Newsletter Archive

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandatory in Ontario Homes on April 15, 2015

In October 2014, the Ontario government passed a law making carbon monoxide detectors mandatory in all Ontario homes that are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The deadline to comply with this law is April 15, 2015. After that date, all homeowners and landlords with properties that house six residential units or less and that have fuel-fired appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage must have carbon monoxide detectors installed. These detectors must be installed near all sleeping areas.

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion. It is often created when burning fuels such as natural gas, kerosene, propane, heating oil, coal and other fuels. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless, but it can cause very serious health issues. Health problems that can be caused by carbon monoxide include dizziness, flu-like symptoms, nausea, confusion, burning eyes and loss of consciousness. It can even lead to brain damage and death, in severe cases.

Carbon monoxide easily mixes with air and can quickly move throughout a home. In many cases, people are unable to tell that there are high levels of carbon monoxide in the air until it is too late.

This is why the government moved to make carbon monoxide detectors mandatory. Without a carbon monoxide detector, you may not notice potentially deadly levels of carbon monoxide in your home. The Ontario government recognizes this and this is the reason for requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all homes. Buildings that have more than six units will have until October 15 to comply, but individual homeowners must have them installed by April 15.

With Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandatory, What Can You Do?

Now that the Ontario government has made carbon monoxide detectors mandatory, you will need to install at least one in your home. SafeTech Alarm Systems recommends installing monitored carbon monoxide detectors for additional safety. While non monitored carbon monoxide detectors make a noise when high levels of carbon monoxide are detected, a monitored carbon monoxide detector is watched over by a central monitoring station. This can be incredibly helpful since the station can take action to alert residents if they are not home or if they are unable to hear the alarm. If the station is instructed to do so in advance, station staff can even contact emergency authorities (such as the fire department or paramedics) right away. Homeowners with a monitored carbon monoxide detector can take comfort in the fact they will know if the dangerous gas is present before they enter their home.

With carbon monoxide detectors mandatory, it’s important that you install the right one.

Carbon Monoxide Special: SafeTech will install a carbon monoxide detector in your home at 50% off our regular price until May 31, 2015.

*With purchase of standard 36 month monitoring agreement from $28.95 per month. Talk to a SafeTech Loss Prevention Expert for more information.

Spring Flood Protection: Keeping Your Home Safe

Now that the warmer spring weather has arrived, many people are thinking of sunshine, warm temperatures and enjoying the season. However, spring is a key time for basement floods and, therefore, spring flood protection. “April showers” can mean extra rainfall plus, in many regions, snow, ice and frozen ground are still melting. All of this water needs somewhere to go. If you’re not careful, that place could be your basement.

Preventing Basement Floods through Spring Flood Protection

Flood damage is the leading cause of property damage in North America. In order to prevent a basement flood, there are a few things that you can do. These steps include:

• Making sure that eavestroughs and downspouts are cleaned and positioned to direct water away from your house
• Checking to ensure that there is appropriate drainage below your window wells
• Inspecting your walls and the exterior foundation and repairing any cracks
• Installing a sump pump as needed
• Ensuring the ground slopes away from your home

These spring flood protection tips will help keep your property safe.

Other Water Hazard Sources & Spring Flood Protection Tips

Here are a few other spring food protection tips that will protect your home.

• Faulty or dislodged washing machine pipe connection
• Faulty or dislodged toilet pipe connection
• Leaky or cracked water pipe
• Faulty or dislodged pool pump connection to PVC water pipe
• Back up of the main sewer drain

Preparation is Important for Spring Flood Protection

A big part of spring flood protection is catching potential drainage issues or leaks. The sooner you spot an issue, the smaller the issue will be and therefore, you should be able to handle it more easily. Watch for water stains, peeling paint and, of course, visible water inside the basement. Other possible signs of water damage include rotted or warped floors, loose tiles, dampness in the air, the smell of water being present and several other signs.

A Fluid Detector for Spring Flood Protection

Installing a fluid detector will alert you to a flood situation early, likely before the flood can potentially cause serious damage. The sooner you recognize that there has been a flood, the more time you have to move valuables away from the area and repair the issue in question while it is still small and manageable. This makes it a key part of spring flood protection. A fluid detector works perfectly for these situations, since it will alert you to the presence of water almost immediately. You can connect a fluid detector to your home’s alarm system, which allows it to be monitored by the central alarm station. This gives you 24-hour flood monitoring and means that, no matter where you are, a flood will never catch you by surprise. Stay ahead of the game and make spring flood protection a priority.

Security Technology News: Tracking Stolen Goods with GPS Technology

New security technology allows you to keep track of items that are stolen, making it significantly more likely that you’ll get them back.

