Home security systems - best way to keep your house safe

The number of burglaries and property violations are continuously increasing so an alarm monitoring system may be a perfect solution to prevent thefts. Recent research has proven that owning a home security system makes you 3 or 4 times less likely to be burglarized. Who knows, maybe acquiring a home alarm system may even save your life! Many times thieves and burglars prefer robbing a house without a home alarm system than a house that has one installed.

What can a home security system do? Well it can monitor a house 24 hours a day, and if something unusual occurs, it sends an alarm signal through the phone line. After the signal is received, a phone call is made to your house to see if everything is all right, and if no one answers or the incorrect password is provided then the local police is alarmed. Setting a home alarm system up takes only one hour, and then it will work for months. It should be tested periodically however in order to make sure everything works just fine. In case a power failure occurs, the home security systems are equipped with a battery that can keep them running for 24 hours.

If you decide to purchase a home alarm system you should also follow some simple security rules. If you do so you can be sure that the chances that your house becomes the 'victim' of a burglary will be greatly reduced.

First of all you should always secure your windows and doors, because these are the places through which burglars enter the house. Their locks must be strong. Also, you should try not to keep things that may attract burglars outside, in order not to turn your house into a target. It would be advised to try to let people know that you own a home alarm system.

Furthermore, there are some other small things that can keep burglars away - always have outside lights turned on, so that burglars can't use darkness to hide, get a guard dog to watch over your yard, and talk to a neighbor to watch over your house while you are away.

But the home security system remains the best method to keep burglars away. It is a small investment that protects all the investments inside the house.

by Groshan Fabiola

(Home Sercurity Sign)

Do I Need a Security Alarm System? A Guide to Security Systems.

It is debatable whether an alarm security system decreases the chances of a burglary. In theory, if a burglar knows that a house is equipped with such a system, he or she might move on to another home. Even if the burglar does break in, the burglar has a tendency to stay a shorter amount of time knowing an alarm has gone off. This may decrease the number of items stolen or the extent of damage inflicted. The most important aspect of any security system is balance--it does no good to make your windows burglar-proof when your doors can be easily opened with a pry bar. Choosing an alarm system and an alarm company can be confusing and the technology quite complicated.

Modern electronics has improved our quality of life in many ways. For example, electronic alarm systems, once available to only the wealthiest, have become very popular in the last decade. The rising popularity is well earned since those systems are now both affordable and effective. When combined with other safety measures, they can make your home or business relatively secure. However, if you rely exclusively on an alarm system, you will still remain vulnerable.

Professional burglars know how to silence or incapacitate even the most sophisticated alarm systems. Fortunately, most home and car burglars are not really professionals and they can be deterred by the correct use of an alarm system that has been correctly installed and maintained.

Most alarm systems rely on a combination of contacts placed at doors and windows and motion sensors. Motion sensors, however, do not detect someone until they have already entered the house. Therefore, motion sensors should NOT be used as the primary means of detection. It is best that all exterior potential points of entry have contacts that sense when they are open. Glass breakage sensors are also available and high recommended by most alarm companies.

There are two primary types of system available--monitored and unmonitored. Monitored systems contact a monitoring company by telephone, if the security system senses an intrusion and is not deactivated within 45 seconds. The monitoring company receives the message, determines the nature of the alarm and verifies it--usually by placing a call to the home or business. If they do not receive the proper password, or no one answers, they call the police who respond as quickly as possible.

Unmonitored systems typically have on-site alarms and/or flashing lights that indicate the security system has been breached. It relies on neighbors to see and hear the alarms and then to call the police. Neighbors or passersby should never investigate an alarm themselves. With an unmonitored system, it is best to have a combination of strobe lights and alarms. They should be located on the street side of the house and in a location that is as inaccessible as possible.

The advantage of this system is that a burglar's primary goal is to gain entrance to the property and remove valuables without being noticed. Many burglars will flee once the alarms and lights have been activated. The disadvantage is the fact that the system relies on neighbors who might not be home or might not want to get involved.

The cost of the average system, which includes either motion detectors inside the house or sensors around the windows and doors, is about $1,200 plus a monthly fee for a monitored-type system. There several levels of alarm systems on the market and some are well-suited to the handy do-it-yourselfer, while the most effective are probably best left to a professional alarm company.

Whichever system you choose, remember: Security Systems, alone, do not prevent thieves from breaking into homes. A good security plan should include strong, secure window, door and lock products; good security habits (always locking doors and windows and night or when the house is vacant); and human surveillance, such as a well-trained neighborhood watch program.

With a little planning and a few financial resources you can provide safety for your family, your car and your business.

Final tip--sliding patio doors are one of the most vulnerable entry points in your home. They can be secured inexpensively with a hinged baar that holds the operating panel shut.

By: Larry Denton
(Home Security Sign)

How A Wireless Burglar Alarm System Works

Wireless security alarm systems are ideal for installation in a home that wasn't wired for an alarm system when it was built. Motion sensors, door contacts and window contacts can all be wireless, and not need to be hardwired back to the main control panel. Even the control keypad can be wireless.

The various wireless components use RF (radio waves) to transmit their signals back to the main control panel. The only real disadvantage compared to wired systems is that the wireless components run on batteries, which will need to be replaced once in a while.

These batteries generally last for years, however, and many alarm companies offer service and maintenance plans that will cover the replacement batteries and the installation of them.

The most common wireless alarm components are the following:

Control Panel

This is essentially the "brains" of the alarm system. It's usually mounted somewhere out of the way, like a closet or the basement. It monitors the signals from all the wireless components, and triggers the alarm (and a call to the monitoring station if the system is monitored) if any of the sensors detect an intrusion.

Keypad

The keypad is used to arm and disarm the system, as well as change various settings. It's usually located somewhere near the entrance door for easy access.

Magnetic Switches

These contacts are used to monitor windows and doors. They're made up of a switch that attaches to the window or door and a magnet that is mounted on the frame. If the switch and magnet are separated (the window or door is opened or broken) it will trigger the alarm.

Motion Sensors

Motion sensors can be mounted in large rooms or areas like hallways. They will detect motion - and in some cases body heat - and trigger the alarm if it is out of the acceptable range.

Video Cameras

Wireless security cameras can send a video feed back to a monitor and/or a VCR in the house. They can be used to monitor outside areas that are not very visible from the street, as well as a way of seeing who is at the door before opening it.

Remote Keys

Remote keys are much like the remotes you get with car alarms. They can be used from a distance to arm or disarm the alarm, as well as things like turning lights on or off or unlocking doors.

by John Lenaghan

(Home Security Sign)