Whether you're renting your home or own it, hopefully, you're taking basic precautions such as locking your doors and windows to protect yourself and your home. You probably do your best not to set your house on fire when you're cooking or to let your bathtub overflow and wreck your neighbor's ceiling in the unit below you.
What you may not know about is the availability of devices that can take your safety measures to the next level. Many of those devices are cheap and easy to use.
"Smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors are absolute must-haves in any home," says Bailey Carson, a home care expert at Angi . "They're relatively inexpensive and can save lives if installed properly and tested regularly. Regardless of your budget, these are worth the investment to keep your family and your home safe."
While the specifics vary from one state to another, most jurisdictions require a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector in residences.
“Other important sensors or detectors that will help keep your home safe include gas and water leak detectors and security systems,” says Carson. “Leak detectors often include auto-shutoff sensors to prevent major damage like a fire or flood that can be extremely destructive and expensive.”
While your budget will dictate how much you want to spend on home sensors that go beyond the basic level, keep in mind that adding security systems, leak detectors and other sensors to your home can also lower your homeowner’s insurance premiums. Carson estimates that some of these devices can lower your premiums by as much as 20 percent depending on the insurance company.
You’ll want to balance your risks and your budget to decide how many of these sensors to install and how basic or sophisticated your monitors should be:
Security systems can also include alarms, motion-detecting lights, or timers for your lights, Carson says. Security system hardware costs an average of $600 but can range from $60 to $2,000 depending on what you choose. It’s important to note that this does not include the installation, which can add between $120 and $600 in cost, depending on the complexity of the system, the number of sensors you need, and the size of your home.
Motion detection lights come in a variety of styles including decorative, flood, and security lights. Most range in cost from $50 to $200, depending on the sensor level, type and brightness of light, and installation requirements. Smart lighting including timers for your lights will likely range from $15 to $90.
A monitored security system will come with a monthly fee, usually ranging from $40 to $65 per month, Carson estimates, as well as an activation fee of up to $200, depending on the company. In addition to monitoring for criminal activity, these can also alert you whenever there are changes in temperature, basement flooding, carbon monoxide, and smoke detection–including alerting the fire department–power outages or natural gas leaks, says Carson.
While it’s not necessary, connecting your sensors through a smart home system has some advantages.
“Sensors can be managed and monitored remotely with a smart home system, making sure everything is working even if you’re out of town,” says Carson. “Another advantage is that some smart sensors will let you know if the device itself is faulty, signaling when it’s time to repair or replace it to ensure it does its job in keeping you safe.”
Even though it can be more expensive to use smart home options, it may be worth it for the convenience, improved maintenance, and management of the sensors and especially for what they’ll save you in the case of an emergency by ensuring everything works as it should, Carson says.
Regardless of your budget, these sensors can all be really smart investments to help you protect your home and your family, Carson says.
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