In the past, when an item was stolen, it was simply gone. There was no way for you to find out what had happened to your stolen bike, car, boat or other valuable item. Thankfully, modern security technology is making it easier than ever to track your stolen goods, allowing you to take steps to get them back.

The Black Knight Global Tracking system lets you track, locate and identify stolen vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, boats, jet skis, RVs, caravans, trailers and other valuable assets. It can even be fitted on fixed assets so that, if these assets are ever stolen, they can be tracked down.
Criminals are always thinking of new ways to commit crimes. Therefore, it is important that law-abiding citizens are always focused on new ways to stay ahead of the criminals. The Black Knight global tracking security technology is one of those ways.

How this Security Technology Works

The small security tracking solution is fitted on an item. If this item is stolen, you can easily track its position. The information provided by the security technology can then be provided to the authorities who will be significantly more likely to be able to retrieve the item due to the tracking device.

The Black Knight unit creates a “geofence” in order to determine when it has moved beyond its “parking spot”. To track the stolen goods, it utilizes Vodafone M2M technology, which allows it to be accurate to with 10 meters.

The battery in this security technology lasts up to three days without charging and it utilizes a sleep function that wakes up the tracking device when it senses movement. This allows it to conserve battery and data usage.

Since the device constant contact with satellites, it provides a user with incredibly accurate GPS positioning every 15 seconds. Users receive real-time tracking via Google Maps from a computer or by downloading the dedicated Black Knight app for iPhone and Android devices.

SafeTech Alarm Systems understands the importance of using security technology to prevent theft and track goods. Not only does using these types of technologies reduce the likelihood of a crime and make it easier to find an item after it is stolen, but security technology also adds great peace of mind.

For more information on different types of security technology and how this technology can be effectively utilized to reduce crime, please contact one of the loss prevention professionals at SafeTech. We’ll be more than happy to speak with you and help you out in any way we can.

Winter Fire Safety is Crucial

The winter is definitely here and, in many parts of the country, the temperatures just keep dropping. When the weather gets colder, people look for many different ways to heat their homes. This increased need for heat also means an increased need for fire monitoring services. These are a very important part of winter fire safety.

One way that people heat their homes is by using space heaters. Unfortunately, if not used correctly, space heaters can be a serious threat.

While a space heater can provide relief during the extreme cold that many people are feeling, it’s crucial that you use these devices correctly and safely. You need to always think of winter fire safety when heating your home.

Recently, New Brunswick’s fire marshal Douglas Browne spoke about the dangers of space heaters and portable heaters.

“Space heaters pose a specific hazard associated with fire within the household”, he stated. Browne mentioned that there are three main problems with how space heaters are used that can lead to fires.

One winter fire safety issue is placing heaters near combustible materials such as curtains, linens and other similar items. Another winter fire safety hazard is leaving heaters unattended. The third potential issue is operating a space heater with a damaged cord or plugging it into an insufficient, overloaded or damaged outlet.

If you’re using a space heater in your home, take steps to avoid these three hazards.

Another way that many people heat their homes during winter months is with fireplaces. If you’re using a fireplace to heat your home, taking the appropriate precautions is important. When you’re using a fireplace, be sure to keep flammable materials away from it, check all equipment before use and use a screen to keep embers contained.

Fire Monitoring & Winter Fire Safety

Fires are very common during the winter months. For this reason, winter fire safety and fire monitoring services are very important. Even for those who are not using space heaters, fireplaces or other such heating methods, fire monitoring still protects your home. After all, remember that if a fire breaks out at a neighbour’s property, it could very easily spread to yours and cause serious damage. Fire monitoring can drastically reduce this potential damage.

If your home is already protected by monitored smoke and heat detectors, be sure to test them regularly and vacuum them out frequently as the air filters can easily clog. Also make sure our Fire Monitoring Station has the most current emergency contact numbers and email address to reach you at and alert you to a fire hazard when detected. Since fires spread very quickly, a faster response from us and City Fire Services could be the difference between confronting a small containable fire or facing a large damaging and potentially deadly fire. Being prepared is an important part of winter fire safety.

Fire monitoring better ensures that your home is protected from the ravages of a Fire. You will be comforted when you take these winter fire safety precautions in knowing your premises are watched over 24/7.

Safe Social Media Usage Tips: Be careful what you post online, it could attract criminals

Many people post on social networks to share information with friends and family, to have conversations, and to show the world how their lives are going. However, when you post online, always remember how key safe social media usage is. It’s important to remember that people other than your intended audience could see your posts. Unfortunately, criminals frequently look to social media for opportunities to rob unsuspecting victims.

