The likelihood of a break-in has increased as the temperature has dropped. Thieves will have a better time skulking across your home in the dark and with bulkier clothing. This post will discuss some easy things you can do now to ensure the safety and security of your house throughout the next winter months.
This past couple of weeks have felt like winter. However, the shorter shifts and cooler temperatures accompanying the time change this weekend will bring on the full force of winter.
How To Secure Your Home This Winter
Lock All The Doors And Windows
Be sure the door you're using to enter, or exit is locked before you open it. Likewise, keep your windows and entrances locked, especially during the gloomy winter months.
Get Some Outdoor Motion Detectors Installed
It's simpler for criminals to go undiscovered during the dark winter hours. As a result, installing motion-sensor street lighting near your home or front door is a terrific way to deter intruders and provide an additional layer of safety for your property.
Put The Locks On The Sheds
While garages and sheds may seem like the perfect places to store your belongings, they are easy targets for thieves.
The garage is a frequent target for burglaries since it stores valuable items like bicycles and automobiles and more mundane items like chainsaws and wires.
Of course, you don't want your bike stolen, but if you put tools outdoors, robbers can use them to enter your home. So check the security features of your garage with a new eye.
Verify The Security Of Your Fence
Your home's perimeter is the first line of defence, so check it for weak spots before the cold weather arrives. Discover many methods to fortify the fence that surrounds your garden.
Highlight And Underline The Parts That Pique Your Curiosity
Mark your valuables with a UV pen and register the Incapacitate information if you misplace them. Writing one's home address on valuables makes them easily identifiable as one's upon inspection with a blacklight.
Put Away Your Curtains And Blinds
A great habit of getting into is closing the blinds and curtains at night to keep prying eyes out of your home and give yourself some privacy. If you are concerned that a burglar would try to look inside your home through a window to determine whether there is anything valuable, draw the drapes.
Don't Share This On Facebook, Twitter, Or Anywhere Else Online.
Most people spend winter vacations with their families and friends, so it's crucial to keep your property secure by not letting others know you're away.
Keeping Security Cameras Working In The Winter
Outdoor security cameras are necessary to protect your property from burglars and other unwanted visitors.
However, like other technological devices, they are susceptible to weather effects. So, if you want to put up outdoor security cameras this winter, there are some things to think about.
Obtain A Camera With A High Ip Rating
Everything made to be used in the great outdoors will have an IP rating, or "Ingress Security," that specifies how well it can endure the elements. For example, select an outdoor burglar alarm with at least an IP66 rating to ensure it will not be damaged by rain, snow, or sleet.
Make Sure Your Camera Takes Good Nighttime Pictures
Due to the shorter days and early sunsets of winter, your camera must have adequate low-light capabilities. You may rest easy knowing that your business is being monitored around the clock if you get a camera with dim light for outdoor use.
Take Care Of The Roof, Chimney, And Gutters
The colourful leaves that fall from the trees are a sight to behold, but they may be a nuisance if they pile up on the roof or in the gutters. The optimum time of year to clean these regions of leaves or other trash is typically late autumn. If unchecked, clogs can lead to an overflow of water and possible flooding.
It is also a good opportunity to inspect the roof and staircase for damage, such as missing or loose shingles or bricks, as well as any nests of animals that may have taken up residence there.
Keep An Eye Out For Moisture And Leaks To Avoid Flood Damage
Frozen pipe breaks are expensive and can be avoided with extra preparation before winter. Stop water flow from hoses and lawn fixtures, and have your sprinkler system blown out to prevent further flooding.
Once the weather begins to go below freezing routinely, you can either do this yourself or have a professional sprinkler system service handle it.
It's also wise to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, whether you're at home or out. Pipes might freeze if the heat is turned off or the thermostat is too low.
In a flood emergency, the Alarm.com Bottle Water Valve + Meter can detect leaks and moisture promptly. In addition to allowing for remote water shutoff, this Z-wave valve would also automatically report water usage data and insights.
Safely and effectively adjusting and cleaning HVAC systems
Keeping your home's furnace, boiler, and air conditioning system in good working order is essential whether you heat with gas, oil, or another energy source. A certified expert should check up on it, service it, and clean it often.
Maintaining a well-running heating and cooling system also requires routine maintenance on the vents that direct air in and out of the system. In addition, filters in central HVAC systems need to be changed regularly to maintain optimal air quality and operational efficiency.
All Swimming Pools Should Be Closed And Covered For The Winter
Many homeowners put off pool maintenance until late spring, but you will be fine if you take care of it before the colder months and all through the winter. Cover swimming pools to prevent algae growth and debris from falling in.
Putting touch sensors equipped with smart technology in strategic locations, such as outside gates, pool terraces, and other potential danger zones will provide instant notifications if these areas are violated or otherwise disturbed.
Put Use Indoor And Outdoor Security Cameras
Doorbell webcams and indoor/outdoor cameras do more than only stop burglars, vandals, and other trespassers; they also keep tabs on your home and property whenever you're not there to do it yourself.
Remote monitoring does more than keep tabs on deliveries, guests, and other visits; it also captures in real time any damage done by ice, snow, severe winds, and other winter hazards, keeping homeowners apprised of any potentially harmful situations.
Make Sure Your Disabled And Elderly Relatives Are Okay
Even the most gregarious persons may feel isolated during winter due to the shorter days and lower temperatures. In particular, this poses a threat to the elderly and disabled, who often live alone. Providing these people with lifesaving resources is crucial before any calamity strikes. In addition, a person with restricted mobility, such as an elderly relative or a neighbour, should be checked regularly. Finally, consider installing Alarm.com's Wellness and Wellcam features if you can't be there in person.
