As a security company serving Hartford, CT, we spend a lot of time thinking about ways to keep you safe. From preventing break-ins with advanced technology to offering smart tips on safety and fun, we want to help you and your family enjoy a happy, healthy, and safe lifestyle.

But one aspect of home security often goes overlooked. You may consider installing detectors for fire and alarms for security, but have you considered a smart carbon monoxide detector? In this blog, we’ll explore some of the common dangers associated with CO and how you can prevent them with a smart home security system. Keep reading for more.

See Also: 3 Simple Household Safety Tips For 2019

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, otherwise known as CO, is a poisonous, invisible gas that can harm you and your loved ones. It’s found in fumes produced by engines, grills, fireplaces, and other common household devices. Exposure can cause flu-like symptoms including dizziness, nausea, chest pains, and headaches. Too much exposure can result in severe injury or death.

Anyone can be affected by CO poisoning if they are not careful, regardless of age, gender, or health factors. It’s essential to understand how to avoid it, and what you can do if your home is exposed to it.

How to Avoid CO Risks

The best way to avoid CO poisoning is to never burn anything indoors or without proper ventilation. Ensure that your chimney is open and clear of debris before lighting a fire in the fireplace, and never grill food inside.

Gas-powered appliances can leak and cause CO exposure. If you notice an unpleasant smell coming from your furnace, refrigerator, oven, or water heater, make sure to get to safety right away and call the proper authorities.

Additionally, many homeowners will turn their garage into a home theater or seating area. Never run a car engine without first opening the garage door to avoid filling the space with dangerous gas.

Of course, if you’re unsure of how to avoid these situations, it’s best to install a carbon monoxide detector that can alert you to danger immediately. Today’s smart detectors can work with other technology to help keep you safe and provide adequate escape routes when an emergency arises.

How Smart Technology Helps

A smart CO detector can tell you the moment the harmful gas is in the air. You can rely on both an alarm sound and a push notification directly to your smartphone to help you get to safety in time.

Additionally, a smart device can integrate with your other smart systems. For instance, it can alert your HVAC system to shut off so it won’t spread harmful gas throughout your home, tell the lights to illuminate a safe passage out, and unlock integrated entryways.

Plus, when you install a smart detector, your remote monitoring service can review any alerts and notify the appropriate authorities if needed.

There are plenty of ways smart technology can help keep you safe. Click here to learn more.

The post What You Need to Know about Carbon Monoxide appeared first on Safehome Security.

The end of the year is a time for reflecting and setting goals, and one important goal you can accomplish in 2019 is taking a few simple steps to ensure your family’s safety. Home security is one of those things many of us don’t think about until after something bad has already happened, but a little forethought now could save you from major headaches down the line. From home surveillance to monitoring services and more, here’s how Orlando residents can better protect their homes next year.

SEE ALSO: See how automation can keep your home secure

INSTALL SMART LOCKS ON YOUR DOORS

It’s time for a digital upgrade for your home’s doors. Smart locks either require a code to be unlocked or can be unlocked through an app, making them a much stronger security measure than regular locks.

There are other security benefits from smart locks as well. If you’re out of town but you know someone is stopping by your home, you can give them the code instead of needing to stash a key somewhere where a potential intruder could find it.

You can also program your locks to automatically turn on or off at certain times of the day, making it less likely you’ll accidentally leave a door unlocked and invite potential trouble. Finally, you can link your locks to your home’s existing automation system and program them to unlock in the event of a fire, saving you much-needed time if an emergency occurs.

UPGRADE YOUR FIRE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

A complete approach to home security means planning for more than potential intruders; fire and other hazards need to be accounted for as well. 2019 is the year to make sure your fire and carbon monoxide alarms can handle your security needs.

Newer fire alarms can be integrated with other automation systems in your home and trigger your doors to unlock if a fire is detected. Every second counts when it comes to getting your family out of the house, and those automated systems could save your life.

To be prepared for carbon monoxide, you’ll want a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your house. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2,200 people in the United States died from carbon monoxide poisoning between 2010 and 2015, so proper preventative measures should be taken. Another step to consider is switching to an automated HVAC system that can shut itself off in the event of a fire, thereby minimizing the spread of smoke throughout your home.

GET A PROFESSIONAL MONITORING SERVICE

The best, easiest way to ensure your home’s safety is to have someone else watch your home when you can’t with a home surveillance system. Professional monitoring services from a company like Safe Home Security can be an invaluable security tool, especially for times when you or your family are away from home.

Traditional alarm companies may not respond in time for you to act if an emergency occurs, whereas our security professionals will alert you the moment we detect anything amiss. In addition to home surveillance solutions, Safe Home Security can help protect Orlando homeowners from fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and much more. To learn more about how we can give you greater peace of mind at home, call us at 800-833-3211 or visit our website.

The post 3 Simple Household Safety Tips appeared first on Safehome Security.