Home Safety

Holidays and Home Safety

Will you be away from home on the holidays?

If you’re planning to travel this holiday season, your empty home could be a target for burglars. While break-ins can happen in any neighborhood, the good news is that you can protect your family and belongings from the possibility of a home invasion.

Thieves like easy targets – they are likely to look for:

  • Mail or newspapers piling up. Remember to stop your mail at the post office or arrange for a neighbor to pick it up.
  • Overgrown or shrubs that obscure the home from the street. Check around your home to see if there are good sight lines to windows and doors. If not, prune them or hire a service that can do this.
  • Weak doors or windows. It’s essential to keep entry points into your home (doors and windows) locked. Also check it to see if these openings are structurally vulnerable to break-ins, as weak doors and windows are easy targets for forced entry. Strong, sturdy doors with deadbolt locks and reinforced metal frames are optimal.
  • No indoor or outdoor lights. Darkness around your home can provide cover for a burglar. Avoid this by strategically placing automatic outdoor or motion sensor lights around your home and property. Light bulbs set on a timer inside also help give the illusion that the home is occupied.

Thieves tend to avoid:

  • Homes with security systems – especially with cameras. An alarm system can be an essential step in protecting your home and valuables. In fact, the FBI says 83% of would-be burglars check for the presence of an alarm system before attempting a break-in.
  • And with remote monitoring, you have the convenience of checking on your home from anywhere.

If you’re interested in a security system that fits your needs, give us a call at (919) 387-1800.  We’d be happy to answer all your questions and provide you with a complimentary quote.

Secur-Tek offers customers the best in home security –  a personal touch, industry knowledge, and connections built on 35+ yrs in the industry. On top of that, we hand-select reliable name-brand suppliers to accommodate changes in the technological landscape.

Our service area includes Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Pittsboro in North Carolina.

 

 

 

4 Tips for Fire Safety

October is Fire Prevention Month; fire departments nationwide hold educational events focused on fire and home safety.  To support this effort, we’ve compiled four tips to help keep you and your family safe:

1)  Smoke Alarms

  • Smoke alarms are essential. If you don’t have them, install them or have them installed by a North Carolina-certified electrician.
  • Maintain your smoke alarms – to make sure they are working properly, test your smoke alarms at least once a year by pressing the test button to be sure the alarm is working. And don’t let them get too old – consider replacing all smoke alarms in your home every 7-10 years.
  • When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside. Then call 911 and stay outside until the fire department says it’s safe to re-enter your home.
  • Connecting additional smoke alarm detectors to your security system and monitoring them can add additional peace of mind—when the alarm sounds, the fire department is automatically called and can be dispatched. With a hardwired home security system,  auxiliary smoke/heat/CO sensors don’t have batteries that require changing and have a backup battery for when the power is out. Also, many of Secur-Tek’s additional smoke alarms sound at the keypad – so you don’t have another beeping unit on your ceiling.  It sounds at the keypad and can be cleared when the smoke/issue has passed.

2)  Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers should be available on every level of the home, especially in the kitchen and garage. Store them in accessible places or mount them on the wall for easy access.

Read the instructions carefully and teach all family members how to use it.

When using a fire extinguisher, it helps to 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

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

3) Prevent household fires

  • Kitchen fires caused by unattended cooking are a major cause of fires. Don’t leave items unattended and remember to turn all pot handles inward.
  • Ensure your fireplace screen covers the entire fireplace
  • Have proper ventilation for heaters and other small appliances
  • Use the correct size fuses and check for worn-out electrical wiring
  • If you use many Lithium-ion batteries, Install Heat Sensors. Many insurance companies require a monitored heat detector in the garage if an EV charger is installed.

4)  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 – plan and practice an escape route with your family:

  • Walk through your home and identify at least two ways out of each room. If windows or doors are blocked, clear them so they can be opened
  • For two-story houses, consider equipping bedrooms with escape ladders to provide additional exits. This safety feature is best added during construction and Secur-Tek has these in stock.
  • Decide who should 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 visible for first responders to see
  • If you have children, teach them how to call 9-1-1 after arriving at your meeting spot and help them memorize your home address
  • Once you have your escape plan, stage a practice fire drill **.

Secur-Tek , Inc. offers customers the best in home security – combining a personal touch with industry knowledge and connections built on 35+ years in the industry.  We hand-select name-brand suppliers, like First Alert, the most trusted brand in fire safety*.

