When it comes to protecting your home and family, it’s important to make sure you have all the right information. That’s why we’ve compiled some of our most common questions to ask about home security systems, fire and life safety equipment, and home automation to help you answer the most important one, “is a home security system worth it?”

What Are The Main Features Of A Home Security System?

A traditional home security package from home security provider SafeStreets; comes with 24/7 ADT monitoring, a customized security system, maintenance work, an extended warranty, and a cellular connection to professional monitoring. Additional add-ons include life safety, two-way voice, app notifications, remote arm/disarm, system scheduling, video monitoring, real-time video footage, and smart home automation.

A customized security system can include a variety of different features based on your wants, needs, home layout, and more. Here’s a quick rundown of the products that could be included in your system:

• Smart Lock for Doors
• Touchscreen Control Panel 
• ADT Video Doorbell
• Door And Window Sensors
• Glass Break Sensors
• Outdoor And Indoor Security Cameras
• Flood Sensors
• Smoke Detectors
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Smart Plugs
• Smart Lights
• Smart Thermostat

For more information on all our packages and plans, click here.

What Types Of Cameras Are Available?

There are three main types of home security cameras available today:

• Video doorbells
• Outdoor security cameras
• Indoor security cameras

Video doorbell cameras are mounted where your traditional doorbell would be next to your front door with a 180-degree view of your front porch and yard area. Outdoor and indoor security cameras are relatively the same except for how they’re constructed. Outdoor security cameras are typically built with more durable materials to withstand outdoor elements and prevent tampering.

In addition to considering the types of cameras you want, you’ll also want to consider their capabilities. Full color, high resolution, night vision, fixed vs. moving, and remote monitoring are all things you’ll want in a reliable and effective home security camera.

For more on our home security cameras and surveillance, click here.

How Do Home Security Systems Help Protect Against Fires And Floods?

As mentioned in our first of our common home security questions, fire and life safety can easily become a part of your home security system. Sensors detecting heat, smoke, CO, and moisture provide the valuable warning alarms you need to stay safe as a family and help protect your home and belongings from damages. They can also send first responders to help as quickly as possible. When comparing home security companies, ask them about their average response time in the event of a fire or safety emergency when time is of the essence. 

SafeStreets is an ADT Authorized Dealer, which means that many of our home security products are professionally monitored by ADT monitoring centers all over the country. Having a security system professionally monitored by ADT will help give you peace of mind that someone will be able to alert you and your family members to an issue in your home, even if you’re not there. 

For more on fire and life safety and protection, click here.

Should I Choose A Wired Or Wireless Home Security System?

The choice between a hardwired or wireless home security system might depend on your home setup. If your house is already hardwired for a home security system, then that might make a wired system the obvious choice. However, there are some serious benefits to having a wireless system that you might want to look into. The main wireless home security system benefits include:

• Easier installation
• Remote control access via cell phones
• Increased flexibility to add more to the system later on
• Nowhere for thieves to cut off power to your security system
• The ability to take the system with you if you move
• Still works even when the power is out because the equipment is powered by batteries

For more on the wired vs. wireless debate, read our blog on 7 reasons why a wireless home security system might make the most sense.

How Much Does An Average Home Security System Cost?

Many people think that a home security system is a very pricey investment when in reality, most systems cost as little as $35* a month. For just a little more than a dollar a day, you can sleep peacefully at night knowing you’re helping protect your family and home. Plus, think about all the money you’ll save by not having to deal with extensive damages from floods or fires, or burglars. A home security or alarm system might even lower your homeowner’s insurance premium too!

Read more about how home security systems can pay for themselves by clicking here.

Are Home Security Systems Worth It?

The short answer? Absolutely. We all like to assume that our home is safe because thinking the alternative is stressful and scary. But the reality of life is that the unexpected happens all the time. Even if you aren’t necessarily concerned about burglaries, things like fires and floods can happen out of our control. Having a home security system gives you 24/7 peace of mind that no matter what happens, you’ll be in control with help on the way.

If you’re still pondering the question, “are home security systems effective?” or any others,  SafeStreets can help answer all these and more. Contact us today, and one of our home security company professionals will talk through your needs and provide a free quote for home security equipment. We offer professional installation on every job.

