Category: home security

The first step in any Honeywell home security plan is to secure the doors and windows. For this, Honeywell uses magnetic contacts that sound the alarm whenever the distance between the magnet and the switch increases. The magnetic contacts are also placed on windows to prevent an intruder from breaking in by opening the window.

Homes that have several glass doors and windows are protected by Honeywell glass breakers. A burglar who makes the mistake of smashing the glass to enter a home will be activating an instant alarm, even if he uses scotch tape to muffle the sound of breaking glass.

The next line of security is provided by motion detectors. These detectors monitor large spaces within the house. The best thing about Honeywell motion detectors is that they are able to spot the difference between a crawling intruder and a pet weighing less than 70 pounds. This reduces the possibility of false alarms.

Keywords: Home Security

Honeywell Security and Custom Electronics is one of largest and most experienced manufacturer of security products in the world. It manufactures an astonishing 1,500 plus security products that are used to protect businesses, offices, factories, homes, government agencies, museums, malls and stores. It is therefore not a surprise to find Honeywell home security products being used in most homes.

The Honeywell home security products can be installed directly or with the help of First Alert Professional dealers, a division of the Honeywell company. These products are quite hi-tech and especially designed to ensure the safety and security of homes.

Keywords: Home Security

The following are the key elements of a home security system:

Control panel: It is usually installed in the basement or in a closet and works as the brains of a security system. It is connected to sensors and magnetic switches installed all over the house.

Keypad: It is installed near the main door of the house, and is used to arm or disarm the system. A good keypad is easy to read, displays the system s status and can arm or disarm the system with a single touch.

Magnetic contacts: These are installed on the doors and windows. If the door or window is opened, the contact is broken and an alarm is triggered.

Sensors: Body heat or motion can be detected by passive infrared motion detectors. These sensors should be activated when there is no family member in the house, who may trigger the alarm.

Alarm sounder: This can be a loud siren with or without flashing lights.

Keywords: Home Security

A home security system can protect your life and property, and give you peace of mind. National statistics show that a home without a security system is three times as likely to be broken in as compared to one which is equipped with a security system.

A simple home security system consists of a control panel, a couple of magnetic switches, a motion sensor or two, and an alarm device. This can be hard wired or wireless.

A more advanced security alarm system will have video cameras and will be connected to a central monitoring unit. This will provide you and your family extra security, because there will be trained people who will be keeping tabs on your security needs.

The biggest advantage of a home security system is that it scares away potential intruders. This may happen when an intruder sees a yard sign or a decal sign that says that this house is protected by a professional security service or it may happen when an alarm actually goes off. Either way, the safety of the house goes up.

Keywords: Home Security

You now need to decide about central monitoring. Can you just go for a simple home security system? Or do you need a round-the-clock monitoring of your premises? If your house is in the open, and there have been frequent cases of thefts or burglaries then you certainly need to take the help of a security monitoring service. This will give you peace of mind because you know that you security is being taken care by a team of professionals who monitor every suspicious alarm emanating from your home. More than that, they will alert the local authorities in case of a break in, and help will be on its way even before you become fully aware of the threat.

However, you need to find out several things about the central monitoring system before giving a contract. You must find out if the central monitoring station is certified by Underwriters Laboratory; that it has a power back up system that can run for 10 to 15 hours; that it is run by trained staff; that it alerts local authorities within seconds of receiving a security alert.

You also need to find out the costs. There is no point in seeking a company that charges astronomical fees. You must visit those companies whose charges are within your budget. Only after this should you finalize your home security plan.

Keywords: Home Security

It is important to conduct an extensive home security system review before deciding on any one security system. The points that should be kept in mind while conducting such a review are: your security needs, your budget and the reputation of the company marketing the product.

Let’s look at your security needs first. It is quite obvious that you should be the best judge of what kind of security you want. However, you will be better served if you ask a security expert to estimate the security requirements.

