Fire

Five Advantages of 24-Hour Security Monitoring

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Whether you’re at home in the Triangle, snuggled in bed fast asleep, or away on an international trip, it’s important to know your home security system will work the way you expect.

One expectation most people have for home or business security systems is a response to the alarm — no matter what time it occurs. This 24-hour security monitoring means authorities will be notified as needed when the alarm is activated at your home or office.

How monitoring works

When an alarm is tripped, the typical system will have a siren go off for approximately five minutes. If the system is monitored and there is no emergency in progress, the alarm can be canceled by giving the monitoring station your password. If a burglar or prowler trips the alarm, they usually leave the premise quickly. In many cases, the intruder will then hide and watch to see if there is any activity in the home, or if police/people arrive. If so, they typically will leave quickly to focus their efforts on an easier target — a non-monitored home.

Monitoring isn’t just to alert the police or fire departments. Here are some other advantages of including 24-hour monitoring as part of your security system:

  • True protection — Some homeowners assume a burglar alarm making a lot of noise is enough protection. In truth, like car alarms, home alarms are often ignored by people nearby, who assume it is going off by accident.
  • Fire Detection — A monitored security system that includes low-voltage smoke detectors provides greater protection and quicker responses to fires.
  • Other Home Issues– While not as urgent as a fire or break-in, a gas leak can cause serious problems in your home. Our systems can be set up to monitor carbon dioxide. Special sensors can be added as needed – for example, to let you know your freezer is no longer on or indicate a power outage.
  • Assistance— Monitoring systems can also be set up to notify people that you need assistance in case of a fall or other personal accident.
  • Peace of Mind— Monitoring means someone is always alerted or spurred into action when emergencies happen in your home or business. Many security system clients say knowing someone is there offers peace of mind, making it easier to sleep at home and while away.

Five Star Monitoring
Secur-Tek works with Affiliated Central to monitor your home or business. The team at Affiliated Central is CSAA Five Diamond Certified and uses the most up-to-date technologies.

While most security companies offer 24-hour monitoring, some companies may consider it an add-on feature or require long-term contracts. When considering a security company to keep your home or business safe, be sure to read your contract carefully to confirm you are receiving the service you deserve.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your security system needs, please don’t hesitate to call us at 919.387.1800 or by filling out the form below.

 

 

FIRE PREVENTION SAFETY TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

In October of 1871, The Great Chicago fire devastated much of that city, killing 300 people and leaving over 100,000 homeless. In remembrance of that horrific event, October was designated as Fire Prevention Month. During this month, fire departments across the country hold educational events focused on fire and home safety. 

To support this effort, our blog this month offers tips to help keep you and your family safe:

1) Install/check your smoke alarm:

If you don’t have a smoke alarm, install one. If you have one, make sure it is maintained and working properly.

  • Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
  • Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.
  • When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside, call 911, and stay outside.
  • A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Install alarms on every level of the home and in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area
  • Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all should sound. 

Facts about Smoke alarms: 

Almost three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with either no smoke alarms (40%) or no working smoke alarms (17%). 

Working smoke alarms save lives. The death rate from reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have working smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working smoke alarms.

In fires where smoke alarms were present but did not operate, 43% of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. 

Dead batteries caused one-quarter (25%) of the smoke alarm failures.

A monitored security system that includes low voltage smoke detectors provides greater protection and quicker responses to fires.

2)    Make an Escape Plan: 

In the event of a home safety emergency, every second counts. According to the National Fire Protection Association, you may have less than two minutes to escape after your smoke alarms sound. That’s why it’s important to be prepared by planning and practicing an escape route with your family. By planning, practicing, and repeating your emergency exit plan, you can help ensure a safe escape.

Here’s what to do:

  • Walk through your home with your family and identify multiple exits out of each room in the house. If windows or doors are blocked, clear them so they can be easily accessed and opened.
  • For two-story houses, consider equipping bedrooms with escape ladders to provide additional, safe exits. If you need an escape ladder, Secur-Tek has these in stock.
  • Dedicate someone to assist small children or infants out of the home.
  • Assign a meeting spot outside that is a safe distance away from your house like the mailbox, tree or neighbor’s house.
  • Ensure your street address is clearly visible on your home or mailbox for first responders.
  • If you have children, teach them how to call 9-1-1 once outside at your meeting spot and help them memorize your home address.

 Once you have your escape plan, it’s time to practice. The NFPA recommends executing your escape plan twice a year, as well as at night.

To get started, download this home escape plan worksheet.

3) Place properly functioning Fire Extinguishers strategically placed around your residence.

Fire extinguishers should be available on every level of the home and in areas like the kitchen and garage. Store them in accessible places or mount them on the wall for easy access in the event of an emergency. Be sure to choose the right fire extinguisher for your home’s needs.
It is important for the whole family to understand how a fire extinguisher works, so be sure to read the instructions carefully and thoroughly with them.