If you like to keep up with the latest gadgets and technology advancements, you’re probably going to love the benefits of switching over to a smart thermostat to control your home’s thermostat.

Smart thermostats offer an array of benefits compared to older manual thermostat types, as well as programmable thermostats, which you may currently have in your home. Aside from the convenience of controlling your home’s temperature remotely from your smartphone, smart thermostats also can provide regular energy reports regarding your HVAC system’s energy usage and use AI technology to learn your temperature preferences over time and automatically adjust the temperature.

Aside from the added convenience of using a smart thermostat, they can also help you save a significant amount of money on your monthly energy bills. We’ll explain how in our most recent blog.

How Much Money Can Smart Thermostats Save Homeowners?

According to Energy Star, installing a smart thermostat in your home can save about 8% of your yearly heating and cooling costs, or about $50 a year. Even greater savings can be obtained depending on your personal temperature preferences, the climate you live in, and the type of HVAC system you own.

How Can Smart Thermostats Help Homeowners Save Money?

Let’s explore some of the smart thermostat features and how they can help you experience significant savings on cooling and heating costs. 

Controlling Your Thermostat from Anywhere

The ability to control your thermostat remotely is a huge convenience. You can crank the thermostat up from your smartphone before you leave work to ensure your house is warm and cozy when you return. But the ability to control your thermostat remotely can also save you money. Let’s say you left for a week-long vacation in the summer, but forgot to set the thermostat to a higher setting. With a smart thermostat, that’s not a problem! Simply pull out your smart device and make the appropriate adjustment. If your teenager is home alone and blasting the AC, you can also check the thermostat from your smartphone and change the setting. 

Regular Energy Reports

Smart thermostats provide you with monthly or regular energy reports to see how you’re using your HVAC system. If energy bills are high, you can make appropriate adjustments to your temperature settings for additional savings. All of this data can be accessed directly from your smartphone or device.

Monitoring Your Heating and Cooling System

Smart thermostats can even monitor for energy spikes that could indicate a repair or maintenance is needed. This can save you money in a couple of different ways:

Saving money on your energy bills. HVAC systems that are in need of repair often must work harder to heat or cool your home, leading to higher energy costs.

Saving money on a bigger, more expensive repair. The longer you wait to repair your HVAC system, the better chance that a small repair will balloon into something more serious – and expensive. Being able to monitor your heating and cooling system in the palm of your hand can help you save money and keep your energy efficiency in check. 

Pre-setting the Thermostat

Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat also allows you to program temperature schedules based on the time of day and day of the week. For example, in the summer, you can pre-set your thermostat to a higher setting during the work week and a lower setting during the weekend when you’re home for additional energy savings. An advantage to smart thermostats over regular programmable thermostats is that smart thermostats can also use geofencing technology to locate your smartphone and automatically adjust the temperature before you arrive home for the day.

AI Technology

There’s a reason smart thermostats have the word “smart” in their name. Smart thermostats use AI technology to learn your temperature preferences and can automatically adjust the thermostats accordingly. You don’t have to do a thing.

Contact SafeStreets for the Installation of a Smart Thermostat

As you can see, smart thermostats save money. If you’re interested in learning more about how a smart thermostat and other smart home technology can help save energy and money, contact the home automation professionals at SafeStreets today. We would be happy to set up an appointment to install a smart thermostat in your home today.

You probably already know you need to keep your home’s living areas safe from burglaries by taking preventive measures. But have you thought much about the safety of your garage?

At SafeStreets, we want to help keep your family safe at home through good safety habits and a home security system. And we include your garage in that “big picture” description of being safe and sound at home. After all, you might not sleep or eat in it, but you definitely spend time in it working on projects, and you count on your garage for storage too.

So let’s make sure that the extension of your home is as safe as your home with a quick review of the dangers you’ll want to be aware of and avoid.

Fire Prevention

Is there anything as combustible as a garage? Just think through all of the flammable materials stored there including oil, paint thinner, paint, lawn care chemicals, and oily rags. There’s also sawdust and lumber that easily can catch fire on top of all of the incendiary items. So fire prevention should be high on the garage safety list. You can start with these three simple preventive measures:

• Make sure your garage is equipped with a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher. You can contact SafeStreets for the installation of smoke detectors for both your home and garage.
• Keep tight lids on all chemicals and flammable materials, and keep them in their original containers.
• Store chemicals and flammable materials safely and securely to decrease the chances of something getting knocked over or spilled.

