Home Security Alarm Systems

The world we live in is filled with robbery and crime due to evident differences of classes in our society. Everyday we read in the papers about burglaries and other sorts of crimes. However, a way to protect our homes against burglaries and other crimes is by installing home security alarm systems.

Home security alarm systems are one of the effective ways in protecting our homes and families. Installing home security alarm systems in our homes will make robber, burglars and other criminals think twice. The home security alarm systems these days are more sophisticated and highly advanced. The word “security” means “a condition of being protected against any threat or harm. Home security alarm systems are easy to operate. These home security alarm systems have various interconnected sensors and control units.

If you have a home alarm system, make sure all the wires are concealed. If a burglar wants to break into your home, he may cut any wires he sees before following through with his plan. Depending on where the wires are, hide them with plants, rocks or other natural looking items.

Home security alarm systems are equipped to detect fire, burglar and any intrusion. The sophistication of home security alarm systems ranges from noise-makers to a more complex systems.

When an unauthorized entry is detected, the home security alarm system sends a signal to the home-monitoring company or to the local law enforcement agency. In some cases like fire, the security alarm system will then trigger an alarm to notify the occupants and then dials the local fire department. In other home security alarm systems, a sprinkler system is activated to contain a fire or slow down its progress.

If your alarm is faulty and goes off at random times, get it fixed. Tell your neighbors once it is working properly. The reason for this is that your neighbors will start ignoring an alarm that goes off for no reason and it will be helpful if they know your alarm is in working condition.

The most important aspect in having a home security alarm system is that in time of emergencies like burglary, carbon monoxide poisoning or fire, the proper authorities are notified. Or in some security alarm systems, the security monitoring company employs specialist to determine the course of action needed on a particular emergency.

If you've recently bought a home, make sure you change the locks and alarm pass codes. Many people just take these items as is and don't give them another thought, but consider that just about anyone could have a copy of the key or the pass code. That can include neighbors who you don't really know. Be safe and change out both when you buy.

Some home security alarm systems are monitored twenty-four hours a day by its local monitoring stations. When the security alarm system is set off, the monitoring station will contact the homeowner by telephone to find out if the alarm is false or not. In such case, the monitoring company uses a password to confirm that the one answering the telephone is not an intruder. The monitoring station will then contact the local law enforcement agency if necessary.

Home security systems offer other triggering features besides having an alarm sound. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. If you have little ones wandering about the house, this makes it easy for you to know if they have come in or gone out.
Having an efficient and reliable home security alarm system is an effective way to protect your home and to provide you security at all times.

Home Security - Choosing the Right Product

The bad news is that crime statistics, death, injuries, home intrusions, and loss of property continue to rise.  It is hard to believe, but according to FBI statistics a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the United States.

The good news is that there has never been a time when such a variety of quality security equipment has been available, and at such affordable prices.  Let's fight back!

When talking about home security equipment, one size does not fit all.  Security equipment must be tailored to meet the particular needs of each house or company.  One may need entry detection, while another needs camera surveillance, and another may need motion-detection floodlights.  Let us look at some of the many choices available. 

Home Security Systems - Many articles have been written on this subject and the basics are probably known by most readers.  Systems are either wired or wireless, just as the names imply.  For a renter, a wireless system is the logical choice, as the installation does little if any damage to the premises.  And, the system can be taken when the renter moves. 

Wired is the system of choice in an owned residence, but it has its pros and cons.  Because wires are run from every protected point to the alarm control panel, holes must be drilled and wires fastened.  However, when done by a professional company, the work is done with care and is mostly concealed.  Labor is the main contributor to the high cost of a wired system.  At today's labor rates, several technicians working in your house for a week can run up quite a bill.  A money saving tip here is do-it-yourself. 

If you have the basic knowledge to fix a lamp cord, you can read the wiring diagrams and install a wired system at a budget cost.  Your car, motorcycle, camper, or boat on trailer, can also be connected to the security system.  Many types of motion detectors are available, some even "pet friendly".  Regardless of wired or wireless, ultimately either system can sound a local alarm, connect to a monitoring station, call your mobile phone, or be custom tailored to meet the exact needs of the user.

