What Does "10/4" Mean?
The 10/4 Standard is an annual home protection verification performed every October 4. It confirms the systems that protect your home are tested, working, and documented. Each year, key systems are checked across four areas—Water, Electric, Safety, and Temperature. The process verifies leak detection, shutoff valves, surge protection, backup power, smoke and carbon alerts, and freeze prevention.
It also includes a simple checklist homeowners can follow, guidance for professionals performing the verification, and clear documentation of what was tested.
The goal is simple: reduce risk, prevent avoidable damage, and make sure your home isn’t assumed safe—it’s verified.
W.E.S.T.: The Systems That Protect Your Home
Once a year, your home’s core protection systems—W.E.S.T. (Water, Electric, Safety, Temperature)—are tested, verified, and documented.
Water
Leak detection and automatic shutoff systems are tested and verified to help stop water damage early, protecting your home from costly repairs and hidden damage risks.
Average plumbing leak claim — $12K–$25K
View Water Verification →
Electric
Electrical systems, including surge protection and panel integrity, are tested and verified to help prevent outages, equipment damage, and fire risks across your home.
Surge damage claim — $20K–$50K
View Electrical Verification →
Safety
Smoke, carbon monoxide, and security systems are tested and verified to ensure alerts work when needed most, helping protect your home and everyone inside every day.
Average Fire / CO incident — $50K–$100K+
View Safety Verification →
Temperature
Temperature and HVAC systems are tested and verified to help prevent frozen pipes, overheating, and system failures, keeping your home stable and protected year-round.
Frozen pipe damage — $25K–$40K
View Temperature Verification →
Tested. Verified. Documented.
Check Your Home
Start with a simple review of your home’s core systems—water, electric, safety, and temperature. Identify what’s already in place and what may be missing.
How 10/4 Works
Verify Systems
Test and confirm that each system is working properly. This can be done yourself using a checklist or with a qualified professional for deeper validation.
Document Everything
Create a record of what was tested, confirmed, and updated. This documentation helps track maintenance, supports insurance claims, and ensures nothing is missed.
Do It Yourself or Work With a Professional
Do It Yourself
If you’re comfortable reviewing your home, you can follow the 10/4 checklist to inspect key systems, test devices, and confirm basic operation across W.E.S.T.
Visual inspection of systems
Test alarms and sensors
Confirm shutoffs and alerts
Use the downloadable checklist
Work With a Professional
For a deeper level of confidence, a qualified professional can test, verify, and document your systems with precision, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
Full system testing and validation
Proper calibration and verification
Documentation for records and insurance
Identification of hidden risks
Know Before Something Goes Wrong
Small issues are identified early, before they become costly damage, repairs, or major disruptions.
Be Prepared for the Unexpected
From water leaks to electrical issues, your home is ready to respond quickly, reducing risk and minimizing impact.
Enjoy Home Without Thinking About It
When everything is working as it should, your home becomes what it’s meant to be, comfortable, reliable, and ready.
Feel Confident in Your Home Again
You’re not guessing. Your systems have been tested, verified, and are ready when needed.
Have Documentation That Matters
A clear, documented record supports insurance claims, resale value, and long-term maintenance planning.
Be 10/4 Ready Year-Round
Your home isn’t assumed safe, it’s tested, verified, and documented to perform when it matters most.
What You Get When Your Home Is 10/4 Verified
For Professionals: Join the 10/4 Network
The 10/4 Standard is building a network of professionals committed to testing, verifying, and documenting the systems modern homes depend on.
Be Part of the Standard
Help define how modern homes are tested, verified, and documented each year.
Do Work Homeowners Rely On
Align your services with a clear, structured standard built around how homes actually function.
Be Early to What Comes Next
Join at the beginning of a shift toward annual home verification as a new expectation.
Built for Real Conditions, Not Theory
Use a practical framework (W.E.S.T.) and checklist designed for real homes, real systems, and real risks.
Built for professionals who want to be part of what homeowners rely on, not what they add on.