Store Items Smartly

Most people use their garages as storage areas, especially if they don’t have a basement. Storage, though, is a safety issue in your garage for a few reasons. One is the fire hazard mentioned above, but the other more likely safety issue is injury, either from things falling on your head or on your toes.

To prevent this, it’s important not to stack items too high. If you’re using shelving, make sure it’s sturdy. If you’re using overhead storage, make sure it’s strong. Think safety over convenience or cost when you’re investing in garage storage. This will save yourself or a family member from an injury and will make the investment worthwhile.

Also, think through the storage so anything you need on a regular basis – like a weed eater – is easy to access, while the seasonal items such as holiday decorations can be stored in a harder-to-access location. Practice the same principle for anything dangerous.

Good Habits to Practice

Even with all the right fire prevention measures in place and the fanciest garage storage unit in use, your habits will still matter when it comes to garage safety. Give your garage a little more thought when you’re using it. With safety always top of mind, you’ll get into good habits that keep you and your family safe. For example:

• Clean up after yourself after cutting wood so you’re not leaving sawdust or little pieces of wood lying around as a fire starter.
• Resist the urge to pile up storage “just for now,” thinking you’ll get around to putting something away safely and properly later. There’s a good chance “later” will never happen.
• Lock doors to not only keep burglars out, but kids too, especially if you don’t have dangerous tools and materials locked up and out of reach.
• Pick up anything that might be a tripping hazard, such as hoses, extension cords, tools you’re not using, containers of old oil – even those items you’re saving to put away “later.” Try really hard not to store or leave anything on the floor.
• Always have a clear path in and out of the garage. I know that sometimes the piling up is going to happen.  But don’t pile in such a way that you’re having to clamber over stuff to get in or out of the garage.

Contact SafeStreets for Fire and Life Safety Equipment

Garages are a blessing for busy families for many reasons, and storage and a place for projects are high on that list. However, they can also pose a threat if not managed in a safety-first way. So let’s take a few preventive measures to make sure our garages are a place we can appreciate, not avoid. If you need a fire detection system installed in your garage, don’t hesitate to contact SafeStreets today.

You can invest in a home security system, install bright lights on the perimeter of your property, and use a baby gate in every doorway of your home, but you’ll still need to practice some commonsense to really make your home safer.

It’s a good idea to install a home security system and fire and life safety equipment to help protect your family and home. However, many homeowners often forget to go the extra mile, which is putting safety into practice.

Do you want to learn how to make your home safer without spending money? Keep reading to learn some easy tips to practice around the home.

Test Your Fire and Life Safety Systems Regularly

Many homeowners have fire and life safety equipment installed to help keep their families safe, but are they working? The only way to know is to test. Test your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and flood sensors on a regular basis to make sure they’re working properly. Test your flashlights too to see if they need new batteries. It’s a good idea to ensure all of your fire and life safety equipment is working properly in case you need them to work in the future.

Use Caution When Cooking

Accidents frequently occur in the kitchen, but many of them are preventable. Practice common sense when cooking, and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding anyone being injured by cuts or burns. All you have to do is make these kinds of things a habit, so you are always doing them. Some common tips include:

• Staying in the kitchen while something is cooking on the stovetop.
• Pointing pot and pan handles in.
• Keeping sharp knives out of reach of little hands.
• Cleaning up spills immediately, especially spills on the floor, to prevent slips and falls.
• Skipping the tablecloth if you have little ones or even pets who could pull on the cloth and thereby cause hot foods or liquids to fall on and burn them or others.

Lock Up Cleaners and Medicine

If you have kids, keep everything locked up any time it’s not in use, even if you’re going to use it again in a little while or the next day. We mean all of your household cleaners, soaps, and medicines inside of the house. This also includes your yard care products, paints and chemicals outside of the house.

But it’s not just the chemicals and cleaners that pose a threat. Even alcohol, matches, lighters, and, of course, guns should be locked up whenever they’re not in use. Obviously, what’s considered dangerous in your house will change as your kids get older, but it’s still a good habit to get into.