Our service area includes Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Pittsboro in North Carolina.  Call us at 919-387-1800 or use the form below.

Resources:

For more information on safety and fire prevention go to: https://www.apexnc.org/335/Safety-Information or your local government safety office.

For information on heat alarms, please see https://secur-tek.com/sensors-and-your-security-system/

*First Alert Brand Trust Survey, March 2023 – Results are based on the responses of 1,043 adult homeowners, ages 25 and older, living in the United States who completed an online survey asking them to choose from six brands in the smoke, fire and carbon monoxide protection space.

**We recommend a test of the security system every month. If you would like to incorporate this into your practice, have the system placed on test (make sure it is on test), then hold the Fire panic button, and the siren will sound in your home. Please be mindful of neighbors, dogs, children when you do this.

 

 

 

Back-to-School Safety Quiz

Are your kids heading back to school?  It’s a good time to think about safety. It’s not a fun topic to discuss, so we developed a short quiz you can try as a conversation starter.

See how many of these safety tips you and your family know!

The Back-to-School Safety Quiz 

1) What is a safe way to react if the doorbell rings unexpectedly?

2) Who do you call if there is an emergency?

3) If the power goes out – where would you find a flashlight?

4) When you arrive home, how do you make sure you are safe?

5) When you are home alone, are you allowed to post on TikTok and other social media?

6) If social media is allowed, what topics should you avoid mentioning?

 

Answers:

1) Look through the peephole, a window where they can’t see you, or use your video doorbell to see who or what is there. Check with your parents to see if someone is expected and if it’s okay to let them in.

2) It’s a good idea to have an emergency plan for each situation type and discuss this with the family. Resources for emergency planning.

3) Ensure a flashlight and emergency supplies are in accessible locations around the house and that the family knows where they are (and that the batteries are fresh).

4) Lock the door behind you and if you have a security system, re-arm it, then check in with one of your parents. With a smart home security system, parents can know at a glance if a family member has arrived home or left the premises.

5) This depends on the parent’s discretion, the age of the student, and other factors. Here is a resource article that may be helpful for parents.

6) Don’t broadcast personal topics – like being home alone, age, location, or upcoming trips or vacations.

 

Whether your student is going to school in Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, or Pittsboro, Secur-Tek, Inc. wishes your family a safe and productive school year!

Home Security Tips for Vacationers

Do you worry about your home when you leave to go on a trip? Check this list before you leave, these handy tips may help increase your peace of mind while you’re away.

Before you leave, you’ll want to create the illusion that somebody is still home:

  • Set your lights on timers to go on and off at different times in different rooms, preferably when they would when you are home.
  • Create the sound of someone at home by programming or setting a time for your radio, sound system, or television to turn on and off.
  • Leave a car in the driveway – even better, have a close family member, friend, or neighbor park there or move it from side to side occasionally.
  • If you normally leave a hose uncoiled in the yard or a few toys around – do so. The idea is to look like things are normal!

Other tips:

  • Consider your windows. Should you leave your curtains or blinds closed — or open? You may think closing your curtains will prevent people from peering inside your home. However, closed curtains also stop those who aim to help — the police, your neighbors, or friends — from seeing inside your house. So, leave your curtains exactly as you usually keep them when you are at home. Remember – you want to create the illusion that things are normal. Of course, never leave expensive items, like jewelry or computers, out where they are visible from the window.
  • Keep the outside neat. If you are going on an extended trip, arrange to have your lawn mowed. Nothing signals “not home” stronger than an unkempt yard, especially one that is normally regularly manicured.
  • Run by the post office (or fill out the online form) to ask them to hold your mail. Cancel any deliveries scheduled for that week. Or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to collect them for you while away.
  • Stow away your valuables and important papers. Lock up any valuable jewelry, deeds, titles, and small electronic devices. Thieves want to get in and out fast, carrying as many valuables as possible, so things that are small and easily transported are targets. If you don’t have a safety deposit box, store these types of items in a fireproof lockbox. Great places to hide the lockbox are in children’s bedrooms or playrooms, laundry room, garage, or the kitchen. Thieves will look in master bedrooms and living spaces.
  • Remove Your Spare Key(s). If a criminal figures out you’re away on vacation, it’s likely that they will first check your porch and obvious locations for a spare key.  That plastic rock or hiding place under a mat/flowerpot won’t fool them.
  • Keep quiet on social media. Don’t announce you are leaving or your whereabouts right before or during your vacation. Many of us enjoy keeping up with friends and family on platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. The perceived anonymity of the Internet can encourage us to share personal information without fully realizing that there could be strangers viewing our daily musings. So try to avoid posting pictures and updates showing you at locations away from home until you are home.
  • Be careful what you say on your voicemail or email auto-response. People trying to reach you don’t need to know that you’re out of town — they just need to know that you can’t respond right now.

