Thanksgiving came and went, which means the holiday season is in full swing. Despite the fact that things may look a little different this year, ensuring your home is safe and secure is a must. Whether you’re traveling for the holidays or staying home, this week’s Urich Lock Co. blog post discusses some valuable steps you can take to help minimize threats to your Oak Creek home.
Urich Lock Co. offers a range of locksmith services to Oak Creek residents and the surrounding areas, including electronic access control systems, mechanical access control services, contract door hardware services, and more. Read this week’s post for some holiday home security tips and trust Urich Lock Co. for all of your locksmith needs in Oak Creek!
For Those Traveling
While Christmas travel plans may look slightly different than they have in past years, there will still be people heading out for the holidays. Whether you’re going on an extended vacation or just going to visit loved ones on the actual holiday, keeping your home protected is vital, as it’s common for home invasions and burglaries to increase around this time of year, according to the FBI. Below, you’ll find some tips for ensuring your home is protected from home intrusions while you’re away.
Ensure All Your Doors and Windows Are Locked
This one may seem obvious, but it’s absolutely critical to protecting your home. Before you head out, ensure that all doors and windows are completely secure, including in your garage. Even if you live in a safe neighborhood, you should make locking up your top priority. Home intruders will be less likely to enter your home if they have to work for it — leave your doors or windows unlocked is an open invitation.
While this step is especially important if you’re going on a long vacation, you should still be mindful of securing your entire home even if you’re just gone for a brief period. Your valued presents are calling the names of burglars in your area, so no matter how long you’re away, you should ensure you’re doing everything you can to protect your property and belongings.
Make It Look Like You’re Home
While you’re away, it’s best to give the illusion to others that you are, in fact, at home, which will help discourage intruders, as they’d much rather target an empty home than an occupied one. If you’re heading out, reach out to a trusted neighbor or friend and ask them to pick up any mail and packages. If there’s snow in the forecast, have someone shovel your walks. You should also be sure to leave a light on before you head out the door.
Put Valuables in a Safe
If you have smaller valuables or documents that need an extra level of protection, throw them in your home safe. Urich Lock Co. offers safe installation and servicing. We can help choose a safe to meet your needs in your Oak Creek home!
Keep Travel Plans Private
While it can be tempting to share travel plans on social media or with friends, you should try to keep them under wraps until you return from your getaway. If enough people catch wind of your plans to be away, home intruders will know your house is empty and will be more likely to target it.
Invest in an Access Control System
If you’re wanting to keep tabs on your property while you’re away, we recommend looking into an electronic access control system. Access control systems can help you stay aware of who is entering and exiting your property, as well as restrict unauthorized access.
If you need assistance choosing or installing an access control system, our team of professionals here at Urich Lock Co. is here to help!
For Those Staying Home
Given the circumstances, it’s likely that more people will be choosing to stay home this year instead of going away. While you may think this means you don’t have to consider safety concerns, think again. Home intruders aren’t the only potential threat to your Oak Creek home, so Urich Lock Co. has provided some tips for keeping your home protected from other disasters.
Consider Christmas Tree Safety
One of the most exciting parts about the holidays is choosing a Christmas tree. However, whether you choose an artificial tree or a real one, there are some important safety measures you should consider to help keep your home and family safe.
If you’re choosing a real tree, consider things like freshness, hydration, and where you’re going to put the tree. You should select a tree that’s as fresh and green as possible, as dead spots can be a fire hazard. When you bring the tree home, be sure to cut about an inch or two off the bottom of the tree and soak it in water to ensure your tree isn’t too dry. When placing your tree within your home, be sure to keep it away from radiators, fireplaces, and space heaters.
If you’re choosing an artificial tree, pay attention to lighting and fire resistance. You’ll want to make sure that the lights have the Underwriters Laboratory seal, which proves that the proper wiring was used. You’ll also want to make sure you choose a tree that’s labeled as being fire resistant.
Ensure All Lights and Other Decorations Are Functioning Properly
Decorating your home can be a great opportunity to bond with your loved ones, and you wouldn’t want something bad happening to ruin the fun. When decorating around your home, ensure all electric bulbs are working properly and that none of them have any cracked lamp holders. Check the whole cord for damage or breakages. You should also ensure you replace any broken or damaged ornaments and decorations.
Take Caution When Setting Up External Decorations
When setting up decorations on the outside of your home, be sure to light a pathway and keep it free of snow and ice to prevent slips and falls. Ensure that you only install light bulbs and extension cords that are rated for outdoor use and keep bulbs away from any material that may ignite easily.
When installing lights, take extra caution and use a safe ladder. Be sure to turn off any electricity to the outlet you’re going to be working on before you begin.
Use Fireplaces and Candles Safely
There’s no better time for a nice warm fire or delicious-smelling candle than the holiday season. However, when decorating around your fireplace, be sure that decorations such as stockings and tree branches are hung at a safe distance from the blazing fire. You should also consider hiring a professional chimney sweep to clean out any dust and ash to help prevent a chimney fire.
As far as candles go, keep them away from any flammable materials and always ensure they are in an upright holder that prevents them from falling over. Be sure to blow them out before you leave the house or before you go to bed for the night.
Ensure All Alarms Are Functioning Properly
The holidays can get a bit chaotic, which is why it’s more important than every to ensure that all of your alarm systems are functioning properly, including all fire and carbon monoxide alarms. Activities such as cooking and decorating can lead to increased risk of things going wrong, which is why it’s so important to ensure that you’ll be alerted if they do.
Trust Urich Lock Co. This Holiday Season
Urich Lock Co. is here to help keep your Oak Creek home or business safe this holiday season. Contact us today to learn more about our services! We’re more than happy to assist you in keeping you and your family protected.