Check Security Systems on a Monthly Basis

It’s a good idea to check your home’s security systems on a monthly basis to ensure they’re working properly. This includes your security cameras, door and window sensors, and door locks. According to ADT, you should also test your system if you’ve changed your phone or internet service, or had any home renovations performed. If you notice any issues, contact a security company such as SafeStreets.

Additional Tips to Keep Your Home Safer

Other things you can do to make your home safer without spending any money include:

• Keeping shoes under your bed in case you should have to get up and get out in a hurry.
• Avoiding hanging anything dangerous such as glass over your bed or your kids’ beds. This will prevent anything dangerous from falling on you or a family member while sleeping.
• Having a family emergency plan and going over it on a regular basis, like monthly or quarterly. (Get ideas here.)
• Practicing common sense in everything you do around the house and always paying attention to the things that could go wrong.

Contact SafeStreets for all of Your Home Security Needs

SafeStreets is the country’s only ADT Authorized Provider. We take pride in installing state-of-the-art home security systems and home automation products to help keep homeowners across the country safe from threats such as burglaries and natural disasters. To learn more about our products or to schedule an appointment, contact SafeStreets today.

Many of our customers choose to install outdoor security cameras to keep a close eye on their property, day and night. And for good reason! Just the presence of security cameras alone are enough to make most would-be criminals look elsewhere.

But what many homeowners neglect to keep a watchful eye of is the inside of their homes. Installing indoor security cameras is a great way to check in on your home, kids or pets when you’re away. To learn more about our ADT-monitored indoor security cameras, reach out to SafeStreets today.

How Do Indoor Security Cameras Work?

Indoor security cameras from SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider, can be strategically placed throughout your home to provide coverage of your entire home. Some of the best locations to install indoor security cameras include by stairs, in hallways and in common areas.

Our home security cameras use 720p HD video imaging that can capture clear images, even in low-light spaces. With Wi-FI capabilities, our indoor camera systems can send video footage of burglars in the event of an intrusion, which can be used by police to help identify the intruder.

You can watch live video right from your smartphone, and even speak to your kids or pets using a two-way audio feature. You can also set up your indoor security camera system to send alerts whenever motion is detected.

Who Can Benefit from Indoor Security Cameras?

Since any home can potentially be the target of a break-in, every homeowner can benefit from having home surveillance cameras installed for an extra layer of protection. Some of the most common reasons our customers choose to have indoor security cameras installed include:

Deterring Criminals

If a burglar or intruder does manage to break into your home while you’re away, the mere presence of indoor cameras is enough to help deter criminals and make them run for the hills. That’s because they know their every movement is being recorded. When you catch something, you can use the ADT Control app to let someone at ADT monitoring know to dispatch the police right away. 

Aiding the Police

Due to the high-quality images they produce, indoor security cameras are often very helpful in police investigations. Police can use the video recording to help identify a suspect, make an apprehension, and in some cases, return your stolen items.

Lowering Insurance Rates

Insurance companies love security cameras and will often lower insurance premiums for customers who have security cameras and home security systems installed in their home. Video recorded from indoor and outdoor cameras can also help validate your insurance claim.

Checking in On the Kids and Pets

Indoor security cameras also help provide parents with peace of mind by giving them the ability to check that their kids have returned home from school safely. With the ADT Control app, you can even say hi to your kids and tell them to do their homework. Many homeowners also enjoy checking in on their pets, especially if they’re home alone for long periods of time during the day.

Contact SafeStreets for Indoor Security Cameras

When it comes to helping protect your family, pets and home, it’s important to only work with a professional home security company that you can trust. At SafeStreets, we always put you, our customer, first and develop a home security package that is tailored for your individual needs. To learn more about installing security cameras or other home security system offerings, contact SafeStreets today.

When I am going to be gone from home for an extended period of time, I usually only think about whether or not our 100-pound dog will make it without a chance for a potty break. Rarely do I think about what kind of danger he might be in when left home alone.

However, I am being naïve. The chances of Bear needing a potty break or getting into the cat’s food is probably significantly lower than the chance of a fire starting while I am not home. And without a home security system monitoring for heat and smoke, it could be the end of Bear because the fire department would be delayed in getting to the house to save him – or the house.

