When you prepare to move into a new apartment, one of your top priorities should be safety and making sure that you are safe in your apartment at all times. The word “safety” can refer to several different things, especially when you're talking about apartments. When it comes to your apartment, it always helps to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you're safe from most of the common dangers that can occur, like fires, break-ins and other unfortunate incidents that can harm you physically, emotionally, and even financially.
However, there is more to staying safe than simply locking your door when you leave the apartment and stashing a fire extinguisher underneath your kitchen counter. Staying safe and making sure that your apartment is secure and safe takes a little bit of work, but for something as important as this, it's well worth your time and your money to take those necessary extra precautions.
There are a few helpful tips to making sure that you stay safe when you're in your apartment, and also making sure that your apartment stays safe when you're away from it. Following these simple tips will help you to rest easy knowing that you're doing all you can to stay safe in your apartment.
Fire safety
Fire safety is especially important in an apartment, because you need to be protected not only against a fire in your own home, but also a fire in other neighboring apartments as well. One of the dangers of living in an apartment building is that if there is a particularly large and rapidly spreading fire in another apartment in your building, whether it's on your floor or on the floor above or beneath you, there's a chance that it may spread to your apartment as well and put you in danger.
That's why having a functioning smoke detector in each area of your apartment is very important. You should have one smoke detector placed in the vicinity of your front door, so that any smoke coming into your apartment from the hallway can be detected in time for you to plan an escape. Also, there should be a smoke detector in your bedroom and at least one other area of the apartment as well.
As you may know, just having a smoke detector isn't enough though. You should periodically test them to make sure that they are working properly and you should regularly replace the batteries in each of them - at least once per year - to make sure that they are always fully operational and ready to detect smoke and warn you of impending danger. In addition to smoke detectors, you should also keep a fire extinguisher in your apartment as well. If your apartment didn't already come equipped with a fire extinguisher, you can easily purchase one of your own at your local hardware store. Keep it stowed in a safe place that is also easily accessible in case you need to locate it during a fire with limited visibility.
Carbon monoxide safety
Almost as important as functioning smoke detectors in your apartment are functioning and well-placed carbon monoxide detectors. Depending on the size of your apartment, you should have at least two fully functioning carbon monoxide detectors in your living area. There should be one in or near the entrance to your bedroom and another one placed either near the living room or near the kitchen.
The dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning are real, and if you live in an apartment you're especially at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning if you don't take the proper precautions. Carbon monoxide can be produced by any number of things, but it's especially dangerous during the winter months when your windows remain closed and the furnace is on.
As with your smoke detectors, you should regularly check the batteries on your carbon monoxide detectors and replace them at least once a year. However, once a month you should make sure that the carbon monoxide detectors are operating as they should be by pressing the test button to see if they respond. If not, you'll have to either replace the batteries on the device or purchase a new carbon monoxide detector.
Locking your doors and windows
Fire and carbon monoxide aren't the only dangers that you need to protect yourself from if you live in an apartment. You'll also need sufficient security to protect against break-ins and robberies. While some areas are safer than others and the amount of protection you need for your apartment will ultimately depend on where you live, it's always a smart idea to make sure all of your doors and windows close properly and have fully functioning locks.
The front door of your apartment should have at least two separate locks, including a deadbolt. Some apartments may also have additional chain locks or other locks that act in conjunction with the main deadbolt locks. When you move into a new apartment, you should go around to all of the entry points and make sure that the locks on all of the doors are functioning properly, as well as the locks on all of the windows.
If you have a sliding glass door that leads to a balcony or back porch, you can secure this door by placing an object in the track between the door and the wall while it is closed to provide extra protection in addition to the lock. This will prevent the door from being opened even if the lock is picked or forcibly broken.
The best way to make sure you are protected and your apartment is as secure as it can be is to always keep your doors locked at all times when you are away from the apartment and when you are sleeping at night. For extra protection, you can invest in a security system that can be installed in your apartment that will alert the police to any break-ins that may occur when you're away from home and serve as a good deterrent for home invaders.