3 Home Security Tips for This Winter
Don’t Treat Security as an Afterthought
Even though the holiday season has passed, it’s still a wintry wonderland in Montana, and it will be for several more months. With winter comes a few unique challenges for homeowners. Of course, there are the usual winterization tasks like cleaning your gutters, checking the furnace, and insulating pipes. But have you reevaluated your home’s security strategy?
Home security needs aren’t drastically different from one season to the next. Still, the cold and blustery season does have a few unique challenges you should consider before writing off your system as complete.
Continue below to read three home surveillance and security tips you should incorporate into your Whitefish-area home so you can begin the new year with a fresh - and safe - start!
SEE ALSO: Keep Properties & Families Safe with Home Security Systems
Look Like You’re At Home When You Aren’t
If you spend this time of year traveling, perhaps further south for warmer weather or simply for a weekend getaway, then you should consider revamping your home security plan. A basic alarm system is reactive rather than proactive because they activate an alarm when entryways are breached. A robust smart security system, on the other hand, serves as a deterrent to potential thieves in addition to reacting to emergencies.
Recruit your entire smart home control system into your security plan by programming motorized shades to raise and lower throughout the day so it looks like someone is at home. You can program interior lighting in the same way by using an ‘Away’ scene. To the criminal opportunist, your home will look occupied while you’re visiting your vacation home, protecting it from an unfortunate break-in.
Keep Things Bright
Poorly lit areas are an invitation to burglars because the lack of light protects them from the neighbors' peering eyes. Landscape lighting can turn on at dusk, so your home is never encased in darkness. Motion sensors add a layer of protection, too, by flooding areas of light when detected movement occurs along the perimeter of your home.
Surveillance cameras will also begin recording, alerting you via push notification that something is amiss on your property. If you’re at home, you can address the situation yourself. If you’re away, the remote monitoring security team will respond accordingly.
Beyond Cameras
In addition to alarm systems and surveillance cameras, you need to consider a water line sensor and water leak detectors. The cold and icy winters in Montana can wreak havoc on water lines. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average insurance claim due to a water leak is $7,000.
These tools can detect pressure differentiation in busted pipes and potentially save you thousands of dollars. Place water sensors near areas with the potential to flood, such as near washing machines and water heaters. If a leak or line break is detected, you will receive an immediate alert on your preferred smart device. A dose of prevention goes a long way in securing your home from the unexpected this winter.
If you’re ready to make your home more secure, call Eyehear Technology Group today or connect with us using our online form. We can’t wait to hear from you!