Police in Philadelphia say that a man’s social media posts about a jewellery inheritance led to a recent armed robbery. Three men wearing ski masks and armed with pistols broke into the home of a 19-year-old man, threatened the man and demanded jewellery and valuables. According to police, the suspects mentioned during the robbery that they had targeted the victim after seeing several Facebook and Instagram posts he had made about recently inheriting some expensive jewellery.

The victim and several others in the home were unhurt during the robbery and the suspects fled the scene with two gold chains, a Rolex watch and cell phones. They have not been caught by police.

This crime demonstrates the importance of safe social media usage.

Be Careful What You Post Online: Safe Social Media Usage Tips

It is very important that you focus on safe social media usage and that you are always careful with what you post on the Internet. Even if you have strict privacy settings on your accounts, the information that you post can still get out. The recent robbery in Philadelphia is far from the first time a criminal has used social media posts to plan a robbery.

One of the most common ways that criminals use social media to commit crimes is by researching when people won’t be home and taking this opportunity to break into their properties.

By sharing holiday plans in real-time online, you let criminals know that you’ll be out of town for a while. They can use this information to rob your home when they know you won’t be around.

A good safe social media usage tip is to share vacation details after the fact, once you have arrived home safely. Tell individual friends and family members in person the dates that you’ll be away and don’t post these details online.

What other safe social media usage tips can you use to protect yourself? By ensuring that you have a monitored security system installed that will alert you (and the authorities) if a crime takes place at your property while you are away. A home alarm system that also includes video surveillance camera monitoring is an even better set up. This way, even if you are away from home, your property will be watched over by a central monitoring station. In the event of a crime or other trouble conditions, both you and the authorities will be notified right away.

Winter Fire Protection Tips are Important

When the weather is freezing, you may not think about fires. But that doesn’t mean that fires can’t happen. Unfortunately, winter fires are a serious and potentially deadly issue. For this reason, following winter fire protection tips is incredibly important.

This is because home fires occur more in the winter than during any other season. There are a number of reasons for this. One main reason is that people use more tools, appliances and electronics to heat their homes during the cold winter months. Half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January and February. Heating equipment is involved in one of every six reported home fires and one of every five home fire deaths.

These statistics show that following winter fire protection tips is important. One of the key ways to protect yourself and your family is to use caution when heating your home.

Some Important Winter Fire Protection Tips to Keep you Safe

Here are some home heating safety tips and winter fire protection tips:

• Keep home heating equipment (portable space heaters, etc.) at least three feet away from anything that can burn
• Have heaters, furnaces, fireplaces and other home heating equipment inspected, cleaned and – if necessary – repaired by a professional at the start of each winter
• Never use space heaters or other heating equipment that is damaged or functioning incorrectly
• Don’t leave operating space heaters unattended
• Plug only one heater into an electrical outlet at a time and avoid using extension cords
• Keep portable generators outside and away from windows
• Do not burn charcoal or propane in an enclosed space
• Install carbon monoxide detectors and test them frequently

Carbon monoxide is another common health risk during the winter months. In addition to following winter fire protection tips, also ensure that you have a plan for protecting yourself from carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless and tasteless gas that can be deadly. Many types of heaters can produce carbon monoxide and the gas can cause serious health problems and even death without warning.

When considering winter fire protection tips, think about installing monitored carbon monoxide detectors. These devices are connected to a central monitoring station that will alert you if unsafe levels of carbon monoxide are present in your home. This could save your life.

When it comes to winter fire protection tips, pay attention to heating your home safely and take precautions to ensure that every member of your family understands how to heat your home safely. Doing so can help prevent tragic accidents.

Winter Home Security: Watch Out for Warm-Up Car Thefts

A big winter home security tip involves vehicle security. Criminals are on the lookout to steal cars that are easy targets. Home security also means protecting your vehicle and your family.

A recent car theft in Malton, Ontario was especially terrifying for the vehicle owner since her nine-month-old baby was in the back seat of the stolen automobile. Thankfully, the vehicle and the child were found unharmed shortly afterward. Police say that there is no evidence to indicate that the vehicle or the child was targeted and that it appears that the suspect was committing what is known as a “warm-up car theft.” These thefts are important to look out for and are a key aspect of home security for winter months.

A warm-up car theft is a situation where a criminal steals a vehicle that has been left running unattended to “warm it up.” During the cold winter months, many drivers start their vehicles and leave them running to warm them up while they stay indoors away from the car. In the case of the vehicle stolen in Malton, the mother left the car running to keep it warm for the child while she went inside the gas station to pay for gas.

