How to Protect Your Home While Traveling

August 18, 2021 by

Late summer and early fall are a great time to head out of town for a last minute getaway or visit distant family. There are always a million things to take care of before leaving, but don’t forget to secure your home before traveling for any length of time. It is hard to imagine a worse ending to a trip than returning to find that your home has been damaged or burglarized. Take time to protect your home with this checklist:

  • Place a hold on mail, newspapers, and packages in your absence. Overflowing mailboxes and newspapers piled up are a dead giveaway that you are away from home.
  • Take care of the yard before you leave town. Accumulating snow or leaves, grass in need of mowing, and overgrown hedges are a big sign that no one has been home for a while.
  • If you have a home security system, alert them of your travel plans and make sure the alarm is set properly when you leave. Display your security stickers prominently near your most obvious and accessible entry points like your front and back door. Signs from your security company make a bigger difference than most people realize.
  • Alert a trusted friend or neighbor of your travel plans and have them check in every few days. They can take care of any unexpected deliveries and carry on with normal routines such as watering plants and bringing trash cans to the curb. If you can afford it, and have someone willing, a house sitter is even better. 
  • Set timers on interior lights, and appliances like the television, to give the illusion that someone is always home. A house that looks lived in is less likely to become a target. Motion-sensor exterior lights can also prove to be useful for general home security when you are both home and away.
  • Remove any spare keys that you have hidden around your property. Being away gives crooks extra time to search for a key so don’t give them the opportunity!
  • Be prepared for a power surge while you are away. Unplug all electronics or make sure they are plugged safely into a surge protector.
  • Secure yard or patio items that could be picked up with a hefty gust of wind. You never know what the weather will stir up while you are away.
  • Enroll in the Notify NYC alert system, which is New York City’s official source for information about emergency alerts and important city services. You can receive alerts through email, text, telephone, or social media. This will keep you informed about what is going on in your neighborhood while you are traveling.
  • Do not broadcast your travel plans on social media sites either before or during your vacation. Before your trip, inform only those who need to know. There will be plenty of time to share thoughts and photos of your trip after you are safely home. 

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe in New York. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

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How to Keep Pets Safe and Secure in the Home

July 19, 2021 by

Sentry Window Guards knows that pets are a part of the family! Owning a pet can reduce stress, offer a constant companion, and create a fuller life. Because we love our pets so much, we want to keep them safe and secure when we are home and especially when we are away. Keep the following tips in mind to keep your beloved pets safe, secure, and healthy.

  • Make sure all electrical cords are taped down or they are out of reach. There is a risk of electrocution for pets that chew on an electrical cord. There is also the risk of a playful pet pulling a heavy item on top of them when playing with or getting caught in a dangling cord.
  • Watch out for choking hazards. Small items, like batteries, jewelry, toys, office supplies and more can cause your pet to choke if they chew on them. Keep these items high enough where your pet can’t reach them or store them in a secure container.  
  • The trash can is an area of temptation for curious pets, so it is important to keep your trash secure. Pets can find all sorts of dangerous objects in the trash can such as raw or spoiled food, household chemicals, or choking hazards. Either purchase a trash can with a pet safe lid or store the trash in the pantry or under the cabinet keeping the door closed at all times.
  • Keep food and water dishes clean. Bacteria can grow quickly in food and water bowls so they should be washed daily. Having at least two sets of food and water dishes on hand is helpful. You can use one set while the other set is being cleaned. 
  • Store cleaning supplies and other chemicals out of reach. Your garage, basement, and cabinets can house a number of substances that pets aren’t necessarily attracted to, but curiosity can get the best of them. Antifreeze is a particular danger because it smells sweet to pets and is deadly to them. Get medical help right away if your pet gets into any household chemicals.
  • Keep over the counter medicines, prescriptions medicines, and vitamins up and away from your pets. Plus, keep all medicines in their original child-resistant containers relocking safety caps after each use.
  • If you are a plant lover and a pet lover, be sure to do some research before combining your two loves. Certain plants, including lilies, tulips, foxglove, azaleas, ivy, chrysanthemum, daisies, geraniums and others, are toxic to pets.
  • Make sure your pet can be identified in case you are ever separated. Have them wear a collar with tags that contain your contact information. For extra protection, talk to your vet about getting them microchipped as well. 
  • Never leave pets unattended around open windows and make sure that the windows in your home are securely closed and locked before you head out. Properly installed window guards are your best defense in preventing window falls. It is also an excellent idea to place a decal on your window specifying you have pets to help emergency responders know to rescue your pets if you ever have an emergency at your home while you are away.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep all members of your family safe, even the furry members! For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

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How to Be Weather-Ready in New York City

April 15, 2021 by

Between severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, tropical storms, snow and ice storms, and droughts, New York sees its fair share of weather related emergencies.

The weather can certainly be unpredictable, in some cases you will have a few days to prepare for severe weather, in others only a few minutes. We have included some steps below to ensure you and your family are ready for the next round of severe weather in our area.