When using a fire extinguisher remember the PASS technique:

P – Pull the pin

A – Aim directly at the source of the fire 

S – Squeeze the lever slowly and smoothly to get the flow even and aimed where you need it

S – Swipe back and forth to contain and eliminate all burning fuel.

4) More tips:

Kitchen fires caused by unattended cooking are a major cause of fires in Apex and throughout the country. Keep an eye on anything that you’re cooking.  Click here for kitchen safety tips.

  • Ensure your fireplace screen covers the entire fireplace.
  • Have proper ventilation for heaters and other small appliances.
  • Do not smoke in bed.
  • Use the correct size fuses.
  • Don’t use worn-out electrical wiring or run it under rugs or out windows or doors.
  • Clear refuse away — the less clutter, the less fuel a fire has to feed on.

For more information on safety and fire prevention – please go to https://www.nfpa.org or https://www.apexnc.org/335/Safety-Information.

 

 

Secur-Tek is locally owned and operated in Apex, NC, offering home and business security, monitoring, automation, audio, and central vacuum systems. Our North Carolina service area includes Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, Pittsboro and Wake Forest.

 

September is Baby Safety Month

Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe

 September is that wonderful time of year when the weather starts to cool, and we enjoy the outdoors. It is also Baby Safety Month – a good time for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to brush up on babyproofing and safety tips.  

There is so much to consider – so we’re posting a few helpful hints to keep in mind while checking out your living space.

          Safety Straps:  You might be surprised by the number of accidents that children can have with furniture — because from your child’s perspective, TVs, dressers, and bookshelves look great for climbing. If these items tip over, they can hurt children. To avoid mishaps, install furniture safety straps so you’ll know things are stable no matter who or what attempts to climb them.

          Kitchen Awareness:  Review cooking habits/procedures with everyone who prepares food in the kitchen. Some things to remember are:

  • Toddlers love exploring the kitchen! Small children might see their parents switching a burner on or off and want to try it. Keep your stovetop safe by putting a baby-safe cover over the knobs to prevent little hands from turning on hot surfaces.
  • Always turn pot handles towards the back of the stove.
  • To lessen the chance of accidents, use the back burners when cooking. This keeps the hot food further away from the reach of children.
  • Check the childproof latches on your cupboards and replace any that are not functioning properly.

Yard, Deck Pool, and Hot Tub Safety

  • Have alarms on all doors and entryways leading from the house to the yard, deck, patio, or pool area.
  • Consider having a locking 5-foot fence or a safety cover for your pool and/or hot tub.
  • Install safety gates to control when and where your child can explore. If you already have them, check safety gates and play yards to make sure they are in good condition. Stay away from or replace older accordion-style safety gates as they can be a strangulation hazard.
  • Check and organize your yard regularly. Make sure there is no equipment lying around such as trimmers, lawnmowers, hoses, etc. that could cause injury to your children.

Blinds and Draperies

          Double-check the cords on your blinds and draperies and ensure they are tied up or cut off and kept out of your child’s reach. The loop of the cord should break apart if you slide your hand between the two cords so there is no possibility of getting caught or tangled in it. For ease of maintenance, you can use a cord wrap – purchase at your local home improvement store – to keep them neatly coiled and tucked out of the reach of your child.

Fire Safety

  • Write up a fire escape plan for your home and share the plan with everyone in the family so they know what to do.
  • Check all fire safety equipment:
    • Are the smoke alarms working?
    • Secur-Tek system’s monitor installed smoke and CO detectors at all times to help keep your family safe.
    • Make sure fire extinguishers are full and everyone knows how to use them.
    • Make sure flashlights are strategically placed with extra batteries and that everyone in the family knows where they are.
  • Teach your kids the stop, drop, and roll technique just in case their clothes catch on fire.
  • Is your children’s sleepwear fire retardant? Check labels to be sure.

Cameras and Remote Monitoring:

          If you have a remote camera or monitoring system in your child’s room, you will want to check the camera positioning to ensure the entire space can be monitored with no blind spots.

          If you do not have a camera or remoting monitoring system, you may want to consider installing one. It is an easy way to keep an eye on your children and add to your peace of mind as you’re able to check on them at any time. At Secur-Tek, Inc., our team can place cameras in strategic locations, kids rooms, kitchen, yard, driveway, deck, pool areas and connect remote access to receive real-time alerts and view activity in the interior or exterior of your home through your mobile phone, tablet, PC or your TV.  If you install a camera system yourself remember to change the default password to minimize unauthorized viewing of your cameras.

CPR and Basic First Aid:

Last, but potentially most important – take the time to feel comfortable knowing and applying CPR and basic first aid techniques. If you do not, you can enroll in an infant/child CPR and first aid certification class. They are easy to find online from local organizations — and fun to do while giving you the competence and confidence to effectively handle those little boo-boos or accidents that children seem to get themselves into.

We hope these few reminders will help you and your family have a safe and secure fall!

