Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season

‘Tis the season’ – for increased theft and home fire rates! Doesn’t sound like something you’d hear during the happy holiday season, but this time of year is prime for home break-ins and fires, so while crossing off your shopping list and trimming your tree, make sure home security is still a priority by following a few guidelines.

1. Contact your home security service

It’s never a bad idea to give your security company a call and make sure your info is up to date and your system is working properly. Also notifying your security company of any travel plans you have is important since they need to be able to reach you or a trusted friend if there is a security issue in your home. If you haven’t yet contacted one of the Georgia security companies in your area, the holiday season is the best time to invest in the safety of your home and belongings!

2. Take care of that Christmas tree

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments respond to an average of 230 home fires started by Christmas trees each year! Your best defense is to make sure your live tree is watered regularly, and that the lights you hang on the tree are in good condition with no frayed wires or broken bulbs. Also, keep any heat source, like space heaters, away from the tree. Placing your tree at least 6 feet away from the fireplace can reduce the chance of a rogue spark setting it on fire.

3.Keep the presents hidden

Although it looks nice to see your beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree, keep them out of sight until Christmas Eve. Any burglar who spots a pile of gift-wrapped boxes through the window would do whatever possible to get access to them and ruin your holiday.

4. Give your electricity bill a break

Although it’s tempting to fill your home inside and out with twinkling lights, plastic reindeer and a dancing Santa, you can easily cause a short circuit. Exposed wires, power strips, moving parts—all of these increase the chances of a fire in your home. Make sure that any electrical decorations and lights you use are in good condition and proper working order. Set your tree and outside lights to a timer, so there is no chance of forgetting to turn them off before you go to bed.

5. Check your smoke detectors

Smoke detectors need to be checked every 6 months. It’s best to change the batteries, even if they seem to work fine when you test them. Even better, make sure your security company offers monitored smoke detection, so the monitoring station knows when there is smoke in your home and can dispatch the fire department for you. This is especially handy if you plan on being away from home for any period of time this holiday season.

6. Keep the fire in your fireplace

If you like to relax by a glowing fireplace and warm your toes, make sure you have your chimney cleaned and inspected before using it for the winter. Creosote build-up is dangerous and toxic, and it can ignite a chimney fire that can quickly get out of control. Make sure a certified chimney sweeper inspects the integrity of the interior and exterior of your chimney, and removes any creosote buildup.

Most importantly, use your security system! Set your alarm before you leave the house, and keep it on when you are home too. Make sure your doors and windows are locked and that you are protected 24 hours a day. Contact one of the best Georgia security companies, Central Monitoring, for advice and tips on holiday safety this year, www.central911.com.

The Importance of Flood Detection in Albany Home Security Systems

Most homeowners associate home security with intrusion detection and perhaps fire prevention, but flood detection also plays a crucial role in any comprehensive residential security solution. The purpose of a flood sensor is to provide an early warning of water accumulation, which lets the homeowner stop the water at the source or call for professional help before any real damage can occur.

How Flood Detection Works

The basic flood detector has three sensors. When any two of those sensors become exposed to water, it completes the electrical circuit, which sends a signal to the system and activates an audible alarm. Some flood sensors are local only and simply activate an audible alarm in the immediate area.

24/7 Monitoring

Most Georgia security companies, however, recommend devices that are integrated into the home security system. These flood sensors still activate a local alarm, but they also notify a central station that is monitoring that residential alarm system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a flood occurs during the night, for instance, a homeowner can easily sleep through the sound of the alarm, but the central station would detect it, notify the homeowner and, if necessary, contact emergency services.

Limiting Water Damage

Insurance industry statistics indicate that localized residential flooding usually causes significant financial damage, but most floods and leaks are detected well after the fact. Flood sensors are not yet the rule but rather the exception in Albany home security systems. In the vast majority of cases where flood detection was present, financial damage was nonexistent or sharply below industry averages.

Interior Placement

The most common type of flood sensor is placed within the home, such as in a basement, bathroom or laundry room. Most interior flood detectors have an external probe and can operate as a temperature sensor as well. This allows them to function in refrigerator and freezer environments too.

Exterior Placement

The most sophisticated flood sensors offered by Georgia security companies require external placement. These devices are covered with external contacts, have a built-in reed switch and have a tamper-resistant case that also protects against insects. Ideally, these devices are installed at ground height but can be raised when ground-height installation could lead to false positives.

Insurance Benefits

Most homeowners who would consider installing flood sensors will likely also opt for flood insurance. Most insurance companies who provide flood coverage in the Albany, Georgia area provide a discount to the policy rate just as they do a discount to the homeowners policy due to the security system.

Central Monitoring

If you live in Albany or a surrounding area and require flood detection or a comprehensive security solution, then contact Central Monitoring. Central Monitoring is a leading provider of Albany home security systems, and the company has been serving southwest Georgia for more than 29 years. Central Monitoring’s technicians are all bonded, highly skilled and undergo ongoing training, and they specialize in developing unique flood and security solutions for the individual client and his or her home.

Fire at Home — Deadly Enemy – Fight it with Help From Georgia Security Companies

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released an alarming study about home fires and the number of fatalities it causes each year.

Each year, there are an average of 366,000 reported home fires, which claims the lives of seven people per day. Sixty percent of those deaths resulted from either faulty or missing smoke detectors. Because one out of every 320 homes will suffer a fire each year, it is wise to invest in smoke detectors to protect your home and family.

Georgia security companies, such as Central Monitoring, recommend monitored smoke detectors more than self-purchased models. This is because the company’s central station can monitor the situation at your home even when you are not there.

When it comes to home fires, every second it takes to react to a fire causes damage and put lives in danger. If you are not at home to take action or call 911, you might return to a burned-out husk instead of a home. Foresight pays for itself in the long run, so you should check out a company that provides fire systems in Albany: Central Monitoring. The peace of mind is certainly worth the cost.

Along with Georgia security companies, the government of Georgia and the National Fire Protection Association recommend the following measures to reduce the risk of fire:

• Keep an eye on what you are cooking. Going out and leaving the stove on is a recipe for disaster, especially if there are flammable materials near the stove. Be extra careful if you have a gas stove!

• In the winter, make sure there are no flammable materials anywhere near kerosene or electric space heaters. Those heaters get very hot and can ignite even materials you would not consider combustible.

• If you must smoke, do it outdoors. Falling asleep in bed or on the couch while smoking can ignite a blaze right next to you within minutes. Always make sure to have large, well-made ashtrays, too.

• Matches and lighters, unfortunately, are an irresistible draw to children and teens. Lock them up. The inconvenience could save your life.

• Check all electrical cords in the home. Frayed cords can sometimes ignite combustibles as easily as a space heater. You also do not want your pets to electrocute themselves!

• Ensure you have a plan to escape if a fire breaks out. You will not have time to grab anything in a true emergency, so you should be sure to have a fireproof lockbox or two for important keepsakes and papers. Choose an obvious place outside the home to meet for a head count. Have fire drills at least two or three times a year.

• Be careful with candles. Battery-operated lights are better in situations where the power goes out; however, if you use candles, always make sure to extinguish them when you leave a room.

• Install and test smoke alarms. It is very simple: Smoke alarms save lives. Monitored smoke alarms save even more lives than those that are not monitored.

Central Monitoring provides this service as part of any home security system. When it comes to fire systems in Albany, Central Monitoring has the expertise and experience to keep you and your family protected. For more information, please visit www.central911.com.​