3 Key Ways to Home Security

An important aspect to home maintenance is ensuring that your home is safe and secure at all times. There are various devices and systems on the market that are instrumental in protecting your home from fire and theft. Depending upon your needs and lifestyle, investment in a home security system could be as low as $100. That investment, however, can save you two-fold, first, by providing valuable protection and second, by reducing your homeowners insurance cost. Here are three key ways to make your home fire and theft proof.

1. BURGLAR ALARMS, DEADBOLT LOCKS. About every 15 seconds, a burglary occurs in the United States, with the average value of property stolen ranging from $1,500 to thousands of dollars. Homes most likely to be broken into, according to the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, are those without security alarm systems. There are various types of burglar alarms which can be classified into two categories: those that report to a central monitoring company that directly contacts the police and those that sound an alarm in the home only.

Deadbolt locks should complement whichever burglar alarm system you choose. By installing deadbolt locks on all your exterior doors and using them, you lessen your chances of theft because such obstacles usually discourage burglars. Most deadbolt locks can be installed easily and are best when placed above the existing lock. When purchasing a deadbolt lock, select one that has at least a 1-inch draw into the door jam.

2. FIRE ALARMS, SMOKE DETECTORS, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. Statistics show that 80 percent of all fires occur in the home. For that reason, many central reporting electronic home security systems provide both burglar and fire protection. Automatic fire alarm systems directly alert a central reporting company that dispatches the local fire department. Just as effective, however, are manual fire alarms that sound within the home. Whichever alarm system meets your needs, fire officials recommend installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers as well.

According to statistics, most residential fire deaths occur between 11pm and 7am. With properly installed and maintained smoke detectors, these early warning alarms can increase your chance of survival by 50 percent. When shopping for smoke detectors, be sure to look for models that carry the label of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM). Your home should be equipped with smoke detectors on every living level, inside each bedroom and in the main corridor outside each bedroom. But installing smoke detectors is not enough. Smoke detectors need to be maintained by testing them once a month with the test button or canned smoke, replacing the batteries twice a year, and dusting and cleaning them regularly according to the manufacturer's directions.

No home should be without a fire extinguisher, especially in the kitchen, garage and workshop area. There are four types of fire extinguishers: Type A for combustible materials, such as wood, paper and cloth; Type B for flammable liquid fires, such as gasoline or kitchen grease; Type C for electrical fires; and Type ABC for all three types of fire. Since most home fire extinguishers are filled with dry chemicals or Halon gas, it's important to have them inspected on a regular basis. On a monthly basis, check the pressure gauge to determine if it is charged. You should also look for corrosion or dents to the tank. If you experience any problems with your fire extinguisher, be sure to have it looked at by a professional. Most importantly, be sure everyone in your family knows where the fire extinguisher is stored and how to use it.

3. OTHER HOME SECURITY OPTIONS. It's also important to have good sturdy locks on all windows and a metal bar or a wooden dowel rod in the door track of sliding glass doors. Other security measures worth looking into include burglar-resistent windows, peep holes, motion-sensitive lighting and low voltage outdoor lighting on entrances, the garage, other outdoor structures, the corner of your home and shrubbery. The most inexpensive way to reduce burglaries is to remove the opportunity. That means closing and locking garage doors and putting away bicycles, lawn mowers and ladders after use. You should also view the outside of your home at night to see if it has dark or obstructed areas that would attract thieves. Use low voltage lights in darkened areas and trim shrubs.

Each time you install or upgrade a home security item, be sure to notify the insurance company that covers your home. Most insurers offer discounts off your homeowners policy premium if you submit documentation that one or a combination of security devices have been installed. The savings could range from 10 to 20 percent.