Critical components of a home security system installation
An important part of securing your home is installing a home security system. Home security systems come in many different forms and levels of protection. Whether you want to do it yourself or hire a professional security installation company, there are critical elements to consider.
First you need to decide what level of coverage your budget allows. Most alarm monitoring companies offer free or discounted installation of their basic package, which usually includes 3 door contacts, 1 keypad, 1 passive infrared motion detector, 1 spare battery, 1 siren and a yard sign if you agree with their surveillance agreement. For many homeowners, this is a very efficient way to install a basic system. But if you want more coverage in your home, it will cost you more.
The most critical area – the back of the house
The most critical area to cover is the side and back of the house. Burglars don’t want to be caught, so they’ll look for the entry point that gives them the most cover. If a burglar wants to break in from the front, he usually rings the doorbell to see if anyone is home. If there is no answer, they will kick the door and close it behind them. It’s hard to tell from the street that anything is going on. But if they break a window in the front of the house, your neighbors can easily tell that something is wrong.
Most thefts happen through doors. Side and rear doors are most often targeted. Windows are also easy entry points. If you are concerned about protecting your home and providing a warning of a possible break-in while you are at home, then you should consider connecting to the windows. However, if you are primarily interested in protecting your property while you are away, then it may be more cost effective to consider using passive infrared motion detectors and glass break detectors. The reason is that even if the windows are touched, it is possible on most windows to just break the glass and get in. If the window is never opened, the contact is never turned off.
Complete your perimeter defense with an internal trap
An internal trap of some sort is a critical part of an effective home security system. A motion detector is typically used in a residential area as a means of catching an intruder who has accidentally passed through the perimeter protection. Pet motions are available in various sizes that will detect intruders but filter out animals. However, these pet movements are not recommended for homeowners with cats. This is because a cat can jump as fast as they have been known to do and fool the movement into thinking it is a human standing up. A good alternative in this case is to use an interior door contact on a closet or bedroom door that is closed. When the thief opens this door, the alarm goes off. However, this contact is turned off when the alarm is activated in sleep mode, so you can go about your business without fear of setting off the alarm.
Many homeowners who have animals often ask about glass break detectors. Although glass break detectors are available from many alarm vendors, you should understand their limitations before spending your hard earned money on them. The glass break detector is a direct line of sight product. It listens for the sound and vibration of broken glass, and they should occur within milliseconds of each other. This dual technology is to reduce false alarms. If you have faux wood blinds, heavy draperies or window coverings that you’re trying to protect, chances are the glass break detector won’t work. Places in most homes where they can be effective are the glass above the master bath and the back door glass.
Another item to consider if you are going to monitor your home security system is to add a cellular backup to the system. The backup cell is designed to send an alarm signal if a thief decides to cut the phone line. It is an additional expense due to the cost of monthly airtime and the price of the device, but it is the best when it comes to alarm communication.
In summary, when you want to install a home security system, at the very least you should wire all the exterior doors and install some sort of interior trap as discussed earlier. All keyboards made today are relatively easy to use, so you shouldn’t be afraid to use your system. As we tell our clients all the time at my company, “Sitting on the wall won’t help you.”
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