Then, for the highest level of assurance, alert your:

  • Home Security Company and double-check that your door and window alarms are activated before you leave. Also, leave a house key and the code with someone you trust and provide the police and alarm company with their name and phone number.
  • Consider adding cameras or a video doorbell to your home security system so you can check on your home while you are away.

And if your home is not monitored, consider adding that service for 24/7 protection.

Final Tip: Right before leaving , save yourself and the environment and Pull the Plug!  Disconnecting the power to electronics, like computers, routers, televisions, and other appliances can save you money while you’re gone and eliminate worry. Turning off your garage door opener is also an effective way to keep thieves from opening it with a universal remote. Finally, never leave a portable GPS in your car when parking at the airport. It’ll alert thieves that you’re not home and give them a convenient map to your house.

Secur-Tek wishes you and your families a safe and worry-free vacation holiday!

Secur-Tek’s provides home and business security in Central North Carolina, including Raleigh and the Research Triangle area.  If you are interested in a home security system or would like to add monitoring to your current system, please give us a call at 919-387-1800.

Is Monitoring Your Security System Worthwhile?

Whether you’re fast asleep in your bed in Raleigh or traveling away from home, knowing your home security system will work the way you expect is important.

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

Monitoring isn’t just to alert the police or fire departments. There are other advantages to 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. But actually, home alarms are often ignored by people nearby, who assume it is going off by accident.

Fires — Because they provide automatic response, monitored smoke detectors and heat sensors can save lives and limit property damage. This is especially important if you use many Lithium-ion batteries; some insurance companies now require homeowners to have a monitored security system with a smoke/heat sensor in the garage if an EV charger is installed. Read more about sensors here.

Leaks — While not as urgent as a fire or break-in, a gas or water leak can cause serious problems in your home. Monitoring systems can be set up to alert you in these instances – or even to let you know if there is a power outage and your freezer is no longer on.

Assistance — Monitoring systems can also be used to send notifications to people if you need help – in case of a fall or other personal accident.

Insurance —Most insurance companies will offer a discount when a customer’s home security system is monitored.

Peace of mind — Monitoring means someone is always keeping watch over your home or business. Many security system clients say that monitoring offers peace of mind, making it easier to sleep, both at home and while away.

 

How Monitoring Works

Secur-Tek, Inc. 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. The company has installed a redundancy system for its telephone and automation, ensuring dependability.

When contacting a security company to keep your home or business safe, be sure to check their terms and confirm that you are receiving the service you deserve.

Secur-Tek’s North Carolina service area includes Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, Pittsboro, and Wake Forest.  If you are interested in a home security system or would like to add monitoring to your current system, please give us a call at 919-387-1800.

Sensors and Your Security System

sensors and safety home security

When you think of a home or business security system, you might think of window and door sensors.  However, there are other sensors that can be integrated into your security system to improve your safety and security.  

Smoke detectors  

Smoke alarms are essential for a home or business. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 50% of all fatal home fires occur while people are sleeping.  When there is a fire, these alarms detect smoke particles and can warn you before you even smell the smoke, so you and your family can get out of the home safely. When integrated into a monitored security system, the fire department will be notified of a fire, even if you are away from home. 

Heat Sensors

Heat detectors differ from smoke alarms as they respond to high temperatures, not smoke particles, making them an ideal sensor for garages, attics, or commercial environments that are dusty or have exhaust fumes that could cause false alarms by a smoke detector. Fires that start in these areas are often not quickly detected and can be devastating. When the heat alarm is connected to your home security system, the smoke alarms will go off if the heat sensor is triggered, and if your system is monitored, call the fire department.

Heat sensors are recommended if you use many Lithium-ion batteries – in fact, some insurance companies are requiring homeowners to have a monitored security system with a smoke/heat sensor in the garage if an EV charger is installed.

