small
children remove or place food on the grill. |
|
5. |
Don’t leave an
uncovered grill unattended. |
|
6. |
Keep a fire
extinguisher handy. |
|
7. |
Check gas grill
tubes leading into the burner for any blockage
from insects, food or grease. |
|
8. |
Prevent gas leaks by
promptly replacing scratched or nicked
connectors. |
|
9. |
Keep propane
containers upright at all times. |
|
10. |
Keep propane
containers outdoors. |
Check Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms play an
important part in fire protection. Be sure they’re
working and that the batteries are always charged. Also
be aware that when a smoke alarm goes off, there isn’t a
lot of time to escape.
Make A Plan
Take time to set up a
fire emergency plan for your family.
HOME SECURITY
CHECKLIST
|
1. |
Turn the telephone
and answering machine volume down when you go
out so burglars can’t hear that no one’s home. |
|
2. |
Don’t leave notes
for family or friends outside your home. |
|
3. |
Don’t leave tools or
ladders lying around your yard since impulse
burglars can use them to gain access into your
home. |
|
4. |
Install sensor
lights at all outside entrances. |
|
5. |
Remove any shrubs or
trees next to your home that could hide a
potential burglar from sight. |
|
6. |
Install a monitored
security system, and make sure all members of
your household know how to use it. |
|
7. |
Install deadbolt
locks on your outside doors and make sure all
door hinges are on the inside. |
|
8. |
Lock garage doors
and sliding glass doors every night, and
whenever you are away from home. |
|
9. |
Don’t hide keys
outside your home, such as in your mailbox,
under doormats or above doorways. Burglars
usually know where they are. |
|
10. |
If you’re planning
to go away, either have your mail picked up by a
trusted neighbor or have your local post office
stop delivery until you get back. You’ll also
want to cancel any other regular deliveries such
as newspapers. |
|
11. |
Tell relatives or
neighbors when you’ll be back and let them know
where you can be reached in an emergency. |
|
12. |
When you buy a new
appliance such as a TV or computer, destroy the
box or hide it in your trash so others won’t
know you have something new and valuable inside. |
|
13. |
Videotape,
photograph and keep a written register of all
your valuables and their serial numbers. |
|
14. |
Store valuable
documents such as insurance policies and wils in
a safety deposit box. |
|
15. |
Program emergency
contact numbers into your phone memory and
clearly label them so it will be easy to dial
them in an emergency. |
|
16. |
Every six months or
so, inspect your home as if you’ve been locked
out without your keys. How would you get
in? Examine any weak spots and realize
that if you can get inside, so could someone
else. |
|
17. |
Check to see if
there’s an active Neighborhood Watch association
in your community. This program helps keep
you updated on problems in your neighborhood,
and gets more people to help watch and protect
your home and family. If there is no
active Neighborhood Watch Group in your
community, contact your local law enforcement
agency to find out how you can start one. |
|