10/4 Home Verification Checklist
October 4 is your annual reminder to check the systems your home depends on: water, electricity, safety and temperature. Bravo AV's free checklist guides you through ten essential checks, helps you record what you find and shows you where to follow up before colder weather.
Tested. Verified. Documented.
Make October 4 Your Annual Home Check
October 4 is a simple date to remember: ten checks across four essential systems. The 10/4 review helps you look at the water, electrical, safety and temperature systems your home depends on, then make a plan for anything that needs attention before colder weather.
New Jersey’s winter of 2025–2026 showed why preparation matters. Walpack recorded −17°F on January 28. Closer to Bernardsville, Basking Ridge reached −8°F on January 31. During the February 22–23 storm, a Bernardsville observer reported 11.1 inches of snow. Cold and snow make it especially useful to review heating controls, water alerts and connected systems before winter.
Sources: Rutgers: January 2026 temperatures | NWS: February 22–23 local snowfall
Download the free checklist to work through the review yourself, or ask Bravo AV to help check your connected home technology. An early October review gives you time to arrange service, update settings and follow up before winter arrives.
Benefits and the Four Systems
Why Check Your Home Every Year?
Find Problems Early
Small problems can be easy to miss. An annual review helps you spot leaks, aging devices and settings that need attention so you can plan needed repairs before winter arrives.
Know Your Alerts Work
Your sensors need to do more than show online. Confirm that supported alerts reach the right phones, cameras save recordings and emergency contact details are kept up to date.
Feel Better While Away
Before a trip or winter getaway, review remote access, temperature alerts and the systems that help you keep an eye on home. Know what you can check and who to call if needed.
Keep a Clear Home Record
Save test results, equipment details and follow-up tasks in one place. A dated checklist helps you remember what was checked, where service is due and when to review it again.
Four Systems Your Home Depends On
W.E.S.T. keeps the review organized: Water, Electrical, Safety and Security, and Temperature.
W — Water
Start with visible leaks, accessible plumbing connections and the location of your main water shutoff. If you have leak sensors, a sump pump or an automatic shutoff, use the approved test to check the equipment’s response and any phone alerts. Record anything that needs a plumber’s attention.
Checking now gives you a clearer plan for a leak or cold-weather concern.
E — Electrical
Review outlets, cords and the status lights on installed surge protection and battery backup. The checklist also covers the recommended checks of electrical safety devices. Know which devices have backup power and the limits of that backup, especially for your network and connected equipment.
Record damage, failed tests or recurring trips for a qualified electrician to address.
S — Safety and Security
Review smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, locks, security sensors and cameras. Confirm saved camera playback, update emergency contacts and check that supported alerts reach the intended phones. Arrange test mode with your monitoring provider before testing monitored alarms, then confirm normal monitoring has resumed.
A useful review checks what happens after a device responds, including whether you receive the alert or can retrieve the recording.
T — Temperature
Review thermostat schedules, normal heating response and rooms that are consistently colder than others. Where installed, check temperature sensors, remote access and low-temperature alerts using the device’s approved procedure. Record cold areas or exposed pipes that may need attention, and arrange HVAC service where needed.
This is especially useful before travel, when remote readings can help you keep track of conditions at home.
Next Steps and Common Questions
Tested. Verified. Documented.
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Tested. Follow the recommended procedure for the equipment you have.
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Verified. Confirm the response, alert or recording. Note anything you could not confirm.
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Documented. Save the date, results and follow-up tasks with your home records.
Choose How to Complete Your 10/4 Review
Start With the Free Checklist
Print the checklist or fill it in digitally. Work through the ten checks, record your results and list anything that needs help. Keep the dated copy with your home records so you can track repairs and refer to it next year.
Have Bravo AV Review Your Home Technology
Prefer help with your connected home? Ask Bravo AV about a visit to review your existing technology, such as Control4 controls, your home network, supported alerts and remote access. Tell us what you have and what concerns you so we can discuss the right service for your system.
Serving Somerset and Morris Counties. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs belong with the appropriate qualified professional.
(908) 953-0555
Common Questions
Do I need a smart home to use the checklist?
No. The checklist starts with the systems your home already has. Review the applicable items and mark optional equipment you do not have as N/A.
Do I have to complete it on October 4?
October 4 is your annual reminder. Complete the review around that date, while continuing each device’s regular testing and maintenance schedule throughout the year.
Can Bravo AV help if someone else installed my system?
Bravo AV offers service for existing Control4 systems, including systems installed by another company. Contact us with your equipment details and concerns so we can confirm how we can help.
What if something fails a check?
Record the issue and arrange help from the appropriate service provider. Keep it on your follow-up list until it has been addressed and the result confirmed.
Make a Plan Before Winter Arrives
Start with the free 10/4 checklist, or contact Bravo AV for help with your home technology.