Home Security Monitoring

Many people don’t appreciate a home security system until it actually goes off. That’s the story I got from my next door neighbor at four in the morning a week ago this past Friday. Torn from a deep sleep by the klaxon-like baying of Randy’s burglar alarm – Randy’s my neighbor – I wandered over to his house about 30 minutes after the police had gone. While the police hadn’t made an arrest, Randy’s home security system did the job, scaring away the burglar before he had entered the house.

If what happened to Randy isn’t enough to convince you that home security systems can pay for themselves many times over, consider the fact that insurance companies will substantially discount insurance premiums for a private home outfitted with a security system or burglar alarm. My own insurance company discounts my home owner’s policy by twenty percent because I have a security system installed and monitored by a nationally certified company. The savings make a big difference in defraying the cost of my alarm system.

Home security systems come in many different flavors and are able to detect events ranging from forced entry to smoke, fire and even high levels of carbon monoxide. A plain-vanilla setup consists of a keypad, motion detectors and a link to a monitoring center that contacts the police or fire department if the alarm is triggered. Costs for a basic system usually amount to about one hundred dollars for installation and then a monthly monitoring fee that normally ranges between thirty and forty dollars.

Finding the right company to install your home security system needn’t be a tedious job. You’ll usually have a number of friends and relatives who already have security systems installed and they’ll be happy to make a personal recommendation. If you don’t know someone who already has a system, take time to visit the website of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFFA). They’ll be happy to supply information about home security systems and recommend companies in your area that install home security systems and provide monitoring services.

Depending on your location, your list of companies will probably include such nationally known names as ADT and Brink’s Home Security, along with many local companies. Try to narrow the list to three to five companies located in your area. Good selection criteria include membership in the NBFAA, as well as participation in the industry’s Installation Quality (IQ) Certification Program. The IQ program gives consumers a yardstick for identifying alarm companies that are active in quality and false alarm issues.

Once you’ve narrowed your list, call each company and arrange a meeting with a company representative in your home. Price isn’t necessarily the most important issue in selecting the company to install and monitor your security system. Here’s a quick checklist with questions to ask and things to do:

How many years has the company been in business? Longer is better!

Will it monitor your home security system’s operation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year? Make sure they’re working 24/7/365!

Does it have a backup power supply so it can monitor your home even when the power goes down? A good company will continue to operate, even when the lights go out.

Does the company have an in-house training program and are employees well-trained so they are able to correctly install, monitor and service your system should repairs be necessary? Make sure the answer to this question is yes!

Finally, have the representative survey your home and explain in detail your security needs and options. Don’t forget to get a written list of recommendations and a quote in writing for the cost of the security system and monitoring services.

Once you’ve met with the companies on your list, compare equipment, services and pricing. Then, make the call and have your system installed. And don’t forget to cut your premiums by telling your insurance company that you’ve installed an alarm system.

You’ll probably never need your home security system, but you’ll sleep better for having it, just like me and my neighbor Randy.

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Today home alarm systems do a lot more than just protect your home against burglary. Of course this is still the number one use of a home security system, but now you can get even more out of having this type of device in your home. One of the added bonuses of having a system is that you can stay on top of one of the deadliest threats to your health – carbon monoxide poisoning. With simple steps and education in your home, you can feel more secure that this will never be something that your family needs to worry about.

The first step to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning is education. If your family knows what to look out for when it comes to this threat, they will be better equipped to deal with it if there was an incident. Among the symptoms that can occur are confusion, headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. If you, or anyone in your family, has a combination of these symptoms and suspects carbon monoxide poisoning on any level, they should get medical attention right away. First make sure that everyone gets out of the house and into fresh air immediately, then take anyone who has been effected to the emergency room. If you don’t feel comfortable driving, call 911.

The second step toward prevention is making sure that the devices in your home that could emit this poisonous gas are up to code and are safe to use. All appliances such as stoves, water heaters, kitchen ranges, and any other fuel burning appliance should have a ventilation system that leads directly outside. This includes taking the proper precautions when it comes to your heating system as well. Every year before the weather gets cold and you begin to use the system again, you should have it checked by a professional to ensure that everything is in working order. This goes for fireplaces as well. Be sure that you always open the damper before you start a fire and keep it open until the fire is completely out, including all the ashes. Part of your yearly routine should include having the chimney cleaned and inspected every year. If you check on all of these things at the same time each year, it will be much easier to remember.

The third step is making sure that you are fully equipped and ready to detect carbon monoxide if it were to become an issue. Most homes are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. This is important, and it’s important to make sure that they have new and fully functioning batteries. This is also where your home alarm system can play a role. Now with some home security companies you can have your carbon monoxide detectors connected to your system and monitored in the same way that they monitor the security of your home. Any sort of disturbance in your home in this way will be immediately reported to the monitoring company so that they can take action on your behalf.

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There are an incredible number of options today for people that are interested in installing a home security system. As technology advances more and more options become available and the prices get lower. A good home security system can not only protect you from theft and give you peace of mind it can also save your life. But with so many options available it can be difficult to choose the system that’s right for you.

