Critical Elements in the Design of an Effective Home Security System
A vital part of securing your home is the installation of a home security system. Home security systems can vary greatly in the levels of protection that they provide. Whether you like to do it yourself, or are hiring a professional security installation company, there are critical elements that must be considered that are covered here. GE 50246 Smart Home Door Stop Alarm
First you need to decide what level of coverage your budget allows. If you agree to a longer term monitoring agreement, most alarm companies will offer a free or reduced installation of their basic package which includes 1 control panel, 1 keypad, 3 door contact, 1 motion detector, 1 siren, and 1 yard sign. For most homeowners, this is an affordable way of getting some form of security for the home. However, if you are willing to spend a little additional, you can really beef up your security by adding devices and contact points. Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System
The most important areas of the house to cover is the back and the sides. Burglars do not want to be caught, so they will look for the point of entry that gives them the most cover. Burglars will ring the doorbell to see if anyone answers before they break in the front door. If there is no answer, then they will kick the door in and close it behind them. Out on the street, it can be difficult to see that anything is going on. But your neighbors can easily tell that something is not quite right if they were to see a broken window on the front of your home.
Most burglaries occur through the doors. The side and back doors are the most often targeted. Windows are also easy points of entry. Contacting all of the accessible windows will provide a warning of possible intrusion if someone were to raise a window at night while you were at home. If you are mostly interested in protecting your property while you are away however, it may be more cost effective to use motion and glass break detectors. This is because on most windows it is possible to simply break the window and climb in. If the window is never opened, the contact never goes off.Wireless Home Security System
An interior trap of some form is a critical part of the design of an effective home security system. The most common interior trap is a motion detector placed in the living area as a way of catching an intruder that got by the perimeter contacts. Pet motion detectors are available which filter out animals but still pick up humans. These pet motions are not recommended for homeowners with cats however. By jumping so quick, a cat fools the motion into thinking that it is a person standing up. If you contact an interior bedroom or closet door that is kept shut when you are away, this could be a good alternative. When the burglar opens the interior contacted door, the alarm will sound. However, this contact is off when the alarm is armed in the stay mode so that you can go about your business without fear of setting the alarm off.
Many homeowners who have animals often ask about glass break detectors. By understanding how a glass break detector functions, you can save your hard earned money by not placing them in places where they will not add to the security of the system. Glass break detectors are designed to be a line of sight type product. The glass break detector is listening for the sound and vibration of breaking glass, and it has to occur within milliseconds of each other. This dual technology is designed to reduce false alarms. If you have faux wood blinds, heavy draperies, or shutters on the windows you are trying to protect, chances are that the glass break detector will not work. In most homes the areas where a glass break can do the most good is around the glass above the master tub and back door glass.
Another thing you might consider if you are going to have your security system monitored is to add a cell back up. A cell back-up unit is designed to transmit the alarm signal even if the burglar decides to cut the home phone line. Many homeowners skip this option due to the cost of the unit and monthly airtime. However, it is the absolute best means of alarm communications available today.
In summary, when you are looking at installing a home security system, at a minimum you should contact all of the exterior doors, and install an interior trap of some sort as discussed earlier. The equipment manufacturers have all produced easy to operate keypads so that no one needs to be afraid of using their home security system. As I tell our customers all the time at my company, “It will not do you any good sitting on the wall”.