Wellness is a PERS that works in tandem with other critical schedules to keep track of things like medicine, meals, sleep, and more.
The Wellcam is a camera with a 1080p resolution and two-way audio/video that can keep an eye on your home and ensure everything is all right. A report available within the app may shed light on any alterations or disruptions.
Beware of Frostbite and Hypothermia!
If you enjoy ice skating, skis, or snowboarding, you still need to spend time outside in the winter. While doing so can be enjoyable, it can become dangerous without the right clothing, footwear, and other safety equipment.
The most vulnerable extremities to frostbite are the hands and feet. Hence it is essential to wear protective headwear, gloves, scarves, and footwear. If you become a victim, you should seek cover immediately and check for a loss of sensation in the affected areas and a general pallor.
As the name implies, hypothermia occurs when the body's temperature drops dangerously low. Be on the lookout for symptoms like shaking, forgetfulness, slurred speech, and excessive tiredness. Get medical help if you or anybody else in your travelling party experiences any of these signs.
Lock All The Doors And Windows
Even if you don't feel unsafe, you should always secure your windows and doors at night to keep off intruders. Put up the windows and lock the doors to your automobile as well. A burglar will be less inclined to break into your house or car if doing so is more challenging.
See to it that all the locks on your doors and windows work properly. If you find a damaged lock, you should get it fixed or replaced so that you don't put yourself or your family in danger.
Keep an eye out for strangers
Use your front door with a peephole to check who is at your door before you let them in. To ensure you see who is coming to your door, you may also review the footage from any cameras. There is no better method to determine the safety of a potential visitor to your home than with one of these measures.
If you feel unsafe opening your door to strangers or door-to-door salesmen make you uneasy, you can put a "No Solicitation" sign in your window.
Get Rid Of Any Debris Blocking The Way
Be sure to remove any snow, ice, leaves, or other debris in front of your house. The last thing you want to do is to trip or slip when you first set foot inside your home. It would help if you also kept an eye on the front door and the rest of the property to ensure nothing suspicious is happening.
It would help if you took some measures before you go on vacation.
A home break-in is more likely if you don't take precautions to hide the fact that you'll be absent. Don't broadcast your upcoming travels on social media, and be selective about who you tell about your trip.
You might want to tell everyone about the great time you'll have, but remember that doing so will make your house more of a target for criminals.
To avoid mail piling up in the front mailbox, temporarily suspend delivery. If you want to give the impression that someone is home during the day, set some lights to turn on and off at predetermined times. For your own peace of mind, you can set up cameras inside and outside the house.
Transfer Parcels As Soon As Practicable
Take the parcel inside as soon as you see it arrive. Ask a reliable friend, relative, or friend to keep an eye on your valuables while you're gone.
Don't broadcast the fact that you just dropped a tonne of cash. Instead, fold or bury any sides that show photos or information that discloses what product is in the box when you break it down and leave it out front for recycling days.
In the event of a hurricane, power outage, or another natural calamity, having a generator on hand is a must.
It will allow anyone to have some electricity for the home for you to keep their house alarm and the lights on, prepare and stay warm only with the help of your heating, ventilator, and air conditioning system. Propane and fossil fuels are often required to power whole-house generators, so keep some on hand at all times and in a secure location.
Please Use The Garage For Your Vehicle
Clear aside some room in your garage so you can leave your car there whenever it's convenient. As a bonus, this will also prevent your automobile from getting buried in snow after one storm and freezing when the temperature outside decreases.
FAQ About Winter Security Tips
How Can We Ensure Our Safety From The Winter Chill?
Layer your clothing and wear an outer layer that can withstand the wind. Next, put on a hat, mittens, or a pair of insulated gloves if you must go outside while it's chilly. Next, wrap a scarf around your neck, use a neck tube, or wear a facemask to keep your face toasty. Finally, put on some warm, waterproof boots.
How Do I Best Get Ready For The Coming Of Winter?
Put insulation, caulk, and weather stripping on your to-do list to ensure your home is protected from the chilly weather. Next, find out what you can do to prevent frozen pipes. Next, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors with backup batteries should be installed and tested. Finally, by stocking up now, you have enough food and water to last for many days without electricity.
What Exactly Occurs Throughout The Winter Months?
Snow and subzero temperatures are winter staples in many parts of the world. When the Sun's elevation is at its lowest point about the North or South Pole, we have reached the winter solstice.
What Are Two Major Risks During The Winter Months?
The main risks of winter storms are high winds, blizzard conditions or sleet, significant snowfall, and extremely low temperatures.
How Cold Does It Get In The Winter?
Several types of severe weather are common during the winter months. Intense snowfall, ice buildup, subzero temperatures, and biting winds could be in store for you. Since many murders can be traced back to the indirect effects of severe weather, winter storms have earned the nickname "deceptive killers."
Layer your clothing and wear an outer layer that can withstand the wind. Next, put on a hat, mittens, or a pair of insulated gloves if you must go outside while it's chilly. Next, wrap a scarf around your neck, use a neck tube, or wear a facemask to keep your face toasty. Finally, put on some warm, waterproof boots.
Put insulation, caulk, and weather stripping on your to-do list to ensure your home is protected from the chilly weather. Next, find out what you can do to prevent frozen pipes. Next, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors with backup batteries should be installed and tested. Finally, by stocking up now, you have enough food and water to last for many days without electricity.
Snow and subzero temperatures are winter staples in many parts of the world. When the Sun's elevation is at its lowest point about the North or South Pole, we have reached the winter solstice.
