Home Security Checklist for the New Year
Happy 2024! January is a great time to re-check and inspect your home to start the year safely and securely. Inside and outside, take some preventative measures this new year. Follow our checklist to keep your home and family safe.
In Your Home
- Start with some pre-spring cleaning and declutter your garage, closets, and pantries. Whether you have a yard sale or donate old and unused items to shelters or other organizations, decluttering gives you some mental breathing room. Once you do that, you can better organize what you have left.
- Since January is still winter, it’s a good time to check batteries in flashlights and emergency gear. Replace old and corroding batteries, and restock if you need to. Make sure you are prepared if you live in areas with storms, floods, and other severe weather conditions.
- Stay prepared for emergencies by restocking any medical supplies in first-aid kits. Clean out medicine cabinets of anything old or expired. Make sure to dispose of expired medicines correctly, or find a take-back location in your area. Replace any over-the-counter items that are out of date.
- Make sure your electrical and computer or other device power cords are in good working order.
- Clean various filters and vents. Many people don’t realize how much lint and debris builds up in dryer vents, which can cause maintenance problems. Check your furnace vent, if you have one. Check your HVAC filter and change the air filter, if needed.
- Test your smoke detectors; test carbon monoxide detectors if you have installed them.
- While you’re testing your smoke detectors, test your home security system – most have a test mode on the panel. The test will let you know if there are any problems that need to be fixed.
- If you keep fire extinguishers, make sure they are still charged. The pressure gauge needle should be in the green if it’s properly charged.
- Check pipes in your home for cracks and leaks. Be sure to check the through the winter to prevent any leakage and water damage.
Outside Your Home
- If you live in a snowy area, you’ve probably already been shoveling and de-icing your driveway, sidewalk, and other walkways.
- Keep an eye on ice building up in your gutters and on the roof or awnings. Watch for ice build-u on tree branches that hang over porches, patios, and home roofs. Clean out any leaves or other debris from the gutters.
- Check any security cameras, lights, and motion detector lights. Replace any bulbs that aren’t working or with weak illumination. Clear any debris from your security equipment and clean off camera lenses.
- If you have a smart lock that allows you to program codes for different various people, delete codes you no longer need. Depending on how old your entry code is, you may want to reset it. Resetting it every new year is a great way to refresh your home security.
Keeping Your Home Safe
Good home security is not a “one and done” task. Because the world around us and security technologies and methodologies change, keeping your home secure is a long-term strategy. Some steps are good for a longer time, some are best when you update them from time to time (often seasonally is a good interval). Stay tuned for our spring security checklist!