  • Collect and store items for an emergency supply kit. It is recommended by FEMA to have a 72-hour supply of food, water, medications, and other essentials for each family member. Be sure your emergency kit includes first-aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, a whistle to signal for help, copies of important family documents, and blankets.
  • It is best to have multiple ways to be alerted of severe weather, especially at night. 
    • A NOAA weather radio with a tone alert is the best way to stay informed because power lines, wifi, and even cell towers can be knocked out during severe weather. The NOAA broadcast is directed by the National Weather Service. They broadcast weather forecasts, travel conditions, storm warnings and emergency alerts around the clock. If you would prefer to only receive updates specific to the NYC area, most models let you enter a location-based code, eliminating broadcasts that don’t pertain to you. Find a weather radio that can be powered by batteries, so you keep getting updates even in the event of a power outage.
    • Make sure your cell phone is subscribed to wireless emergency alerts. When the National Weather Service issues a severe weather alert for your location, the system looks to see which cell phone towers are included in the warning. All cell phone towers within the warning area send out an instant emergency alert to WEA-enabled devices. These alerts are pushed out for tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, hurricane warnings, dust storm warnings, extreme wind warnings, and tsunami warnings, as well as local dangers such as AMBER Alerts and evacuation orders.
    • Enroll in the Notify NYC alert system, which is New York City’s official source for information about emergency alerts and important city services. You can receive alerts through email, text, telephone, or social media.
  • Make sure all members of your household know what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in a weather emergency. Decide ahead of time the safest place in your home to gather and ride out severe weather. Choose an interior location on the bottom level of your home away from all windows and exterior doors. You can even place blankets, cushions, shoes, and helmets in this location ahead of time. Get more ideas at Ready.gov. 
  • If you live in a high rise building, in most cases of severe weather you will shelter in place away from exterior walls and away from windows and glass. If your building is being evacuated during severe weather you will need to know where the closest emergency exit is located. Remember not to use elevators and stay to the right while going down stairwells to allow room for emergency workers. When possible, take your emergency kit with you.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe in New York. For more information regarding our window guard products and our expertise in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

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How to Prevent Winter Slips and Falls

February 14, 2021 by

Although we have not had record breaking snowfall totals in NYC this winter, we have still had our city blanketed in white several times with more on the way. So, now is a good time to be mindful of how to prevent winter slips and falls. During the winter months, slippery conditions caused by snow and ice make slips and falls some of the leading causes of injury. Follow these tips to stay safe this winter.

  • Plan your trips around the weather. When conditions are bad, only go out when it is absolutely necessary. Stay home and wait for conditions to improve whenever possible.
  • When freezing rain or snow is in the forecast, pre-treat paved surfaces around your home with de-icer, rock salt, sand, or kitty litter.
  • Remove snow as soon as possible from your porch stoops, steps, sidewalks and driveways.
  • If you must go out, give yourself plenty of time. Being in a hurry will definitely increase your risk of falling. Ice and snow mean “take it slow!”
  • Wear shoes with plenty of traction. You might even want to consider purchasing ice grippers for your shoes if you have to be in wintery conditions frequently.
  • Dress appropriately for the weather. Keeping your muscles warm and relaxed will help you maintain balance. Also, cold weather gear has more padding if you do take a tumble.
  • Be careful getting out of your vehicle. Planting both feet firmly on the ground before moving and steadying yourself on the door frame will help your balance. Watch for other vehicles stopping and sliding in parking lots.
  • Look for routes that have been cleared or have better access to sunshine for melting the ice.
  • Take short, flat-footed steps with your toes pointed slightly outward to maintain a stable base of support – think of how a penguin walks.
  • Tap your foot on potentially slick areas to see if they are slippery.
  • Avoid carrying heavy loads or children that may cause you to become off balance. 
  • Carry a flashlight or use the light on your phone to see slippery areas at night.

If you do take a tumble in the snow or ice, our best advice is to take your time getting up. Lay there for a second to see how you feel, as getting up too soon or having someone move you too soon could lead to further injury. After a few minutes if you feel like you can get up, bend your knees toward you, push up with your arms and then use your legs to stand up the rest of the way. Always carry a charged mobile phone to call for help in an emergency situation.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. We hope these tips will help protect you and your loved ones from slips and falls this winter. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

 

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5 Tips for Frozen Pipe Prevention

January 11, 2021 by

The kind of extreme cold temperatures we see in NYC during the winter can put your home or business at risk for water damage caused by frozen pipes. As water freezes, it expands and puts pressure on pipes. Of course, when there is too much pressure, your pipes have a tendency to burst allowing water to come in and potentially flood your home or business. Even when heat is maintained at comfortable levels, pipes on outer walls can freeze during extreme weather. Many water meters and pipes are found in basements, crawl spaces, and other unheated areas, where cold winter temperatures could cause them to freeze. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help prevent damage from frozen pipes. 

  • Protect outdoor water spigots by disconnecting all garden hoses from spigots. If possible, shut down the water supply for outside spigots and drain the remaining water. You can also place an insulated dome around each spigot for further protection.
  • Insulation is key. Be sure that all water supply lines in unheated areas are wrapped in insulation. Look for pipes needing extra insulation in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under cabinets. Go one step further by adding insulation to your basement and attic to help maintain the temperature in these cooler areas.
  • Leave garage doors closed to increase warmth for any water supply lines found in the garage. Leave bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
  • A slow drip on the coldest nights will reduce pressure in the water system. This means that even if a pipe freezes, it will likely not rupture. The best faucet to leave dripping is the one that is the furthest away from the main pipeline that brings water into your house. This will allow more pipes to receive the benefit of the drip.
  • Even if you will be out of town, don’t set your heat to below 55 degrees at night. Heating your home or business when it is not occupied can be a little pricey, but the added expense on your heating bill is much less than the cost of a broken pipe repair. 

If your pipes or meter do freeze but are not at the point of bursting, there are a few steps you can take to remedy the situation. Turn on your faucet and apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe with a hair dryer or space heater. Never try to thaw a frozen pipe or meter with an open flame. As the pipe thaws, water should start to flow and come out of the faucet. Keep applying heat until the water pressure is back to normal. Check the all faucets in your home to make sure they are in working order. If you’re uncomfortable or unsure what to do, don’t hesitate to call a plumber.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. We hope these tips will keep your home or business safe and warm this winter. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

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