By: Jeff Lakie
A
man’s home is his castle, as the saying goes. But homes today don’t normally feature ramparts,
drawbridges, moats and six-foot thick stone walls to keep out unwanted visitors. Today, a house
alarm, and preferably a managed home security system, is needed to ensure your home’s security. Not
only does installing a home security system improve the safety of your family and possessions, but
it can also decrease your home insurance costs. The Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices
list highlights ten devices and features of home security systems that can make your house a safer
place.
The
Top Ten
10.
Talking Devices help you to understand the status of your home and monitoring as well as program
the system. Some security systems feature talking master control panels, key pads or remotes. The
talking feature may not result in great conversation, but it will help you understand your system a
little better.
9.
Some home alarm systems include extras like Key Fobs and Remotes to control the system at a
distance. Somewhat similar to a car’s key fob, home security key fobs include buttons to activate
and deactivate the house alarm system. Some even include a “panic” button that activates the house
alarm and alerts the proper authorities in the event of an emergency. Remote controls are similar
and often larger. The features of remotes vary greatly and can include a full key pad, a talking
feature and a panic button as well.
8.
Yard Signs and House or Window Decals advertise your home’s protection. The Greenwich Study of
Residential Security found that homes without alarms were 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be
burglarized, and that the most effective deterrent was the alarm monitoring company’s yard sign
(SIA Research Update, Security Industry Association, October 2001). Some choose to post the signs
to deter possible break-ins without actually installing a home alarm system. While this effort will
lower the odds of an attempted burglary, a yard sign alone cannot fully protect your home.
7.
A Back-Up Power Supply is important in maintaining home security even during a power outage, when
the risk of break-ins and looting is increased. Your home alarm should be effective even when your
power is not. The easiest to maintain back-up power supplies use standard size batteries. Look for
a model that uses rechargeable batteries to lower your maintenance costs.
6.
Smoke Detectors add another layer of protection to your home, especially when they are integrated
into the home alarm system. Not only do smoke detectors indicate a fire and give you time to escape
safely, but when included in a home security package, they automatically notify the managing
company and the fire department. Some systems even integrate the power supply to the smoke
detectors. That means you don’t have to change the batteries ever!
5.
Wireless Systems protect your home without adding extra cords to trip over or extensive
installation of in-wall cords. In wireless house alarm systems, each sensor or keypad communicates
with the master control panel via radio frequencies or existing wiring in your home. A burglar will
never be able to disarm the system by snipping the wires. This ensures the system is fully
integrated and monitoring all parts of your home without using up your outlets or creating an
obstacle course of wires for you.
4.
Extra Key Pads are also important. Exterior mounted key pads can provide secure keyless entry to
your family. Some systems also offer remote control key pads which are lightweight and portable. A
home alarm system that features a security code with a key pad increases the security of your home.
A monitored system can also lock down entry after several repeated, failed attempts at entry which
indicate a possible break-in attempt.
3.
Key pads may not always be enough to keep burglars out. Sensors on Windows and Doors reduce the
risk of a burglar entering undetected and are a key part of a home alarm system. Motion Detectors
within the home also increase the level of security. The most sophisticated motion detectors
include a feature to ignore pets’ movement to avoid constantly setting the alarm off
inadvertently.
2.
Installation, Monitoring, and Repair Services increase not only the level of safety but the
convenience of keeping your home safe. A house alarm alone cannot notify the police or fire
department in the event of an emergency. The most complete systems include buttons to notify police
departments, fire departments and medical help instantly. Another advantage offered by the best
monitoring companies is live customer support and full service installation and repair of the
system by employees who have been background checked, licensed and drug tested to ensure your
safety. Finally, some companies even offer relocation services to keep you secure even when you
move.
1.
The classic Master Control Panel is vital to any home alarm system. The central hub of the system,
the control panel is usually wall-mounted in an easily accessible place. The panel receives
information from all other sensors and key pads, computes it, and transmits relevant information to
the monitoring company. If you choose to arm the system from the panel when you leave the house,
the master control panel also receives the disarm code when you return home. Some can even be
disarmed by telephone!
Of
course, this list is not comprehensive, and the needs of every home and homeowner are different.
For more tips on choosing the right home alarm system and features to protect your house, I
recommend visiting alarmoneinc.com.
Article source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Lakie
