Below are 14 home safety and security upgrades worth considering once you\u2019ve checked the basic boxes.<\/p>\n
Fire, fire, everywhere (but not in your house!) Photograph: FotoDuets\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had a longtime fixation on fire safety dating back to childhood, thanks to a walkthrough house my hometown\u2019s fire department set up to demonstrate common household fire hazards. Decades later, I still remember the lessons we were taught that day, and I\u2019ve made a point of staying on top of new tools and products that have emerged since.<\/p>\n
Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket Prepared Hero<\/p>\n Emergency Fire Blanket<\/p>\n from $40<\/p>\n Photograph: Tracy Allison\/The Guardian$40 for pack of two at Amazon<\/a>$40 for pack of two at Walmart<\/a><\/p>\n DIY home renovator Renee Bruner recommends the Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket as an easy-to-use option for dealing with a small fire without the mess of a traditional fire extinguisher. The 39-by-39-in fiberglass blanket stores inside a compact pouch and is released by pulling down on two tabs. \u201cAnyone can use a blanket without prior know-how, there\u2019s no cleanup, and it never expires,\u201d said Bruner.<\/p>\n According to Prepared Hero, it can suppress liquid and grease fires, function as a thermal or heat shield, and can be reused as long as it isn\u2019t damaged. I\u2019m a convert along with Bruner. In addition to keeping two fire blankets at home, I keep one in my car where it tucks neatly into a backseat pocket, and thankfully has so far gone unused.<\/p>\n Prepared Hero<\/p>\n Emergency Fire Blanket<\/p>\n from $40<\/p>\n First Alert Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms First Alert<\/p>\n Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms<\/p>\n from $68<\/p>\n $68 at Bed Beth & Beyond<\/a>$68 at DK Hardware<\/a><\/p>\n Your home should have both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, with functioning batteries that you change regularly when they stop working. In my home, I use wireless interconnected alarms that can be paired by setting each unit to the same identifying code, so that if one detects a problem, all of the alarms will trigger.<\/p>\n The US Fire Administration recommends<\/a> installing smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.<\/p>\n While renters may move into a home that already has alarms in place, it\u2019s worth knowing whether they\u2019re hardwired or battery-operated and staying on top of monthly testing.<\/p>\n First Alert<\/p>\n Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms<\/p>\n from $68<\/p>\n First Alert EZ Fire Extinguishing Spray First Alert<\/p>\n EZ Fire Extinguishing Spray<\/p>\n from $12<\/p>\n Photograph: Tracy Allison\/The Guardian$12 at Amazon<\/a>$12 at Target<\/a><\/p>\n In a panic, simpler is always better. For that reason, I keep an aerosol fire-extinguishing spray on hand as a supplement to my regular fire extinguisher.<\/p>\n The First Alert EZ Fire Extinguishing Spray is lightweight and doesn\u2019t require pulling a pin, so using it feels much closer to using an ordinary spray can than handling a traditional extinguisher. Its small size may also make it easier to handle for anyone who might struggle with the weight or mechanics of a bigger extinguisher.<\/p>\n According to First Alert, the spray can be used on paper, fabric, wood, grease and electrical fires and discharges for 32 seconds. The company also says its biodegradable, non-toxic formula wipes clean after use.<\/p>\n First Alert<\/p>\n EZ Fire Extinguishing Spray<\/p>\n from $12<\/p>\n First Alert Portable Fire-Escape Ladder First Alert<\/p>\n Portable Fire-Escape Ladder<\/p>\n from $58<\/p>\n $58 at Amazon<\/a>$60 at Acme Tools<\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever looked out an upper-floor window and wondered whether, in an emergency, you\u2019d have to start tying bedsheets together to get to the ground, you need a portable fire-escape ladder.<\/p>\n I first learned about them after the fire alarm went off while I was pet-sitting for a friend in a second story apartment with no fire escape. Thankfully, it was a false alarm, but I found myself questioning whether, in a real emergency, I would have a way to get myself and my temporary ward out if the elevator and stairwell were not options. Once the panic subsided, I discovered that collapsible, easy to store escape ladders existed and insisted my friend have one on hand.<\/p>\n Before buying one, check both the length of the ladder and the type and dimensions of the window where you intend to use it, and choose a model designed for the floor from which you would need to escape.