April showers are known for bringing May flowers, but sometimes homeowners end up getting a little bit more than they bargained for thanks to generous precipitation. While springtime rain is one of the best things for your garden, too much rain can definitely can mean trouble if it results in flooding.

Many homeowners in the Notheast were relieved during the recent batch of heavy rains, because their homes were equipped with ADT home security systems that had flood monitoring. Flood monitoring is one of the many benefits of an ADT alarm.

You see, it makes sense to assume that a home security system does one job: warning you when criminals are breaking in. But security systems can be about much more. Water sensors are just one of the many things that you can add to your home alarm system to increase safety in other areas, like flooding.

While having a sensor to alert you of smoke, fire, or water might not keep your home from getting damaged, it does something very important: it lets you know when it’s time to take action. If you’re expecting rain in your future – or have valuables in your home that you’d be devastated to see destroyed by water – it’s worthwhile to check out the water sensors available with ADT home security.

If you’re like most working parents, you know it’s harder than ever to make it home before your kids return from school. And while it can seem like a stressful situation, it’s easy to educate kids on home security to help keep them safe during the afternoon hours.

Tip #1 Utilize a home security system.
One of the best ways to help protect your children is installing a home security system. Monitored home security systems are connected to monitoring centers that watch over your house 24/7. ADT alarm systems are easy to activate and de-activate, so if your children are old enough to understand the importance of a home security system, show them how to arm the system when they get home from school.

Tip #2 Never appear to be home alone
This home security tip is essential for kids who are home alone after school. If someone calls your house (whether they claim to be a neighbor or salesperson), make sure your kids tell them that you are in the shower, on your cell phone or busy in another room. And kids should never answer the door when they are home alone.

Tip #3 Encourage constant communication
Make sure your kids know they can contact you at any time if a home safety concern arises. They may worry that you’re busy at work, but keeping an open line of communication after school is an important part of their safety. Have your cell phone handy at work and ask your kids to call or text you once they make it home safely.

While there’s a lot of helpful information out there about home security, there are also several myths that need to be addressed. Here are 3 common home security myths and the truth behind each one:

Myth #1 Pets and some security systems don’t mix. People often think that pets will set off home security sensors, preventing them from installing a security system. When you choose an ADT monitored home security system, you can get pet sensors so you won’t have to stress about false alarms. So don’t worry about Fluffy or Fido, and know that you can still up your home security while being a loving pet owner.

Myth #2 The more you pay, the better protection you get. The truth is that it’s how you utilize your home security purchases, not how much you spend on them, that really matters. So if you’re going to make an upgrade or install high-tech security cameras or deadbolt locks, realize that staying within your means can still be extremely effective. And remember to put your home security items to good use – always activate the home alarm and lock the doors.

Myth #3 Parents should be the only ones to activate the home alarm. The truth is that if everyone knows how to arm and disarm the home security system, you’ll have a fully functioning system. Even if you have a teenager, it’s better to stress the importance of keeping the information confidential and knowing your teen can set the alarm than not teaching them how to arm it and having them leave your house less secure. Definitely invest the time in teaching everyone how to make things work, and you’ll do wonders for your home security.

For high school and college students across the United States, spring break is something to look forward to the entire year. Warm weather and fun provide a wonderful break from the drudgery of school and winter. There’s nothing more thrilling than a new destination, but in all of the excitement, it’s crucial to remember the basic tenets of home security. Before you leave and during your vacation, keep the following tips in mind to help ensure a smooth, safe and enjoyable spring break holiday.

You’re Not the Only One Looking Forward to Spring Break: Criminals get excited about holidays too, because they know there will be plenty of easy targets for them to burglarize. Spring break is no exception, especially in college towns where the entire population empties out. Combat the possibility of a break-in by deadbolting all locks and arming your ADT home security system. Temporarily stopping mail and newspaper delivery is also a good way to lower the chance of an intrusion.

Personal Safety While You’re Away: Personal safety extends outside of where you live on a day-to-day basis. While you’re on vacation, take the same precautions that you would if you were at home. Feel free to relax and enjoy your vacation, but never lose sight of your friends, and never let anyone into your hotel room.

Don’t take the chance of ruining your vacation. With a few simple precautions, enjoying your spring break and maintaining home security can go hand in hand.

Home security is an important part of every renter and property owner’s life. For people living in a duplex, home security presents some unique challenges that need to be addressed to keep both sides of the structure safe and sound. Here are a few main home security concerns:

Shared Responsibility: By virtue of the kind of building the two parties share, it’s crucial that they share a mutual responsibility for maintaining proper home security. There’s also a strong need for open communication. If something seems amiss, there shouldn’t be any hesitation on either end to bring it to the attention of the other resident.

Keeping the Exterior Secured: Most duplexes share common outside space, such as a fenced-in yard. Be sure to maintain the area and take home security into account. Always keep gates locked, and consider installing a fence to keep intruders away.

Consider an ADT Home Security System: Whether you live on the right or left side of your duplex, you can greatly benefit from the powerful protection of an ADT home alarm. A fire that starts on one side of the duplex can quickly spread to the other; having smoke and carbon monoxide detection in both units will greatly reduce the chance of a catastrophic event.

Home security should be a top concern for homeowners, including people living in a duplex. Take the proper precautions for your structure today, and you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have the best in protection.

From proper fire safety to general home security maintenance, nothing is more important than keeping your family safe. Modern homes are complex, and require a great deal of attention to remain protected. There are a number of things you need to do to make sure your loved ones are secure; we’ve listed some of the most crucial below.

