As temperatures drop in Fairfield, Connecticut, and families spend more time indoors, home safety becomes especially important. From heating systems to lighting and alarm monitoring, a few simple precautions can make all the difference.

Here are five essential ways to keep your Fairfield home or business safe this winter:

1. Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Colder weather means heating systems, fireplaces, and generators are used more often. These are common sources of carbon monoxide (CO) — a colorless, odorless gas known as the silent killer. CO is produced when fuels containing carbon (such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, coal, or wood) are burned incompletely.

Be sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly and not expired. Most units have a manufacture date printed on the inside — if it’s more than five to seven years old, it’s time to replace it. Check the batteries and test the device monthly.

If your CO detector is part of your monitored alarm system, call your local alarm company to confirm it’s online and reporting correctly. American Total Protection (ATP) offers a complimentary safety assessment by one of our security consultants.

👉Learn more about monitored carbon monoxide detectors

2. Smoke Detectors

Every home should have interconnected smoke detectors — meaning if one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you’ll hear an alarm no matter where you are in the home. Building codes require at least one smoke detector per floor, one in each bedroom, and one in every hallway leading to a bedroom.

In many newer homes, these detectors are 120-volt local units, which only make noise and do not automatically alert the fire department. Seconds matter during a fire, so we strongly recommend monitored smoke detectors that dispatch emergency services even when you’re away.

Winters in Fairfield often bring increased fireplace and space heater use, which raises fire risks. Monitored detectors can save lives and property.

👉   Upgrade your fire monitoring system

3. Lighting

The first line of defense against intruders is proper exterior lighting. In Fairfield’s short winter days, darkness comes early, so well-placed lighting helps deter potential break-ins and improves safety.

Consider installing motion-activated lights or programmable fixtures that illuminate your property’s perimeter during dark hours. ATP’s electrical division, ATP-Electric.com, can design and install energy-efficient lighting systems to enhance both security and curb appeal.

4. Camera Systems

With the holidays approaching, package theft and porch deliveries increase. A video doorbell or outdoor surveillance camera provides real-time visibility and evidence in case of suspicious activity.

Best practice: cover all main entry points — front, side, and back doors, as well as garage areas. American Total Protection can visit your property at no cost to recommend tailored camera solutions for your home or business, from video doorbells to cloud-based CCTV systems.

5. Environmental Alarms

Winter weather brings an uptick in frozen pipes and water leaks. ATP offers monitored water sensors and low-temperature detectors that alert you — and the monitoring center — before damage becomes catastrophic.

Water sensors trigger when moisture is detected, while temperature sensors alert you when the home drops below a preset threshold. Many insurance carriers even provide premium discounts for monitored environmental devices.

Stay Safe with American Total Protection

American Total Protection is proud to serve our Fairfield, Connecticut neighbors. We offer no-cost consultations to assess your security and propose customized solutions for your home or business.

Already have an alarm system? ATP can often reuse your existing equipment and provide a more competitive monitoring rate — saving you money while enhancing your protection.

Stay safe, stay warm, and protect what matters most.

👉 Schedule your complimentary consultation today