Protect Yourself with Tips for Home Security for Winter Months

Home security for winter is different than other seasons. In order to keep your vehicle safe, never leave your car unattended when it is running or with the keys in the ignition, even if you only plan to be away from it for a short period. At this time of year, criminals are on the lookout for cars that are running with no one watching them. Stealing a car that already has the keys in the ignition is simple and it literally takes only a few seconds. Keeping your car safe is a crucial part of winter home security.

Warm-up car thefts are very common, especially during the colder months which makes looking out for them a crucial aspect winter home security. For example, a Mercedes Benz was stolen from a driveway in Brampton while the owner went inside his home to pick something up, leaving the car running. At the time, Peel Regional Police stressed the importance of keeping vehicles locked and ensuring that valuables are out of sight at all times.

Warm-up thefts can be avoided by using a remote starter to warm up the car. If your vehicle does not have this feature, it’s recommended that you use a second set of keys to lock the vehicle while you are warming it up. However, the best way to prevent these types of car thefts is to never leave your keys in the ignition when you are away from the vehicle. Even if the doors are locked, a criminal can quickly force his or her way into the vehicle and steal it. Always keep vehicle and home security in mind.

“Leaving a car running and unlocked in the driveway or parking lot is an open invitation to them to drive off with a vehicle that they normally couldn’t steal,” says Joe Wehrle of The National Insurance Crime Bureau. “Today’s late model vehicles are very difficult to steal thanks for improved anti-theft technology, but unfortunately many of the cars and trucks that are taken today are left unlocked with the keys inside.”

In addition to locking your vehicle, never leaving the keys in the ignition and keeping valuables out of sight, other important vehicle safety and home security tips include: • Using a car security system such as an alarm
• Installing a physical theft prevention device that locks the steering wheel or brakes
• Parking in well-lit, well-traveled areas
• Keeping your vehicle in a locked garage whenever possible

SafeTech understands the unique aspects of winter home security. If you need help securing your property, contact our dedicated team of loss prevention professionals today. We can install monitored security cameras at your home that will ensure that your vehicle and the rest of your property are watched over at all times. These home security tools prevent theft. We can also install physical security tools that make it significantly more difficult to enter your property, keeping you, your family and your belongings safe. Trust SafeTech for home security.

Important Holiday Security Tips when you’re Shopping

The importance of holiday security tips cannot be understated. The holiday season is here and, for most of us, that means shopping. However, for some people, it means greater opportunities to commit crimes. This means holiday security tips are important to be aware of and follow. During the holiday season there are more people out at shopping malls and public places and they are carrying more valuables in the form of purchases, money and many other items. This situation can often lead to increased crime.

When you’re out shopping this holiday season, it’s crucial that you take precautions to protect yourself. Here are a few important holiday security tips that will keep you safe.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Criminals steal what they can see. To protect yourself, make sure to follow these holiday security tips, which includes keeping your valuables out of sight whenever possible. This means locking your shopping bags in your trunk rather than leaving them on the seats of your car where they can obviously be seen. The same idea is true for valuables at home. Don’t place your new expensive gifts right in front of your windows. Keep them inside your home where they can’t be seen. Following important holiday security tips is crucial. You should always remember to keep your purse, bag or wallet close to your body. In front of you is better than beside or behind you. This will make you more difficult to steal from.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Be aware of what is happening around you. This is a crucial part of many important holiday security tips and vital to staying safe. If you are in a shopping mall or parking lot, take note of who is nearby. Avoid people who seem to be loitering around for no reason. If you feel as though you are being followed, head towards a group of people or into a store. Remember that talking on the phone or texting can distract you, so limit these activities whenever possible.

Protect Your Information

Whether you’re withdrawing money from an ATM, making a debit or credit card purchase in a store or shopping online, remember these important holiday security tips. It’s crucial that you protect your financial information. Cover your PIN when you enter it. Rest your fingers on additional numbers (not code related numbers) to help hide your real numbers. Remember that heat imaging smart phones can now capture numbers recently entered, your fingers leave a ‘heat trace’. Check to see if anyone might be looking over your shoulder, only visit well-lit ATMs and be sure to only enter payment details on secure and verified websites.

Shop with Friends

One of the most important holiday security tips to follow is that there is safety in numbers. Whenever possible, go holiday shopping with at least one friend and keep an eye out for one another. This is especially true if you are shopping at night. If you do end up shopping by yourself, you may want to ask mall security to walk you to your car if it’s dark outside or if there aren’t very many people around. Try to avoid high risk situations like walking alone that make you a target.

SafeTech Knows Important Holiday Security Tips

SafeTech understands what it takes to protect people and property. We’ve been doing it for almost 25 years. To find out more about safety and security and how you can protect yourself from criminals, take advantage of our free risk assessment. It can help you determine what security weakness exists in your home and what steps you can take to eliminate them. We can help you stay safe with important holiday security tips and more.