The security expert will spend some time, maybe a couple of days, examining your house from every angle. Based on that he will decide the potential soft spots — that is the areas that can be used by an intruder to enter your house. It may be a window facing open countryside or it may be a tree whose branches sweep your terrace. It can even be the service entrance that may be located in a remote area. The possibilities are immense.

A security specialist will be able to make a list of all soft spots. He will then suggest the kind of equipment you need to strengthen the soft spots. This equipment may be simple hard-wired burglar alarm or a wireless alarm system. However, in each case you would know the number of contact sensors, video cameras, light contact sensors or magnetic switches that you may need. You would also know where these components are to be installed.

Keywords: Home Security

Large security monitoring companies have their own central stations, while smaller ones often use the services of third-party home security monitoring companies. These monitoring centers comply with the high standards set by the non-profit, independent Underwriters Laboratory. That is why their charges also are higher.

Sometimes the alarm goes off because the house owner trips the security system by mistake. He can, of course, correct the mistake by entering the password and switching off the alarm. However, the time available to do so is only 30 to 45 seconds.

Several security companies insist on a cell phone backup to filter out false alarms. This is because the control panel will alert the central monitoring station if the regular phone line is not working. The security center will first call up the key holder to check. The authorities will only be notified if it is found that someone has tampered with the phone line.

Keywords: Home Security

A home security monitoring company charges a monthly fee to monitor any breach in security at a customer s home. The monitoring is done by trained staff which uses sophisticated equipment to keep track of what is happening at a customer s home.

The staff sits at a central monitoring station which is connected to a customer s home by a telephone line. The staff monitors all security signals emanating from the control panel installed in a safe place in the customer s home. When the control panel, which works like the brains of a home security system, receives a signal from a sensor or a magnetic switch of a break in it immediately alerts the central monitoring station. This it does by using an automated dialing system.

The central monitoring station, in turn, instantly calls the customer s home. The caller first checks for the customer s password. If the password is wrong or if the call is not answered the caller alerts the area police. The caller then locates the stand by numbers given by the customer and informs him of the alarm. The alarm, however, is switched off if the house owner provides the right password.

A central monitoring station is required to notify the authorities within 45 seconds, if an alarm goes off. This is a tricky job because a false alarm will unnecessarily send the police racing to a customer s house, and disturb the neighbors. The employee therefore is required to take a measured decision before alerting the police.

Keywords: Home Security

There are scores of home security companies today, and one must do his homework before choosing one. One should meet as many companies as possible. These companies should be shown the house for which the security system is needed. The best companies analyze the home properly, determine security needs and possible limitations, and suggest appropriate solutions. They provide pricing quotes that include setup costs, equipment costs, monthly monitoring fees and warranties.

The following questions must be asked before selecting the home security company:

a) How long they have been in business?

b) Does the company have proper licenses?

c) Is the company insured?

d) Do they check the background of their employees before employing them?

e) Does the company have its own monitoring system and if yes, where is it located?

f) Is the company listed with the Underwriters Laboratories?

g) What is the warranty period and what does it cover?

h) What is the monthly monitoring cost?

i) What is the sales and installation cost?

A good place to locate home security monitoring services is the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association. Insurance agents and friends/neighbors are other good options. They can suggest companies they are using.

Keywords: Home Security

Home security monitoring services use phone lines and wireless systems to monitor burglar alarms installed at the homes of clients, and alert the appropriate authorities if the alarm is activated. The best home security services can range from large corporations like ADT and Brink’s who have their own central stations that keep watch over thousands of homes and businesses simultaneously, to small resellers who work as third party installers.

The home security monitoring services are very important because they ensure that appropriate measures are taken whenever an intrusion is detected. The action is taken by the monitoring team that works from a central station. The team verifies every suspicious activity the moment it receives an alert. It asks for valid password for confirmation. If the password is wrong or if there is no answer, the nearest police station is informed. The designated owner of the household is also informed about the suspected break-in on the numbers provided.

Keywords: Home Security