Fire Monitoring Means Faster Response Times

Think about it: If no one is home, then the fire won’t be noticed until the neighbors see or smell something, and how long will that take? Plus, you have the added time it will take for the neighbors to investigate before they call 911. They’ll want to make sure there’s a fire and not a BBQ gone awry before making that call, after all. That means that by the time the fire department gets to your home, a lot of time will have elapsed. Will there be any chance for your pets at that point?

The authorities can get there sooner, however, potentially in time to save your pets and home. With a fire alarm system in place, your home is monitored whether you’re there or not, alerting both you and the fire department at the first indication of heat or smoke.

A Different Kind of Peace of Mind

People often associate home security systems with peace of mind, in part, because burglars tend to bypass those houses they know are protected. In that way, you’re protecting your family and your property, both with the home security and with the fire monitoring. Protecting pets adds a whole new layer to that peace of mind.

This kind of monitoring checks for heat too. Although smoke detectors and fire alarms are commonplace today, heat can start to build before a fire breaks out and is apparent. So that’s one more early warning signal that can get the fire department to your house faster, to save your property and your pets.

Deadly House Fires: More Common Than You Think

If you think the chances of a fire starting at your house are slim, statistics indicate otherwise. House fires are very common. And house fires are very deadly. According to the home security review website ASecureLife.com:

• According to the National Fire Protection Association, a home fire is reported every 23 seconds.
• House fires are the third leading cause of deaths that happen at home.
• More people are killed by fires in the U.S. every year than by all natural disasters combined.

These statistics are only about people, not pets, but you can be sure the statistics for pets are probably the same or worse since they are helpless to let themselves out to escape a house fire. A fire detection system can help. It can’t prevent a fire from starting, but the early detection and notifying of authorities can go a long way toward saving your house, your things, your cats and your dogs.

Contact SafeStreets for ADT-monitored Fire Monitoring Systems

ADT-monitored smoke detectors and fire detection systems from SafeStreets can help keep your family, pets and home safe during a fire by notifying you immediately if one of the smoke and fire alarm systems detect smoke in your home. This will help you get your family and pets out of the home safely. If you’re not home, ADT-monitoring services will notify you and the local emergency services immediately to send help.

As you can see, the benefits of installing a fire protection system in your home are plentiful. To have a fire alarm monitoring system installed, contact the home security professionals at SafeStreets.

If you’re looking to cut costs and save money in your household, consider home automation services from SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider. A home automation system costs money up front but pays you back over time in several ways.

The cost of installing a home automation system is likely less than you think. Many home security setups cost under $40 per month, less than you’d pay for dinner at a restaurant once a month. Once you have the home security system, your homeowner’s insurance may decrease in price, so the monthly cost is often less than the sticker price.

In our most recent blog, the security professionals at SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider, discuss several ways that smart devices can help reduce energy costs and save money.

Where Will You Save Money with a Home Automation System?

Your Electric Bill

A home automation system is a great tool to be installed in your home as it can help you save money on your electric bill in various ways.

With a home automation system, you can automatically turn on the lights at specified times of the day. This will help save money compared to leaving lights on all day when they didn’t need to be.

Consider the outside lights, too. It would help if you had those on when you get home after dark, but you don’t want to leave them on all day. A home automation system turns on the lights at a designated time, so your house looks occupied, and your path from the garage to the back door is well lit for your walk inside – without having to pay to leave all those lights on all day.

Heating Bill

You can control your home’s heating and cooling system by installing a smart thermostat, a great way to help save energy and money. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust your HVAC system using a smart home device. You will even receive monthly energy reports that show where you’re using the most energy so you can make adjustments to increase energy savings in the future.

With a smart thermostat, you don’t have to leave the furnace or air conditioning system on all day just so no one has to walk into an uncomfortable house after work or school. You can use a smart thermostat to warm the place up just before you return home. 

In addition, if you have pets home alone all day, you can set the thermostat to be comfortable for them without the poor things shivering through an entire day of no heat.

Help Lower Risk or High Price Burglary

The average cost to a homeowner who is the victim of a burglary is over $2,500, according to 2019 statistics from the FBI. The price could be significantly higher depending on the damage done and items stolen. 

