Category: Homeowner Tips

According to the FBI, the average financial loss from a burglary is more than $2,000

Despite taking every precaution, some homeowners unwittingly attract burglars to their property. Here’s how.

Your home is dark

Criminals steer clear of a well-illuminated house. Leave on porch lights to discourage burglars from approaching entry doors, and install bright motion-detector lights around your home’s perimeter to dissuade them from searching for an open window.

No cars in driveway

Criminals prefer breaking into vacant houses, so empty driveways are an open invitation for a robbery. Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway when you go on vacation—especially if you’ll be gone for more than a few days.

Unlocked windows

After checking the front door, thieves often check for unlocked windows, which serve as an easy entry point. Before you leave the house and before you go to bed, close and lock all windows on the ground floor as well as second-floor windows that could be relatively easily accessed. Also, close the drapes so would-be intruders can’t scope out the contents of your interior, as any expensive object in plain sight may tempt them.

Unkempt Yard

An overgrown lawn and poorly maintained landscaping indicate that residents may be away on an extended vacation. Additionally, overgrown bushes can offer protective cover for intruders as they break into your home.

Oversharing

Criminals scour social media for future targets. Posting your travel plans on Facebook or Instagram is akin to putting a big sign in your front yard announcing that you’ll be gone.

Stuffing the mail box

Ask a neighbor or friend to stop by your home daily to pick up mail, newspapers and packages. This type of clutter is a dead giveaway that you’re gone.

Leaving the garage door open

In addition to risking your belongings being taken from your garage, chances of the door to the house being unlocked are pretty good.

No visible security system or cameras

Homes without a security system are 3 times as likely to get broken into. Most burglars surveyed said they’d pass by a home with a visible security camera as well. Security systems are very affordable from just $179 – check out EMC Security’s options here.

Many school systems have opted for online learning this fall. But there are also many districts that have offered in-school learning – so buses will be on the roads once again.

It’s important for people to realize how dangerous it can be at bus stops, which is why drivers have a responsibility to make sure students can leave those bus stops safely.

According to law, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus is stopped on a road with its lights on and sign out. This applies to two-lane roads, four-lane roads, and roads with a turning lane. The only time you do not have to stop is if there is a median in the road, separating you and the bus. These sections of roadway are usually divided by a grassy area, a paved area, or a concrete wall.

Penalties for Breaking the Law

If you are caught passing a school bus that is stopped, you could be fined up to $1,000 and risk getting six points on your driver’s license. As such, remember, if you see a school bus stopping and the red lights are on, you need to stop unless it’s a road with a median.

According to a school official, bus drivers try to avoid bus stops where students have to cross the street, but it does still happen and sometimes students cross when they aren’t supposed to.

Sometimes, it’s possible that a child might get confused, and not having traffic stopped in all directions could be catastrophic, which is why it’s important that drivers educate themselves on the new law and the cautions that come with driving on the roadways during the school season.

Did you know that EMC Security protects more kids and staff at school in Georgia than any other company? That’s over 358,000 students and staff! Learn how we can keep you and your family safe at home too.

The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resourcesrestricts open burning from May through September of each year.

Why?

During the warm weather seasons, the particulates in an open-air fire become more significant contributors to unhealthy levels of ozone. By banning open fires during those months in heavily populated Atlanta and the majority of its surrounding counties, there is a reduction in the amount of pollutants.

Once the weather has turned cooler, certain types of outdoor burning is once again permitted in north Georgia counties. Georgia residents that want to do an open burn from October through April 2018, need to check with their county ordinances on outdoor burning.

The following types of burning can be done without a permit:

• Leaves, limbs, and natural vegetation
• Fires that provide warmth
• Fires that cook food
• Recreational fires in an outdoor fireplace

Always check with your county before you do any sort of large surface, outdoor burning! If you need a permit, visit http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/online-permits/index.cfm.

General safety tips for any type of open burning:

• Gather the necessary supplies for controlling the fire—a rake, a shovel and a water hose connected to a good water source.
• Find a burn spot that can be easily controlled in a level area, away from any buildings.
• Start small.
• Make sure all the materials being burned are natural. No man-made products (such as processed lumber) that might contain chemicals that ignites or gives off noxious fumes.
• No burning within 20 feet of flammable or combustible materials.
• Never leave an outdoor fire burning unattended.

An outdoor fire burning out of control can threaten the safety of your home and family. And in Georgia, illegal outdoor burning can get you in a world of trouble. Don’t play with fire—play it safe!

Check out ourwebsite for information about fire protectioninside your home! You can add monitoring for fire, smoke, and heat at no additional monthly cost.

It’s that time of year again.

Most of us are “social distancing” at home and have some time on our hands. So we don’t really have many excuses not to spring clean, do we?

The fact is, taking the time to thoroughly clean and inspect your home – especially with these 6 pointers – you’ll have a shiny, fresh, and SAFE place to enjoy during Georgia’s beautiful spring and summer seasons.

1. Be aware of your security system when you’re redecorating.

Does your spring to-do list include a new big-screen TV or furniture purchase? Re-arranging or changing furniture and appliances may cause a change in the efficiency of your security system. Make sure that when you re-decorate, your security cameras are not blocked and your motion detector sensors are clear.

2. Check your window locks.

Spring is a good time to clean the interior and exterior glass—it’s safer when you can see more clearly! It’s also the perfect time to open and close every window and make sure the locks and seals are properly securing the window. If any of the locks seem loose, tighten or replace them. It’s also a good time to install inexpensive window pins. They’re available at any home improvement store, and are easy to operate—just pull the pin out to unlock and open the window.

The next 4 tips are to prevent a fire in the home. EMC Security will monitor for fire for no additional monthly cost. You will have to install smoke detectors specific for monitoring but it’s well worth the small investment.

3. Check batteries on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you read this tip a lot when you’re scanning articles about home security and maintenance, it’s for a good reason. These detectors could mean the difference between life and death. According to the Consumer Products Safety Division, two-thirds of all home fires occurred in residences without working smoke detectors. It’s also a good time to test your smoke alarms.

4. Clean your light fixtures.

Not only will your home look brighter, but you’ll also see better—and that’s a big safety plus! Dust those hard-to-reach chandeliers and ceiling fans thoroughly. An accumulation of dust and dirt can cause operating issues, which could lead to big trouble if there’s a short-circuit in the wiring. One spark could start a fire!

5. Clean out your fireplace.

If you’ve got a wood-burning fireplace in your home, it’s time to call in a chimney expert to make sure the flue is clear and there’s no creosote buildup. Discard any ash, clean the grate and surrounding areas, and close the flue. A clean fireplace will freshen the air in your home.

6. Clean around your refrigerator and washer-dryer.

Spring is a great time to pull your fridge out from the wall and give the floor behind it and around it a good cleaning. Sweep, wipe and mop as much as you can. Take a brush/duster specifically designed to clean the coils in major appliances and give it a good deep-cleaning. The amount of dust that gets into the bottom of a refrigerator is astounding. And when you’re doing the same to your washer-dryer combo, use that brush to clean out the dryer vent. Make sure you’re in the habit of cleaning your lint screen after every time you run your dryer. Remember, anywhere you’ve got dust and major electrical equipment, you’ve got the potential for a fire.