<\/p>\n First Alert<\/p>\n Portable Fire-Escape Ladder<\/p>\n from $58<\/p>\n GHome Smart Plug Before discovering smart plugs, I was guilty of often doubling back on my commute to make sure I didn\u2019t leave the iron or another appliance plugged in. A smart plug eliminates uncertainty by letting you check and control power remotely from your phone, so you can switch off a plugged-in curling iron without turning around and going home.<\/p>\n One of the first lessons you learn when you own a home is that water is the enemy, and it\u2019s a battle that never ends. Even if you rent, there are plenty of reasons to stay alert to any potential water problems before your belongings are ruined.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to The Filter US<\/p>\n A guide to buying fewer, better products.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n X-Sense Water Leak and Freeze Sensors X-Sense<\/p>\n Water Leak and Freeze Sensors<\/p>\n from $14<\/p>\n $14 at Amazon (one)<\/a>$40 at Walmart (pack of three)<\/a><\/p>\n After a close call with a nearly frozen pipe during an ice storm, homeowner Beverly Griffith keeps water-leak and freeze sensors near her sinks, toilets and hot water heater. The sensors connect to an app and send an alert when they detect water or dangerously low temperatures.<\/p>\n I followed her lead and was grateful I did. A corroded connection on my 80-gallon water heater could\u2019ve turned my laundry room into a swimming pool, but that crisis was averted, thanks to my sensor<\/a>.<\/p>\n X-Sense<\/p>\n Water Leak and Freeze Sensors<\/p>\n from $14<\/p>\n Jones Stephens Water Meter Key Jones Stephens <\/p>\n Water Meter Key <\/p>\n from $16<\/p>\n $16 at Amazon<\/a>$16 at Home Depot<\/a><\/p>\n I bought a water meter key, a long-handled tool designed to reach and turn the main valve that controls water flowing into a home, at the insistence of a family member who, decades earlier, had a pipe burst and had to wait for the fire department to arrive to shut off the water. I haven\u2019t had to use mine, but I\u2019m always grateful to know it\u2019s there.<\/p>\n Whether you need a meter key specifically depends on how your home\u2019s main water shutoff is configured. The most important thing is knowing where your shutoff is, how to operate it and whether you need a tool to do so.<\/p>\n Jones Stephens <\/p>\n Water Meter Key <\/p>\n from $16<\/p>\n DeWalt Wet\/Dry Shop Vacuum DeWalt<\/p>\n Wet\/Dry Shop Vacuum<\/p>\n $99<\/p>\n $99 at Lowe\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019ve helped mitigate more basement floods than I care to remember, using a reverse bucket brigade method that was great exercise, but not necessarily the most efficient way to handle the situation. Construction company owner Emily Pearl-Reist<\/a> has a better suggestion: keep a basic wet\/dry shop vac on hand. Unlike a regular household vacuum, a wet\/dry model can inhale liquids as well as dry debris, making it useful for everything from a minor plumbing mishap to vacuuming up sawdust or even detailing a car.<\/p>\n DeWalt<\/p>\n Wet\/Dry Shop Vacuum<\/p>\n $99<\/p>\n Secure the premises Photograph: Motortion\/Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/p>\n Home security doesn\u2019t necessarily mean installing an elaborate Home Alone-style system. Some of the simplest measures can add another layer of protection, whether that means strengthening vulnerable entry points or keeping the exterior of your home well illuminated.<\/p>\n Prime-Line Deadbolt Strike Prime-Line<\/p>\n Deadbolt Strike<\/p>\n from $11<\/p>\n $11 at Amazon<\/a>$12 at Home Depot<\/a><\/p>\n Bruner recommends making a low-profile upgrade to an existing deadbolt by changing out the strikeplate, the metal piece on the door frame that the locking mechanism slides into. \u201cBuilders can sometimes use cheap materials, like weak exterior doors and deadbolts and window latches that are all easy to break,\u201d Bruner said. \u201cI recommend upgrading those latches, bolts and the screws that hold them in for extra security.\u201d<\/p>\n Her pick is the Prime-Line E 2688 high-security deadbolt strike, which uses long screws to anchor the strike more deeply into the framing past the door jamb.<\/p>\n Prime-Line<\/p>\n Deadbolt Strike<\/p>\n from $11<\/p>\n FlipLok High Security Door Lock FlipLok<\/p>\n High Security Door Lock<\/p>\n from $40<\/p>\n For added security, homeowner Stephanie Huynh recommends the FlipLok, a secondary lock that mounts to the inside of an exterior door and can work alongside an existing deadbolt. The maker of FlipLok says the lock has been independently tested to withstand more than 1,600 pounds of pressure and requires no batteries or electricity. It installs with just a screwdriver or drill in under 10 minutes and is available for both inward and outward swinging doors.