With a home automation and security system – complete with prominent signage in the yard – your home is a lot less likely to be the one robbed, helping you save you a lot more money than you’ll spend for the service over a year.

Save on Babysitting Costs

If you knew the kids could come home to a warm, well-lit house on those days they get back before you do, you could save a few dollars on paying a sitter to be there to welcome them home. You can also install indoor security cameras to check in on your kids while they’re home from a smart device.

Contact SafeStreets for Home Automation Services

Technology is evolving rapidly, and homes will only get “smarter” as home automation, and other home technologies continue to help improve and offer even more features. 

But why wait? Help start saving money today with a home automation system installed by SafeStreets. Contact SafeStreets today for a free consultation.

A burglary happens every 25 seconds in the U.S. Most burglaries occur in broad daylight when many people are at work or school.

Is your home safe from such harm? Maybe not, so let’s go over a few tips you can do to make your home less appealing to burglars looking for likely prospects.

Steps to Help Keep Your Home Safe

Let’s start on the outside and work our way in, taking steps to help make your home safer by helping make it more secure with the following home security tips.

If you’re looking for home security systems to install in your home – including motion sensor lights, cameras, and door locks – to help make your home safer, contact the home security experts at SafeStreets today.

Eliminate Hiding Places

Let’s start in the street, looking at your house as a passing burglar might see it. Most burglaries happen in broad daylight, but that doesn’t mean they happen in plain view. A burglar loves to have a place to hide while breaking in through a door or window. 

What kinds of hiding places do you see from the street? Are there fences, shrubs, trees, or outbuildings like garden sheds that offer an excellent hiding place and easy access to an entry point? 

Those are the things that need to be addressed first. Here are what we suggest you start with:

• Trim back bushes
• Pull plants out
• Move garbage cans
• Do what you can to eliminate the “cover.”

While at it, make sure not to hide your house key in apparent spots, including by the front door or under mats.

Check the Lighting, Inside and Out

Your next evaluation needs to happen when it’s dark because you want to see how well you’re lighting your house for security. Look for the same kinds of hiding places as before in the daylight, but this time look for shadows and dark corners. Then figure out how to shine a light on these problem areas. If you find places that need to be lit to help make your home safer but don’t want your house and yard to glow all night, consider motion detector lights for the areas that need extra lighting.

Also, consider the lighting inside your house as it’s seen from the street. Choose some windows to light up from the inside, and put lights and lamps on timers, so the house is lit from the inside even if you’re still at work or you’ve gone out to a movie. This is particularly important in the winter when the days are shorter.

Make Your Home Look Occupied

If it looks like someone is home, your house may be less likely to be burglarized. There are several tricks you can do to help make it look like someone is indeed inside, even if the house is empty:

• Put smart lights on timers so your home is never completely dark. You might want to leave lights on during the day too.
• Keep any extra cars in the driveway rather than leave them parked on the street.
• Ask your neighbors to pick up any delivered packages, so they’re not sitting on your front step if you’re away from home or out of town.
• Leave the radio or the TV on when you’re not home.

Reinforce Your Locks

Burglars often enter homes by breaking a window or forcing open a door. Investing in heavy-duty locks and adding deadbolts to your doors can help prevent break-ins. To help burglar-proof your windows, insert dowels into the tracks of sliding glass doors and windows so they can’t be opened from the outside. Also, we recommend you invest in locks for your windows if they only have latches.

Make sure all doors and windows are locked every day when you leave, including the doors and windows of garages and tool sheds too.

Invest in a Home Security System

Over 90% of convicted burglars say they would avoid a home with a prominent home security system. This is why we highly recommend having a home security system installed in your home.

This method for protecting your home is like an inside/outside one: It’s inside your house, but it can be blatantly displayed outside so that any burglar passing by can see the sign and keep on driving, looking for the next potential target.

SafeStreets has a full line of home security systems to help keep your home safe. We can install the highest quality glass break sensors, video doorbells, and security cameras backed by ADT monitoring.

Contact SafeStreets for Home Security System Installation

When it comes to keeping your home safe from harm, prevention is key! At SafeStreets, we care about the safety of your family. That’s why we can help by installing home security systems, smoke alarms, smart locks, and other alarm systems in your home to help keep your family safe.