Motion sensors

These sensors detect movement and can trigger alarms by sending a signal to your security system that an intruder is detected. This sets off the alarm, and if your system is monitored, it alerts the monitoring center to a potential threat in your home.

Glass break detectors

These are set to detect the frequency of the sound of breaking glass, they will set off the alarm. This lets you know if an intruder is trying to enter your home by breaking a window or glass door.

Gas Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors are recommended by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA).  Large amounts of CO can overcome a person in minutes, causing them to lose consciousness and suffocate. The gas has no odor, color, or taste – it cannot be detected by the senses, so detectors are a good idea to protect your family and pets.

Leak detection

Water sensors detect leaks from appliances and water pipes, preventing or limiting damage. It’s a growing problem; according to the American Insurance Association, water damage claims have been growing faster than any other component of homeowners insurance. Adding a water leak detector to your security system can alert you if this happens – our monitored smart system can even turn off a water shutoff to minimize damage.

Specialized sensors and monitoring systems

Secur-Tek can design specialized systems to fit specific needs. For instance, if you need to monitor elderly parents, systems can be set up to send notifications when they get up out of bed, open the medicine cabinet, or when there is no activity in the home for a period of time.

 

To learn more about how a security system with sensors can improve your safety and peace of mind, call Secur-Tek at 919-387-1800  or fill out the form below.

 

Resources

How to minimize risk from lithium-ion batteries

Home fire prevention tips from FEMA

Are You Wasting Money on an Alarm System?

wasting money on alarm system

Safety statistics show that having an alarm system can be an effective tool for protecting your family and property from home invasions.

According to the National Council for Home Safety:

When Do They Happen? Burglaries most often occur during the day between 6 am and 6 pm while people are at work or running errands. The seasonality is quite simple as well, with snow and cold being principal deterrents, the lowest number of burglaries happen in February while burglary rates are higher in the summer.

How? Intruders are most attracted to houses that do not have home alarm systems.

  • The national average indicates that homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be burglarized.
  • 85% of convicted burglars said that they specifically look to see if there’s an alarm and that they would leave and target another property where no security system is installed.
  • The F.B.I also reports that 90% of all intrusions occur through doors; 6% occur through windows; 3% occur through the roof and 1% occur through the walls.

Who? Over 85% of thieves are amateurs with 41% saying break-ins are an impulsive decision.

The bottom line is that utilizing a security system on your property will offer an increased level of protection and peace of mind.

HOWEVER – you might be wasting your money on that home alarm system if:

1) You don’t set the alarm. This is understandable — but it can be impacted by the ease and convenience of doing this simple act. Therefore, thinking through your daily routines and researching which system is most compatible with your personality and lifestyle is an important part of choosing the best system for you and your family.

2) You don’t thoroughly understand and learn the proper usage or programming of the alarm system you have purchased. At Secur-Tek, our systems are easy to use, and we take the time to ensure you understand the system’s functionality.

3) You don’t have your installer use windows stickers and signs as a warning. We at Secur-Tek ensure that warning stickers and signs are placed in the optimal locations for good visibility and thus function as a key deterrent.

4) You don’t test the system on a regular basis. At Secur-Tek we only install high-quality security systems and recommend testing every month. It only takes a few minutes to ensure everything is functioning properly. You can find the steps here.

5) Your system isn’t monitored. You may have purchased a home with the alarm system already installed or installed one yourself. Although the noise of an alarm may scare off those who enter your home, it’s vital that you have a company monitor your alarm so that the police can investigate for forced entry. Monitoring is also critical in case of a fire or carbon monoxide leak, especially when your family is sleeping or away.

6) You leave the house with the windows/doors open or unlocked. Windows and back doors are a favorite, especially those left open in the warmer months and obscured by bushes or buildings. Many alarm systems do not go off if someone enters through an open window. If you don’t have a motion detector installed or alarm sensors on the windows, be sure to at least close and lock your windows when you are not home.

When used properly, alarm systems can be a very effective tool in deterring crime and protecting your family and home. We at Secur-Tek, Inc. partner with you to ensure you get the right system for your situation.

Please give us a call at 919.387.1800 or contact us by using the form below for a complimentary in-home consultation.

Secur-Tek, Inc. is locally owned and operated in Apex, NC, offering home and business security and monitoring. Secur-Tek also provides automation, audio, and central vacuum systems to customers in the Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Pittsboro areas.