So how do you compare home security systems? How do you make sure you pick the best system to suit your needs? We’ll start by discussing some of the various options available today. Some of the various features of today’s home security systems are:

- Magnetic contacts: Just about any security system you get today it will have magnetic contacts. Magnetic contacts are used on doors and windows to alert you or your monitoring company when a door or window has been opened. In a door for example one contact will be in the door itself and the other contact will be in the doorframe. As long as these contacts stay together everything is fine. When that contact is broken the alarm is triggered.

- Motion detectors: A motion detector does exactly what you would expect it to do, it detects motion. Motion detectors can be used outdoors to turn on lights or to sound the time to notify you when someone comes onto your property. Motion detectors are also used indoors to detect an intruder. You may not have magnetic contacts on every door and window in your house and if someone is able to get inside without triggering those contacts they would set off the motion detectors once they get inside.

- Glass break sensors: Glass break sensors are a good thing to have. With magnetic contacts there is a contact in the window frame but if someone breaks the window to window frame will stay intact and may not set off the alarm. But, a glass break sensor will detect the sound of the glass breaking and set off the alarm.

- Panic buttons: A panic button can be pushed to trigger the alarm immediately if there is an intruder. Many security systems will have a delay to allow the homeowner time to go inside and turn off the alarm so it is not automatically triggered every time you enter your home. If you happen to be home and there is an intruder you can push the panic button to trigger your alarm and notify your monitoring company immediately. When the alarm is triggered the monitoring company will call your house to see if it was a false alarm or not. If you don’t answer the phone or if you answer the phone and give them the wrong password they will notify the police immediately.

- Security cameras: Security cameras, if placed in a visible location, can act as a deterrent to any would be intruders. If someone does break into your house the video can also be helpful in apprehending the criminal.

- Wireless systems: Many systems are hardwired into your houses electrical system. Installing these systems requires running wires throughout the house. A wireless system is much easier to install because there is a lot less electrical work to do. A wireless system uses radio frequencies to connect all of the various components of the security system.

Many security systems today will not only protect you against break-ins but also have smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other features. With these types of features, and a monitoring service, the fire department would be notified in the event of a house fire which could save your life, or save your house if no one is home to call the fire department.

This is just a brief description of some of the many options available to homeowners today. When comparing home security systems you may want to consult with a professional to help you choose your best options. Another consideration when choosing a system is your budget. You’ll want to get as much protection as you can while spending only what you can afford to spend.

A home security system is one of those things that you buy but hope that you never actually need. But it is definitely a good investment in your family’s safety. A home security system can protect you without you even realizing it. A smart criminal will always choose the path of least resistance. If your house has an alarm system and your neighbors house does not, who do you think will be victimized by any would be burglars?

A common practice for New Englanders is to head south when the weather gets rough in those cold winter months. However, being away for an extended period of time.

The latest home security systems are designed so that you can feel very confident that your home and belongings are safe while you’re away.  Whether you plan to be gone for a few weeks or a few months.  Recently, a family in Connecticut that has lived in the same home for over 25 years without a security system finally decided to sign up for their very first security system.  There had recently been several burglaries in their neighborhood and they were planning to be away in Florida for over a month so they figured now is the time to act. While their neighborhood itself is quite safe, you still never know what can happen especially if that area has been targeted before.

They did their research and with the ease of a phone call and personal home visit they were all set up and ready to go. Most home security systems today have a vast network of monitoring command centers and very easy to use home security equipment. Once set up your home will be protected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   While away in Florida and even when they are back home, their home is now being monitored 24 hours a day 7 days a week by a live security monitoring team of professionals located in four interconnected monitoring control centers.

There are many options when choosing a home security system depending on the level of protection you desire for your home.  Many systems come with an easy to use keychain remote that allows you to turn your home alarm system on or off from any location. Also with this digital keypad you can get in touch with security professionals in seconds.  Because of advancements in technology in recent years, the response time of the security professionals has vastly improved. They are notified instantly if there is a problem and are able to notify and direct the correct emergency responders to your home in the case of an actual emergency.

If you would prefer to start up with the basic home security system you always have the option to expand your coverage to include fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, floods and pipe freezes.  Another new feature that is very popular with the home security systems is the new motion sensor feature.  The proper term for this is Infrared Interior Motion Detector. It serves as an interior trap to better protect your home. Furthermore, you can also opt to get the motion sensors, which protect your doors and windows and any other points of entry. These motion sensors are connected with the overall system and let you know when the doors and windows are protected with an audible alarm. You can always add more sensors as you go along but it is a great enhancement to better protect your home.

Trust Brink’s Home Security to provide one of the very best home security systems—our home alarm systems and home alarm monitoring services provide everything necessary to help ensure the safety and protection of your family and home.

Smith & Wesson Home Security offer the latest in Wireless & Hardwire Security Systems. Packages range from entry level to customizable surveillance camera systems.