If you’re a homeowner, then you know that there are all sorts of things that can go wrong with your house. One of the scariest possibilities is an electrical fire that can spread as quickly as 30 seconds. While they can be frightening, it’s important to understand what causes them and how to prevent them from happening. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what causes an electrical fire and some tips for preventing them.

What Is An Electrical Fire?

An electrical fire is a Class C fire which is a fire that is started by energized electrical equipment or parts such as outlets, wiring, controls, appliances, motors, and machinery.

The U.S. Fire Administration says that there are approximately 47,000 electrical fires each year. It’s important to be aware that most electrical fires happen between midnight and 8 a.m. During the year, electrical fires peak during the months of December through January.

What Are The Signs Of An Electrical Fire?

There are few signs to look out for with your electrical system that could be leading directly to a potential electrical fire. 

• Old wiring is one of the most common hazards. 
• Charred or discolored outlets or light switches.
• Circuit breakers keep tripping.
• Continuous electrical burning smell with hard-to-find source.

What Causes Electrical Fires?

We know an electrical fire is caused by electricity, and even if nothing is plugged in, an electrical fire can occur. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of electrical fires:

• Water: Water is a conductor of electricity. The fire risk is high if there is even a little bit of water in your outlets, light fixtures, or electrical wiring. Water can cause a short circuit or a spark that can then lead to an electrical fire. Make sure bathroom and kitchen outlets have GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) to prevent electrical fires caused by water.
• Kids and Pets: Kids and pets may unknowingly cause an electrical fire by chewing on electrical cords, knocking over water onto electrical parts, or laying on extension cords. 
• Extension Cords and Power Strips: If extension cords and power strips are used improperly, they can overheat and cause an electrical fire. Make sure extension cords and power strips are not damaged. Using too many extension cords and power strips can cause overloaded circuits which can cause your circuit breaker to trip frequently. 
• Damaged Wires and Cords: Check your wires and cords for any kinks, frays, or burn marks. Make sure to check all charging cords for your devices. These hazards can cause an electrical fire.
• Dead Batteries in Smoke Detectors: While dead batteries in smoke detectors don’t directly cause a fire, we at SafeStreets thought it important to note that working smoke detectors can greatly reduce damage and death from an electrical fire.

How Do I Put Out An Electrical Fire?

Make sure the electrical fire is still small enough to put it out, otherwise, get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911. There are a few things you should and shouldn’t do in order to extinguish an electrical fire. Let’s take a look: 

What TO Do:

• Unplug or turn off the power supply if possible.
• Smother the fire from the oxygen source. You can use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), a fire blanket, or a Class C fire extinguisher.

What NOT To Do:

• Do not use water to put out an electrical fire! As mentioned above, using water on an electrical fire will make it worse and could cause electrocution.
• Do not use flour when smothering a fire. The white powder that is used to smother a fire is baking soda, not flour.

How Can I Prevent Electrical Fires?

• Outlets: Make sure electrical outlets are fitted tight to the wall. Faulty electrical outlets are a common cause of electrical fires Consider installing smart plugs.
• Plugs: Don’t force plugs into electrical sockets. Make sure they are not smothered by beds or other furniture.
• Extension Cords: Only use extension cords temporarily. Avoid using an extension cord for heat-producing electrical appliances. 
• Electrical Cords: Never use near water. Don’t cover with rugs or blankets.
• Bulbs: Make sure light bulb wattage matches the fixture recommendation. Consider using smart LED light bulbs.
• GFCI’s: Place this type of outlet in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, workshop, basement, and garage.
• Smoke Detectors: Install smoke detectors, and check batteries every month.

Stay Safe With SafeStreets

Fires caused by an electrical failure are a serious risk for many homes, and they can be prevented by taking the right measures with electrical systems. We covered some things you can do to avoid an electrical fire in your home or business. Now is the time to take action. SafeStreets’ advanced smoke detectors can detect even the smallest of fires.

A SafeStreets professional will help you choose the right smart home products for your home. Our automation experts will also make sure your smart LED light bulbs, smart plugs, and especially smoke detectors are installed correctly and working to your specifications. Get a free quote today!

