Recommendations for home security systems
Depending on your situation and budget I would recommend different equipment for each individual installation.
A simple system may have door status switches, window status switches, strategically placed motion detectors, one to 3 smoke detectors that will actually dispatch the fire department because your smoke alarms will not do that. People that are more concerned with when they are not home may decide to install door contacts and not monitor the windows because the motion detectors will detect intruders when they come in any part of the home. This configuration will reduce the cost of the overall system.
Others may want to know if any of the windows are opened during the night. Recently I was explaining to a customer the benefits of installing vent window switches so you can open a window about 5 inches for air and if the window is opened any further the alarm will be activated. This customer decided to go for that option on several of her windows. I only have one of these switches in my bedroom so my wife can open the window when the system is activated. The rest of the windows with contacts need to be completely shut for the system to be armed.
The cost for monitoring security or fire alarm in a home is the same it is not less money to monitor just the fire or just the security, we don’t add to the monthly for one or the other or both.
Consider installing a system that is encrypted and some systems have frequency hopping and others do not . Some systems are easier to defeat or hack than others. We also use Power G technology that has four times the range of normal wireless systems.
How will you be using your system, mostly when you are home when when you are away?
Some other items you can add to your alarm system could be any of the following:
Water / flood sensors
Temperature Control from your security app- thermostats that can be programmed to save you money
Art sensors / tilt sensors
Garage door status switches, have you ever wondered if you closed the garage door or not?
You can also add garage door control so you can remotely open or close your garage door. You could receive a call from your door bell camera and then open the garage door for the UPS person and let them leave the package and then shut the door.
Seismic sensors to detect if someone is drilling through a wall
Glass break detectors or shock sensors. There is a place for these although the motion detectors will detect after someone enters your home and the glass break sensors will activate shortly before that. The technology is getting better and better although certain sensors will activate when large trucks are driving by.
Temperature Sensors so when the home drops below 40 degree F you get an alert before the pipes freeze and before there is a flood. In certain areas the insurance companies want these sensors installed.
Now you can buy trigger locks that when moved will activate your security system. Many people put a status switch on the closet that has the guns and this area can be armed 24 hours a day to help protect the children and adults.
We have stove status switches that can be added to almost any stove to detect if the stove has been left on or not. Have you ever wondered if you left the stove on?
Camera systems can also be added to work in conjunction with your security system. We have both hardwired camera systems which do not have a monthly charge or you can use WIFI cameras powered at the camera location with an SVR recorder on the system and there is a monthly fee for this but then you have the cameras on the same app as your remote app to arm and disarm your system.
You can also add lighting control and other items. Our presidents wife has a module on her curling iron so she can make sure she shut that off before leaving the home and if she forgot she can turn it off remotely. The lighting control can be set up to work with the internal motion detectors in the home. If someone gets up in the middle of the night the motion can detect this and turn the lights on so you can better find your way. You can set the lighting up on schedules or even have the system program the lighting for a random schedule so it is not always turning the lights on and off at the same time.
We can add panic buttons to any location in the home or you can wear one around your neck or wrist. These panics can be programmed for medical purposes or panics that will dispatch the police department.
When you have a safe we can also tie balanced magnetic contacts to your safe or as listed above your artwork.
If you are going to put a motion detector in a narrow hallway we recommend installing a special curtain motion since normal motions may not be the best fit in the narrow hallway because of the way the motions function.
Please call Larry Love (801) 428 1384 Larry@peakalarm.com for a free consultation about your home or business security system, camera system, access control or fire alarm system.
When you have suggestions, correction or need to speak with Larry Love at Peak Alarm you may contact him at work at the number above or through email.