<\/p>\n FlipLok<\/p>\n High Security Door Lock<\/p>\n from $40<\/p>\n Brinks Door Security Bar Brinks<\/p>\n Door Security Bar<\/p>\n from $31<\/p>\n $31 at Amazon<\/a>$31 at Home Depot<\/a><\/p>\n While the FlipLok is marketed as renter-friendly, installing it does still require screws. For a completely renter-friendly security measure that doesn\u2019t require drilling at all, realtor Jennifer Gayden recommends an adjustable door security bar, which blocks a closed door from the inside and can be removed when it isn\u2019t needed. It\u2019s also portable, and can provide an additional layer of security when staying in a hotel. Similar products also exist for windows<\/a>, but generally require an allen wrench to remove.<\/p>\n Brinks<\/p>\n Door Security Bar<\/p>\n from $31<\/p>\n SimpliSafe Home Security Sensors and Cameras SimpliSafe<\/p>\n Home Security Sensors and Cameras<\/p>\n $141<\/p>\n $141 at SimpliSafe<\/a><\/p>\n Homeowner Natasha Herron has exterior cameras, door sensors and glass-break sensors installed through SimpliSafe. Door sensors can alert you when an entry point is opened, while the adhesive mount glass-break sensors are designed to detect the sound of a window breaking.<\/p>\n SimpliSafe offers preconfigured security packages, or you can build a system to fit your needs, choosing from components including motion sensors, doorbells and temperature sensors.<\/p>\n SimpliSafe<\/p>\n Home Security Sensors and Cameras<\/p>\n $141<\/p>\n Adjustable Outdoor Flood Lights LUTEC<\/p>\n Adjustable Outdoor Flood Lights<\/p>\n $30<\/p>\n $30 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n Homeowner Meghan Kindsvater uses four LED floodlights <\/a>around her home, with one positioned at each corner of the house, set to run from dusk until dawn.<\/p>\n Exterior lighting isn\u2019t only useful for seeing who might be outside. Keeping entrances, walkways and other areas around a home illuminated can also make it safer for you, guests, or delivery workers to see where they\u2019re going after dark.<\/p>\n LUTEC<\/p>\n Adjustable Outdoor Flood Lights<\/p>\n $30<\/p>\n SentrySafe Fireproof and Water Resistant Box SentrySafe<\/p>\n Fireproof and Water Resistant Box<\/p>\n from $68<\/p>\n Photograph: Tracy Allison\/The Guardian$68 at Amazon<\/a>$68 at Walmart<\/a><\/p>\n Gayden also recommends keeping important documents, family photographs and other irreplaceable items in a fire and water resistant document box. \u201cSome of those items simply can\u2019t be replaced,\u201d Gayden said.<\/p>\n While I have thankfully never had to find out how it would stand up against fire or flood, I keep my valuable documents in a SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Shelf Safe<\/a>.<\/p>\n SentrySafe<\/p>\n Fireproof and Water Resistant Box<\/p>\n from $68<\/p>\n Stay ready so you don\u2019t have to get ready<\/p>\n Preparing for the worst doesn\u2019t mean living in a state of constant anxiety or expecting something to go wrong. It means being confident that if something does happen, you already know what to do next. In an emergency, it\u2019s easy to freeze; thinking through your next move ahead of time gives you one less decision to make in the moment.<\/p>\n That might mean knowing where your fire blanket is and how you plan to put out a small fire, knowing where and how to shut off your water, or knowing the main (and backup) routes you would take to get out of your home in an emergency.<\/p>\n I hope I never need to use most of the products on this list, and I hope you don\u2019t either. But if my family philosophy holds true, the goal isn\u2019t to be lucky enough to avoid every disaster. It\u2019s to be prepared enough that when something does go wrong, you know what to do next.<\/p>\n Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter<\/a>, the Guardian\u2019s guide to buying fewer, better things:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521132_300_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521132_691_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521133_217_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521133_764_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521134_278_1000.jpg\")
<\/a> Photograph: Tracy Allison\/The Guardian$27 at Amazon (pack of four)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Stop the leaks \u2013 before they start Photograph: AndreyPopov\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/379.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521136_598_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521137_69_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/677.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521138_957_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/662.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"FlipLok](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/600.jpg\")
$40 at FlipLok<\/a>$40 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521139_245_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521140_10_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521140_983_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789521140_752_1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n