Having a home security system installed in your home is a smart way to help protect your family. However, you can’t neglect taking other precautions too to ensure your home and family are safe.

Your home security system can do a lot to deter burglars, but you’ll be even safer if you take certain precautions. Plus, what about those days or nights when you forget to turn on the alarm? Or the power goes out? Or something else puts your home security system out of whack? Aren’t you going to want to know you’ve got other precautions in place?

Below you’ll find some tips for bolstering your home security system so you’re even safer. These are tips derived from real life examples.

Don’t Assume Standard Locks Are Good Enough

A friend who lives in a primarily military neighborhood had the frightening experience of a burglary during the night, as she and her husband and son were all sleeping upstairs. The burglars entered the first floor of their house with ease by climbing in despite a locked window, taking her purse and other items, then proceeding to steal stuff from the cars parked outside. And this was a new house in a huge and very nice development.

How did the burglars get in? Easy: The home security system was not on, for some reason, and the window locks were easy to undo, it turned out. Despite having a new house in a nice development, plenty of outdoor lighting, and neighbors very close by, this family and the others were at risk because the home builder used windows with flimsy locks making forced entry not really forced at all. (My friend has since replaced the locks on the windows with better ones.)

I tell this story to illustrate that you need to assess how good your current locks and latches are. Just because there is a lock doesn’t mean it will keep someone out!

Door and Window Sensors

If you’re concerned about burglars breaking in through your windows or doors, consider adding window sensors to your existing security system. Glass break sensors from SafeStreets are designed to pick up the unique sound of shattering glass and will sound the alarm as soon as the sound is detected.

You can also be alerted whenever a door or window is opened to help keep your home and family protected. Door and window sensors come with professional monitoring from ADT.

Smart Door Locks and Cameras from SafeStreets

Smart door locks from SafeStreets are incredibly convenient and safe. Our smart door locks can be locked and unlocked from anywhere using the ADT Control app from your smartphone. It’s also equipped with a keypad; you can assign different passcodes to different people to allow them to enter your home. You can also choose to be notified if any opens or closes the door.

Another piece of home security equipment that can help protect your home is a video doorbell camera for your front door. You can choose to be notified if anyone is approaching your door and see them with high-quality 720p HD video. The two-way audio capabilities even allow you to speak to the person on the other side of the door even when you’re not home. Just the presence of a video doorbell security camera can be enough to deter a potential criminal from targeting your home.

The downside to doorbell cameras is that they can only see the front of your home. If intruders try to gain access from a side window, are you going to be able to see them? Safestreets also offers outdoor security cameras that can help you see all your blind spots. During the installation process with a SafeStreets trained Smart Security Pro, we’ll be able to help you find the best locations for your security cameras so you have a good view from every angle. 

Use Some “Common Sense Coverage”

Then there’s just the common sense stuff, and making sure everyone is on the same page as far as home security goes. For example, if your kids like to sleep with their bedroom windows open at night, make sure their windows are not only shut but locked in the morning before you leave the house for the day. 

Also, make sure to check doors and windows you don’t use as often, like side doors, garage doors, and shop doors are shut and locked before you leave the house. Maybe assign each child certain doors and windows to double-check as part of their morning routine.

You also want to inspect the lighting outside of your house, to make sure you’re not providing hiding places at night. Check for bushes, fences, and trees that offer coverage for potential intruders during the daylight hours too, since most burglaries happen between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to ADT.

Also, follow practical steps to make your home looks occupied while you’re away.  With home automation systems from SafeStreets you can put lights on timers, so they will turn on and off at a set time. Another way to look like your home is occupied when it isn’t is to leave a TV or radio on. 

Outdoor Lighting from SafeStreets

Installing outdoor lighting is a great way to help protect and monitor the outside of your home. Our home automation system can schedule your outdoor lighting system to automatically turn on at dusk and off at sunrise. SafeStreets can provide professional installation for your outdoor lighting system.

Contact SafeStreets for the Best Home Security Systems

Of course, the best burglar deterrent is a well-advertised home security system, but when you pair your new security system with some common sense safety tips, your home security system will work as intended. Contact SafeStreets today to find the right home security system for your property complete with home automation systems and monitoring service from ADT. Contact us to learn more.