If you have any questions concerning your family’s security system, video/camera monitoring, pool safety systems, or yard security – please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Eight Reasons a Security System May Be Right for You

home automation wherever you areAs seasons change, we often start to think about home and yard improvement projects that will enhance our living space. One of the ways to make life easier, stress-free and increase your property value is by installing a security system that fits your lifestyle.

Would a security system be the right choice for you? Secur-Tek, Inc, installs many security systems around North Carolina’s Triangle area — here are eight of the most often cited reasons customers call us to install a security system.  

1) Protect your family and Property:  The FBI states that 1 in 3 homes without a security system will fall victim to a burglary. Homes with a security system have much better odds — 1 in 250. This is an average and depends on where you live, but all homes are vulnerable to possible intrusion, especially when the homeowner is away.

2) Fire Protection: Fire protection may be the most important reason to have a security system and have it monitored. On average, a home fire is reported every twenty seconds in the US. A home security system can provide an early warning system for smoke, providing advanced notice that can prevent property damage and even more importantly, save a life.

3) Detect Gas Accumulation or Leaks: Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless toxic gas that is found in combustion fumes. This gas is released from everyday appliances like heating systems, stoves, burning wood, and other things. Since we can’t smell carbon monoxide, our families and pets may be affected without knowing it.

A home security system can be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector that detects high amounts of carbon monoxide in the home and alerts homeowners so that they can get out quickly and seek medical treatment for the possible side effects of this poisoning gas before it’s too late.

4) Home Monitoring 24/7: One of the biggest benefits of having a security system is that your home can be monitored by security professionals at all times. They can track any significant events that occur at the home and quickly dispatch emergency personnel. For homeowners that have aging parents living with them or parents that live alone, adding medication reminders, activity tracking, emergency pulls, or medical alert systems to the security system can be a lifesaver. These signals can be set to dispatch emergency vehicles directly to the home, saving time in critical conditions.

5) Peace of Mind:  When traveling, or just away at work, you may worry about what’s happening at your home with your family or pets. A home equipped with surveillance cameras provides homeowners with the ability to check-in and monitor what’s happening, no matter where you are.

6) Enhance your convenience and comfort:  Home automation services can also be installed with your security system. These conveniences include light controls, door locks, garage door controls, thermostats, and more, providing an additional level of comfort to your environment and security.

7) Home Energy Conservation:  A home security system can be used to monitor your home’s energy use. Have you ever left home and realized you didn’t turn off lights or turn down the heater or the air conditioner? These are expensive home appliances to run; you can save money by turning them on/off automatically or remotely.

8) More Potential Economic Gains: Homeowner’s insurance is designed to cover losses or damages that may occur as a result of several types of devastating events. This insurance can cost hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars a year. Therefore, it is important to understand what discounts and cost savings can be applied when installing a security system in your home and on your property. In addition, a security system is an investment that can add value to your property. These savings can often offset the cost of protecting your home, property, family, and pets through security system installation and monitoring.

Secur-Tek, Inc. installs and services security systems customized to fit our customers’ needs. Please call us at 919.387.1800 to find out more and schedule a complimentary consultation.

Secur-Tek is locally owned and operated in Apex, NC, offering home and business security, monitoring, automation, audio, and central vacuum systems. Our service area includes Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Pittsboro in North Carolina.

Save Lives by Checking Smoke Alarms this Month

49370576 - replacing battery in domestic smoke alarmIf a fire broke out in your home, when do you think that would happen? If you guessed “at night,” you’re right. In fact, half of all fire deaths are reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep.

Three out of five home fire deaths happen from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. In other words, smoke alarms save lives.

The second week of October is Fire Prevention Week, and it’s a good time to check your smoke alarm. When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead. When was the last time you checked your alarm?

Maybe you removed the battery to quiet the alarm last time your oven started smoking while you cooked dinner. Although smoke alarms can be annoying sometimes, that’s the point — you want it to wake you up in an emergency.

Here are three important steps to take to make sure your alarm is ready to save your family:

1. Change the battery. Many people have heard to change the batteries each time we spring forward or fall back for Daylight Saving Time. That’s coming up Nov. 6, so head to the store to buy some new batteries.

2. Check the date. While you’re on the ladder or stepstool changing the battery, be sure to also check the date on the alarm. Many people don’t know that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. If you have lived in your home fewer than 10 years, you may not know how old the device is. To find out, pull the alarm off the ceiling and look at the back. You’ll see a date of manufacture. If your alarm was manufactured before October 2006, it’s time for a new one.

3. Test the alarm. Once you have fresh batteries and have confirmed the alarm is still within the 10-year mark, it’s time to test it. To test, press and hold the test button. It can take a few seconds to begin, but the loud noise should screech out from the smoke detector while the button is pressed. If there is no sound or the sound is weak and you just put in new batteries, replace the device immediately.

Once you’ve finished checking your smoke alarm, be sure to test your security system, which can also help alert authorities in case of fire. For more information on how to do that, check out our recent blog post on the topic.

Secur-Tek proudly serves the North Carolina communities of Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Pittsboro

Security & Home Automation