Home Security
Posted by Darren Morgan on Saturday, October 27, 2018 Under: Home Security
Frequently Asked Questions about your Home Security System
Do Home Security Systems prevent burglaries?
A home security system will not prevent a break in directly. The system is designed to detect if someone is trying to break in to your home or if they have already entered your residence. Depending on the options that you have chosen for your alarm system you can detect a thief before they enter the home. The system will trigger a loud alarm that can drive the burglar away. If your alarm system is connected to a central station with 24 hour monitoring then the authorities can be dispatched to your home automatically. Te presence of an alarm system does statistically reduce break-ins over homes without one.
How do I choose the best home security system?
A good quality alarm system is more than a brand name. There are basically two types of systems available. These are wired and wireless. The wired system requires running wire throughout your home from the control panel to every home security device. The wireless security system operates with the use of transmitters and batteries that communicate to the control panel. The wireless system is a favorite with DIY Installers and professional installers alike. There are cases when the wired system is the clear choice but that is usually in more complex installations.
What features should I select when purchasing a home alarm system?
Security Systems have evolved drastically over recent years and are much more than a basic intruder alert system. They can be controlled remotely from a cell phone or laptop computer. Your lights can be turned off and on by a programmed schedule or by remote access. You can even open your doors with the tap of a button from anywhere in the world. The more important question is what types of protection that you want. Today's security systems can also double as an emergency alert system for the elderly.
The basics in any home security system should be:
Perimeter protection of all doors and windows
At least one motion sensor inside your home
Fire protection with a minimum of one smoke detector
A Carbon Monoxide Sensor
Can I have an Alarm System in an Apartment?
People that rent apartments do have a tendency to be more transient than people that purchase their homes. This means that many times you do not get to know your neighbors or if you do they may not be living next to you for long. Considering this as the norm then a security system can be even more important in an apartment because you do not have the built in protection of neighbors looking out for each other. A wireless alarm system is the best choice since many control panels can be installed without penetrating any of your walls. They are easily removed and taken to the next location that you move to.
Do I have to pay for Home Security?
There is always a cost to just about everything. Do not be fooled by the ads that say you can get a free security system. The free security systems use an over inflated value for what you are getting and the cost is built into the monthly fee that you will be paying for central station monitoring. You have several options in the amount of money that you pay but there will always be a cost.
Option One-Do It Yourself Install with No Monitoring
The cost involved will be for the cost of the control panel and the individual devices that you select for your home. This is a onetime cost unless you choose to expand and add more devices.
Option Two-Do It Yourself Install with Monitoring
The cost of the equipment will be the same. If you do your own installation and want to get monitoring by a professional company then they will charge you a minimum of a service call and a monthly fee for monitoring.
Option Three-Professional Install with No Monitoring
This option will be the cost of equipment and labor. Alarm companies are counting on the recurring revenue that is generated every month so if you have elected to not have your system monitored then there will be no discounts on the installation price. Remember that anywhere you go will have a built in markup on the equipment.
Option Four-Professional Install with Monitoring
This is actually the most inexpensive way to get a security system for the short term. I say short term because the alarm installation company will give you a free security system. However the system will be limited in devices. The typical free offer is 3 door sensors and 1 motion detector. This is a very limited system and only offers partial protection. The alarm company will install additional devices at an additional cost. The problem with this type of system is that besides the minimal protection you are actually paying for the system every time you pay for your monthly monitoring.
Am I required to have a phone line or cellular phone for my security system?
In the old days if you wanted your home security system to be monitored you were required to have a phone line. This was never an issue because most everyone had a phone installed in their home. With the addition of cell phones to everyone's life many people no longer have a home phone line. If you want to have your home monitored then you must select to get a phone line or you can use cellular technology. This does not mean that you need a cell phone. The control panel has a GSM device that uses cell phone towers to communicate to the central station instead of the traditional phone line. The cost of this service is built into your monthly monitoring fee. You do not have access to use the cellular device. It is dedicated to the alarm system. If you do not currently have a phone line you must consider the additional cost of adding one and paying for the monthly service. Your monitoring service will range from $24.99 to $65.00 per month depending on the alarm company and the features that you are using. If you choose to use a phone line you are adding an additional $20.00 per month.