Build an Emergency Action Plan: Sit down with your family and talk about what to do in the case of an emergency. Cover topics ranging from proper ways to escape the home to the setting up of meeting points. In places like California, earthquakes and other natural disasters can cause great disruption to society, so agree on an easily accessible place where you know your family members will go.

Practice Fire Safety: According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 3,320 people died in fires in 2008. Avoid becoming a part of these statistics by practicing proper fire safety. Purchase spooled ladders for second floor bedrooms to allow residents to safely escape, and make sure that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are equipped with fresh batteries.

Install an ADT Home Security System: For more than 130 years, ADT has worked to keep Americans safe. Moving into the 21st century, the company gets the job done with some extremely sophisticated technology, including CellGuard and Two-Way Voice Capability.

Keep Your Kids in Mind: There are many simple things you can do around the home to keep your kids safe. Plug electrical outlets that aren’t in use, and install tamper-resistant locks on cabinet doors that hold hazardous materials like kitchen chemicals. These home improvements cost only a few dollars, but can end up saving your child’s life.

Home security and safety should be a top priority for your family. Start with the simple tips above and begin turning your house or apartment into an environment where everyone can relax safely.

Increasing the security of your home involves many pieces. There are simple changes you can make, like remembering to lock doors, closing the curtains, and activating your home security system. Then, there are technical improvements, including the installation of an ADT home alarm. There are also modifications you can make to the exterior of your home to help deter burglars. Here are some basic ways you can improve your home security from the outside of your house.

Put up a fence: Criminals look for easy targets and if your home is surrounded by a fence, it might be the thing that keeps them away. It doesn’t have to be a barbed wire concoction you’d see at a prison. Even a picket fence with sharp edges can act as a deterrent to a burglar who doesn’t want to spend the extra five minutes devising a plan for scaling it.

Manicure the lawn: Why give a home intruder the opportunity to hide behind bushes and overgrown shrubbery? Improve your home security by maintaining your lawn, eliminating hiding areas that could potentially be used by bugrlars.

Advertise your ADT home arm: Nothing frightens criminals like knowing they’re up against a company with more than than 130 years of crime-fighting experience. Make sure they know that your property is protected by posting window decals and lawn signs that advertise the fact that you have a home security system installed.

Proper precautions around the exterior of your home can go a long way towards preventing a burglary. Perform a home security assessment today to see where you stand.

Intrusion is just one of the many home security issues that you need to concern yourself with. There are other dangers that require your attention – like fire, medical emergencies and carbon monoxide poisoning. Below, we’ve detailed some of the major areas of risk that don’t involve a break-in. It’s important to take them equally seriously, however, because they could be even more catastrophic than a burglary. Luckily, an ADT home security system is designed to protect your family from these dangers.

Fire: In 2008, more than 3,000 people died in fires, with fire property damages costing Americans around $15.5 billion. Avoid becoming a statistic by installing an ADT home security system. Powerful smoke monitoring technology immediately sends a signal to one of ADT’s four interconnected command centers in the case of an emergency.

Medical Emergency: As people get older, medical emergencies can become a big concern. With Two-Way Voice from ADT, you can stay in touch with a technician from virtually anywhere inside of your home, up to 75 feet away.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Widely called “The Silent Killer” by industry professionals, carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can’t be seen or smelled. ADT home alarm systems use sophisticated technology to detect carbon monoxide, emitting a distinct audible signal that gives you the chance to get out of your home before the situation becomes even more dangerous.

Burglaries aren’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to home security. Protect your family from these hazards with an ADT home alarm system.

Spring is here. That means its time to update your garden – and your home security. While weather-related home security issues decrease in the spring, it’s important to update your home for other potential dangers like burglary and fire.

Always remember to activate your home security system. Most burglaries occur during the day when people are at school or work. Make activating the home alarm part of your morning routine. People too often install a home alarm and forget to use it. Leading home security providers like ADT connect your home to security centers that monitor your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Spring is also the perfect time to check the batteries in your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You can upgrade your ADT home security system to including monitoring for both.

There are some easy ways to improve your home security while improving the look of your lawn, too. Check for overgrown bushes and shrubs near windows. Burglars often use these areas to hide as they work on gaining access to your home. By trimming bushes and keeping areas near windows and doors clear, you can make your home less appealing to criminals.

If you haven’t invested in a home alarm, spring is the time to do it. It’s a great way to increase your home’s security before taking off for that next family vacation.

Thousands of Americans invest in home security each year by installing a monitored home alarm. And there’s definitely something to be said about the extra protection a home alarm can provide. After all, if someone breaks in and nothing happens, they are far more likely to grab all of your belongings and take their time as they search for valuables. But if they break your window and an alarm sounds, that’s their cue to get out as quickly as possible.

Even with the obvious benefits of installing an alarm, there are still factors to consider if you want to keep your entire house as secure as possible. First, you have to remember to set your home alarm – no matter what. It seems like a no-brainer but plenty of people have fallen victim to burglaries because they forgot to activate their home security system.

You also have to remember to shut and lock all doors and windows. If something is ajar, a robber can work his way into your home without worrying about an alarm sounding. And this is just as important for basement and garage doors as it is for the front door.

If you’re investing in an alarm, make it known. Homes with monitored home security systems are three times less likely to be burglarized. So put those ADT stickers and yard signs on full display. It can serve as a great way to deter burglars.