Surveillance Cameras - Like home security systems, cameras come in two types, wired or wireless.  When the door bell rings, how comforting to see who is at the front door.  Now, even low cost systems can view multiple points, and display all cameras on just one split screen monitor.  Camera products change rapidly, offering more and more features at lower and lower prices.

One of the best recent offerings is an outdoor motion-activated floodlight and color camera combination.  It does not get any better than that!  Disturbing statistics show that we cannot always trust persons in our house, like the baby-sitter or a serviceman.  A wireless hidden camera provides an ideal solution for this case. It is, in fact, one of the most popular home security items.  Other uses for an indoor camera include keeping watch on your prized possessions, and of course keeping watch over your baby.

Home Automation - Here is an area of products you will want to look at while security shopping.  The evolution of security products has blended into a new category of home automation products.  We have traveled well beyond the wireless garage door opener.  Your home computer can now be used to control appliances, lighting, cameras, store camera video files, check on your home, turn on and off your security lighting and even your sprinkler system!

A Look at Wireless Security Cameras

If you need to partially conceal your cameras from view, wireless security cameras are the way to go. Locations such as banks use a combination of wireless and wired, visible and hidden cameras to intimidate potential robbers, but continue photographing them even if they disable the wired cameras.

Las Vegas casinos do the same. Look around you the next time you enter a casino or a bank. There are cameras evident and these are for “publicity” purposes. That is, they are there to intimidate a potential robber or petty thief from doing anything, knowing that their actions are being recorded. The owners of these establishments want you to see these wireless security cameras and they want you to think twice about doing anything naughty in their places of business.

Then there are the hidden cameras. Almost always wireless so they can be placed anywhere, they photograph through small holes in the walls or ceilings, or from behind specially designed ordinary devices you’d expect to find in the location. Wireless security cameras are the ones that provide information to the police about who may have committed some crime after they disabled the visible systems.

Wireless cameras can be battery operated. That is, they are used to monitor the activities of people for a limited amount of time. Their advantage is that they can be placed in a variety of easily concealed positions, much more so than a camera that requires a wire to be connected to both its power source and a recording device.

Lately, these cameras have been built into clocks, children’s toys and other common household devices and have been nicknamed “nanny-cams.” They came into more popular use to catch babysitters and nanny’s who watch over precious youngsters who may not be talking yet. Horrible abuse sometimes occurs when unbalanced adults are left in charge of toddlers who can’t speak.

Concerned parents started using these devices to record the actions of the adult in charge while they were gone. Then the couple could play back the tapes and see what went on in their absence. Some of these tapes were so outrageously awful in what they captured on videotape that they led to prosecution of the adult offender and oftentimes ended up on national tabloid TV shows. Since then they have become a built-in, cleverly concealed device that’s quite often found in homes where young children are being watched by hired help.

A Look At Who Has A Hidden Security Camera And Why

Many different types of organizations rely on hidden cameras to bolster their security.  Hidden security cameras are appropriate for businesses with many employees and sensitive information or valuable items.  They are also appropriate for governmental organizations and families, among other groups.

Many businesses opt for a combination of hidden cameras and visible cameras. The visible ones serve as a deterrent to would be thieves while the hidden ones can monitor the more sophisticated thieves in the event the visible ones are disabled. Banks, casinos and large businesses use a combination of the two types of security camera systems to achieve the maximum desired results.

When employees are stealing, the hidden camera system is the most successful at catching them in the act. Clever thieves will note the angle and ability of the visible cameras especially ones that pan back and forth around a room full of people.

Cameras that do this leave blank spots in their field, several seconds perhaps where a particular area is not being photographed. A clever thief will time his nefarious activities to coincide with those blank spots to avoid detection. But if he doesn’t know where the camera is that’s watching him, if he can’t time out a blank spot in the coverage, then he’s more likely to get caught committing his dirty deed. That’s the purpose of the hidden camera.


The infamous “nanny-cam” has caught more than a few nasty nannies, who were ignoring the young children in their charge, or worse, abusing them. The tapes made the rounds of various news programs on TV and a new industry was born. Now there are wireless, battery operated cameras hidden in common household items like radios, and planters that an unsuspecting nanny would never find. As technology improves and electronic items get smaller and better, hidden security cameras will become more readily available than they are today.