Is Cellular better than Landline monitoring?
In my opinion cell phone monitoring is the best type of monitoring. A landline can easily be disabled by a savvy burglar. The cell phone chip is located inside the control panel so in order for it to be disabled the intruder would need to be inside the home. By then the alarm would have already been triggered. The cell phone technology also allows complete remote control of your system while land line access is limited.
Will my call waiting affect my home security system?
When a security system is properly installed the system will take over your phone line. If the system goes into alarm and needs to contact the central station the phone line is automatically disconnected from the house lines and at that point is dedicated to the sole use of the alarm system. Once the transmission is complete the line is returned for normal operation.
When I have a power loss will my alarm system still work?
All home security systems are designed with a battery backup. When your normal house power is lost the control panel will switch over to battery power. If there are no alarms generated while on battery power your system can last at least 24 hours without your power being restored.
Will my pets trigger my alarm system?
Home security systems are still very effective when you have animals in the home. There are specially designed motion sensors that can accommodate up to 55 lbs without false alarms. The installer should be aware that you do have animals before the placement of the detectors. There are some extra precautions to take when pets are an issue. Such as never have the motion sensor too close to the back of a couch or other piece of furniture. A potential does exist if a cat or dog were to jump onto the back of the couch.
Can having a security system lower my home owners insurance?
The short answer is yes. Most, if not all insurance companies will give you a discount if you have a monitored security system installed. If you have a salesperson in your home they will tell you that you will receive up to 20%. That is true in isolated cases but you should ALWAYS check with your agent to see what the actual amount is.
How does my alarm system work?
Your alarm system has 4 modes of operation. They are armed in Away, Armed in Stay, and disarmed and there is a 24 hour mode. The armed in away mode means that you have armed your system and you have left your home. The armed in stay mode your system is armed and you have stayed home. In this mode the interior devices are disabled so you do not set the system off. In the disarmed mode the only devices that will work are the ones that are designated as 24 hour devices. This normally applies to smoke detectors. Glass break sensors and medical pendants. Regardless of the mode of operation if an alarm is triggered the system will sound the audible device and also send a signal to the central station is you are monitored. The central station personnel will call you to confirm the alarm. If you are not at home they will dispatch the appropriate authorities.
Why do my motions get triggered when there is no burglar?
Motion sensors can be touchy and are responsible for more false alarms than other devices. They are a necessary part of your home security system but they must be installed properly and they do require more maintenance than door and window contacts. You must take care to not install the detector too close to moveable objects such as balloons, blinds, curtains. Take care to not mount the motion detector too close to a furnace or vent. You should also clean the exterior of the lens to keep cob webs and dust from forming. If you are experiencing false alarms the device may need to be replaced, adjusted or relocated.
How long does my security system take to contact the monitoring company?
When your alarm system is triggered the system there is a built in short delay before the signal is sent to the central station. This is only a few seconds at default. Once the signal is sent there will be a phone call to the listed phone number to try and confirm the alarm. This helps to keep false alarms and unneeded police dispatches to your home.
How do personal safety devices such as panic and medical pendants work?
If your system is wireless then you can have a key fob programmed into the system. The key fob gives you the ability to arm, disarm and send a panic alarm into the control panel. There are also medical pendants available that will trigger a medical emergency alarm to the control panel. Each alarm that is sent to the central station is a unique type of alarm. They know that there is a medical emergency and will dispatch the correct authorities. These devices usually come with a variety of ways to attach the pendant such as a bracelet or wristband. They are also water resistant so they can be worn into the shower.
What happens when I use the emergency buttons on the control panel?
The keypad for a control panel usually has three additional types of buttons. They are for fire alarm, medical emergency and panic. These require you to hold the button down for 3 seconds. The monitoring company will receive the alarm and send the appropriate authorities. These emergency buttons are available for a quick dispatch of emergency personnel.
How many smoke detectors are required?
The recommended distance is 30 feet apart. There should be a smoke detector on every level of the home. It is also highly recommended to have smoke detectors in the bedrooms.
How do I stop a false alarm?
Your security system is designed to have a short delay before it sends a signal. The central monitoring station will also try to reach personnel on the contact list to confirm the alarm if possible.
In : Home Security
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