Home Alarm Systems

An alarm system for the home is needed to protect your home, your possessions and your family from intruders. According to statistics, more than 2 million burglaries occur each year and more than half of these occur in residential homes. When looking for an alarm system, you should know there are many different kinds of systems available. Many people look to an alarm system to protect their home. It does not matter what size of home you live in, whether it is a large home with three stories or a small one-room apartment. An alarm system provides you with the security and peace of mind you need while on vacation, at work or sleeping at night.

There are many different types of alarm systems. One alarm will work to detect motion from an intruder when the alarm is activated. Another type of alarm system may detect any type of temperature change in a specific room. No matter what type of alarm system you have, it will notify anyone passing by, your neighbors, the police or a monitoring center of the activity. When looking for an alarm system, you should know the different aspects of a home alarm. First, it will contain a power source, this is called a control panel. A keypad is put in place to allow the homeowner to deactivate the system upon arrival or activate the system upon departure. Depending on the type of alarm system you purchase, it may have contacts with doors and windows, motion detectors and glass break sensors.

What is great about an alarm system is that, if it is monitored by a monitoring center, it will have a backup system. This system will allow the system to work for around 24 hours if the phone lines are ever cut by an intruder or if you lose electricity. What is even better is that some home alarm systems offer protection in the event of a fire, can detect the difference between your pets and an intruder and even offer video surveillance.

When it comes to a home alarm system, there are additional fees that are associated with them, not just the initial purchase fees. This is likely to be a monthly fee as well for the monitoring system. From ATD, one of the most popular home alarm system providers, you can enjoy one touch pad, one motion detector, one indoor sounder, two window and door sensors and one button for manually notifying police and fire station of an emergency and a chime feature for an installation fee of $349.00 and a monthly fee for monitoring of $32.99.

Another system with ADT will provide you with one touch pad, one motion detector, one indoor sounder, two deadbolt strike cups, three reset keys, two window and door sensors and one police and fire button for $399.00 installation fee and $32.99 monthly monitoring fee. With ADT and many other providers, you can customize your alarm system to suit your needs and provide you with full 24-hour peace of mind and safety for your home.

Simple Tips For Preventing Break-Ins At Your Home

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You've lived here for years.  You've never had any trouble.  But one otherwise quiet night, you hear a strange noise.  It sounds like the jiggling of a doorknob.  Is someone breaking into your house?  Are the kids still in bed?  Where did you leave the phone?  It's three o'clock in the morning, and there is no one around to help.  With no home alarm system, your mind starts racing a million miles a second trying to think of ways to keep your family safe and - at the same time - work out an escape route. 

This is a situation all too many people find themselves in every year.  The middle of a potentially life-threatening emergency with no security alarm system is no time to discover you need additional help.  The best time to work those things through is right now when all is well.  There are some simple ideas you can put into place right now that can help prevent break-ins at your home.  Even if you have a home alarm system, these tips go a long way to give added safety.

<B>Leave the Outside Lights On Every Night</B>

Most people never turn on the outside lights unless they are leaving.  While they believe turning outdoor lights on when they leave is a safety measure, they are only partially correct.  Why?  Because if the only time you turn the outdoor lights on is when you leave, you're sending a glaring signal to burglars that says, "Hey!  I've gone out for several hours tonight so help yourself.  I'll turn the lights off when I get back so you and your buddies will know not to come around."

Turn your porch lights and other outdoor lights on *every* night, whether you're leaving your home or not.  This way, you accomplish two things.  First, you shed light on dark areas that might otherwise help to camouflage burglars.  Second, you take away the signal burglars are waiting to see that tells them you're away from home.  Alarm systems are fabulous for helping in times of emergency, but prevention is still the number-one cure for break-ins.

<B>Un-Clutter Windows and Doorways</B>

When you give burglars plenty of cover, they will likely take advantage of it.  Tall bushes and shrubs that fully or partially cover windows make great hiding places.  Burglars can easily squat behind a bush as they work on prying open a window for entry.  Likewise, tall topiaries, statues or other objects that offer cover to burglars should be removed from around your doorways.  Don't provide anything that would give a robber a hiding place.

<B>Make It Too Much Trouble</B>

Most burglars are looking for an easy score.  If they think entry will be too difficult or that there is a high risk of being caught (as is the case with security alarm systems), they will probably move on to another house.  If you currently have a home alarm system, place the signs and window stickers in prominent places where they can be readily seen. This practice is frequently recommended by police departments because of its effectiveness.  Motion detector lights are also good deterrents.  Security pins for sliding doors and windows would definitely be too much trouble for your average burglar to fuss with.  In addition, double-paned windows are extra trouble to break (and extra noisy!) giving burglars yet another reason to look elsewhere for a victim.

Another good idea is to survey your home and think like a burglar.  If you were trying to break into your own house, how would you do it?  What would you need to be successful?  If you find easy ways to break into your home, chances are a burglar will, too.  Make notes as you walk around your house and then take immediate action to stop trouble before it starts.