Home Security Systems - An Insiders Guide to Saving you Money

Monitoring your home security system has never been easier but there are several things you need to consider before committing yourself to a long term monitoring agreement with any alarm company

Alarm companies don’t make the majority of their profit from selling security systems, it comes from accumulating a large base of alarm-monitoring contracts. In fact these monitoring contracts are so profitable that they are frequently bought and sold like mortgage notes.

Tip #1 Ask if they are an authorized alarm dealer or a represent a marketing company.


Marketing companies have learned to flood a market with fantastic offers on security systems with the sole purpose of selling the contracts at a profit. They often use any sub-contractor available, which can lead to poor customer service once the marketing company leaves town. 

Once you find a reputable alarm company ask them to come out to your home and give you a quote. You’ll find that most will quote you a basic security system at a reasonable price. These basic security systems generally include an control panel, keypad, motion detector, a couple of door contacts, inside siren, a yard sign and warning decals.

Tip #2 Make sure the equipment can be monitored by any alarm company not by just the one selling it to you.

If they use proprietary security equipment you could be left in a bind should you become dissatisfied with their service for any reason.  Ademco, DSC,& Caddx are well known manufacturers and can be monitored by any one.

Some companies offer low a low installation charge of $99.00 or will give you a “FREE” security system. Many do so if you put a security sign in your yard for advertising purposes and commit to a long-term alarm-monitoring contract.

Since the installation charge doesn't cover the true cost of the equipment and labor, you are charged a substantial monthly fee to recoup their investment. These “deals” or equipment leases aren't necessarily bad but make it hard to evaluate the true cost to you over time.

The best way to evaluate your contract is to ask the salesman to give you a quote to purchase the security system outright and show the home alarm-monitoring fee separately. Most of the time you are better off buying the alarm system because your monitoring fee will be much less.


For example. Say for $99 your monitoring fee is $35 per month for 3 years
you total cost for monitoring your home alarm is $1359.00 Your fee
will remain $35 per month or even increase.

On the other hand say you pay  $599.00 installation and $20 dollars a month your total cost is $1319. Not only is your overall cost less but from year 3 on your will be saving $180 per year.  This savings would be better spent on upgrading your alarm system to include fire monitoring and added perimeter protection

Tip #3  Don’t pay additional charges for medical or fire monitoring.

It’s ok to pay for the equipment needed but some companies charge $2-$5 extra     for these services.  These options are easily programmed into the alarm system and don’t require any additional effort to monitor.
   
Is A Basic Security System For You?

The answer is probably not. Basic systems only cover your doors and are supplemented by the use of a motion detector. This detector is usually mounted in the main hallway to catch a burglar crossing the center of the home. If they come through a bedroom window and never pass by the motion detector, the alarm system will never sound. Imagine being home at the time this happens. Basic security systems are best used as a deterrent to a break in and to notify the authorities  an alarm condition exist.

Adding perimeter protection such as window contacts or glass break detectors should be high on the list of upgrades. These types of upgrades not only activate the alarm system instantly but also will give you  piece of mind while you are home.


Protect Your Financial Interest Not Just Your Home

Get all quotes in writing and make sure the quote is a binding quote.
At a minimum the following should be included in your contract.

Length of contract and if / how it renews.  Does it renew automatically?
What type of notice do you have to give to terminate the monitoring agreement

Will your fee increase and is there a limit on the increase. If at all possible lock in your monitoring fee for the entire contract otherwise you could see an increase every year.
Don’t be afraid to walk away on this point alone.

Do you own the equipment or is it a lease? A lease means lower initial installation cost but high monitoring fees. 

Warranty:

Most of the alarm equipment comes with it’s own warranty in addition to what is offered by your company. Specify the warranty for each item so that you aren’t charged if it fails.
Also specify how long the warranty on labor is. Expect to pay some labor cost for replacing under warranty items

Service Calls

Alarm technicians are usually well trained to diagnose and fix problems with your security system. Be prepared to pay in the neighborhood of $55 per hour. The fee can seem high when compared to your original installation cost but is not out of line. Think about how much you pay for your car or computer to be worked on.

How long is the response time to service your alarm system.
48 hours is a reasonable time.

Do they provide an installation certificate for your home owner’s insurance
Many insurance companies offer a discount for monitored home security systems.

Don’t Wait Until You Have A Break-In To Get An Alarm System!

You can replace most things but you may never replace your sense of security in your own home.