Why should you have a security alarm system?
A security alarm system may decrease the chances of a burglary. Even if the alarm system does not keep a burglar from
breaking in, it may cause the burglar to leave as soon as the siren sounds or to stay a shorter amount of time.
Many people agree today that the world is a lot different now than the one that our parents and grandparents lived in. Statistics show that a burglary occurs every 14 seconds. So why wait until after your home has been burglarized to get a security alarm system installed?
The security alarm systems now available are much more advanced and sophisticated compared to those available a few years back. Today alarm systems are designed to help secure your home against any intrusion. Unfortunately as home security systems have advanced, so have the methods that burglars use in order to gain access to a property. Just having chains or padlocks on your property, or even a very basic burglar alarm, is not sufficient to deter a would-be burglar.
By investing in a good alarm system you will not have only peace of mind but also know that you have taken action to ensure that your property and your family are secure. A security alarm system will protect both you, your family and home at all times of the day, whether you are at home or away on vacation.
We can provide you with a yard sign and window decals to let potential intruders know that your home is protected.
By having a good system installed in your home, any potential intruders will see that you have a system in place and are likely to move on to a more vulnerable property than yours. Not only is having a system practical but it can also be extremely cost effective. Many insurance companies will provide those homeowners who have an alarm system installed on their property with a discount on their premiums.
What are the basic elements of a standard security alarm system?
Most systems rely on a combination of contacts placed at doors and windows and motion sensors.
- Keypad - Where the system is armed and disarmed.
- Siren and/or strobe - Produces an audible and/or visual notification when the alarm sounds to alert neigbors as well as any potential intruders that you have an alarm system installed in your home or business.
- Inside motion detector(s) - These sense changes in a room caused by human presence. Motion detectors are available with "pet immunity" for people who have pets and reduce the potential of false alarms.
- Door and window contacts - This sounds the alarm when the door or window is opened (and the system is armed).
- Control panel - This is where all the wiring terminates, the backup battery is located and where it is connected to the phone lines if it is a monitored system.
- A central monitoring station - If the system is monitored, and the alarm is activated, the control panel will send a message to a central monitoring station, which is manned 24 hours a day. After attempting to contact the homeowner (or the numbers that you have provided as a call list), the central monitoring station will contact the police. There is generally a monthly fee for this service.
Some of the additional items that can be added to the basic system are (contact us for other options):
- Smoke and heat detectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Glass break detectors
- Panic buttons
- Water Sensors
- Temperature Sensors
Should your security alarm system be monitored by a monitoring company (also referred to as a
central station)?
The choice is yours.
An Unmonitored System typically has on-site sirens and/or flashing lights. It relies on neighbors to call police. With an unmonitored system, it is best to have a combination of strobe lights and sirens. They should be located on a side of the house that is visible to neighbors and in spot that is as inaccessible as possible. It is best to make your neighbors aware of the system so they will react when they hear the siren and see the flashing light.
A Monitored System typically works as follows:
- A sensor in the security system (door/window contact, motion detector, etc.) is tripped.
- If the sensor is at a defined entry location, the security system is programmed to wait 30 seconds or more to give the homeowner a chance to deactivate the system to prevent false alarms.
- If the alarm is not deactivated the alarm will sound and instantly send a message to the monitoring company over telephone lines. The monitoring company receives the message and verifies the alarm, generally by placing a phone call to the home (or to the number(s) that you have provided to the monitoring company as a call list). If they do not receive the proper password or do not receive an answer, they then call the police.
- If the sensor NOT at a defined entry location, the alarm sounds immediately and the security system sends a message to the monitoring company over telephone lines. The procedure is the same as described above.
- The police respond.
Monitoring companies will monitor your system 24 hours a day and generally require a contract for their services at a set monthly fee.
You can also choose to "self-monitor" your alarm system by having it programmed to dial any number, such as your cell phone or a neighbor's phone, when the alarm sounds. You can then notify a neighbor to check your home to see if there are any visible problems and determine whether the police need to be notified.
Why should you consider adding smoke and heat detectors and/or carbon monoxide detectors to an
alarm system?
The main reason is simple: What happens if a fire starts when no one is home?
60% of fires occur when the property is empty, meaning that the smoke detector is only effective if people are actually at
home or at work. This implies that smoke detectors are only effective 40% of the time. That does not stop the fire from
actually taking hold as there is no one there to hear it and take appropriate action.
40% of businesses that are destroyed by fire never reopen. The issue is not always about saving lives but saving someone's home or business too. How can we make the smoke detector 100% effective regardless of whether a building is empty of full of people?
When a smoke detector alarm sounds from inside a building and someone is present they can hear its piercing tones. A passer-by walking past your property while no one is there will probably not hear the smoke alarm through the closed windows. If a fire starts while you are out, it is likely to be too late. A security alarm system distinctly recognizes all of the alarm sounds, whether it's the burglar, smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm.
If smoke detector alarms are monitored like many burglar alarm systems today, it would mean the device is 100% effective rather than 40%.
Many people are not aware that their alarm system can be monitored for other things than security. Easily the most important non-security devices are heat and smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
The smoke detectors that are installed in your home by a builder or an electrician can't be tied into your security system. The device that is installed is either electrical, battery operated, or in some instances both, if you have the better quality detectors.
When you add smoke and heat detectors to your security system, most of these devices are photoelectric smoke detectors . The detector basically takes a snapshot of the density of smoke that enters its chamber, and wants to see a density increase as it samples every few milliseconds. This technology makes the detector much more discriminating then its inexpensive counterparts.
The primary advantage of a home fire alarm system is increased reliability and the ability to place alarms and sirens exactly where needed. However, the reason most people have them is that they wanted a burglar alarm system and the cost of adding fire alarm features to a residential burglary system is relatively small.
Another advantage is that they can be monitored by a remote monitoring company. This becomes important in cases where family members may not be capable of escaping from a fire without assistance. For example, if you have an older or physically impaired person in your home and a fire started when no one was home to assist that person, alarms alone might not be enough to assure their safety.
Another benefit is that you will never have to replace batteries in smoke detectors again! This is because fire devices on an alarm system get their power from your electrical system, and in the event of power failure, are powered by the alarm's back up battery
There are many advantages to adding fire devices to your security system. Some of them are:
- Your detector is on all the time, even if your alarm is disarmed.
- The devices work off the power from your alarm system and use its backup power supplies should power fail.
- The siren will emit a tone that is audibly different then a burglary siren.
- If your system is monitored, your dispatch is being made without you having to call for help yourself. This gives you more time to gather your loved ones and pets for immediate exit.
- If the system is monitored, a dispatch will take place even if you are not home. Typically flames will be coming through your roof, by the time your neighbors see them, and call for help. This early response may save your pets and a good portion of your home. (NOTE: Some municipalities will not dispatch their limited resources to an automatic fire alarm, unless it is designed completely to any existing local code.)
- Insurance companies often give an additional discount off your homeowners insurance, for having a fire system. If this applies to you, these devices could effectively pay for themselves after a few years.
Since July 1, 2009, Colorado law has required that all homes sold have a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector within 10 feet of every sleeping area.
CO prevents the human body from effectively delivering oxygen to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Elevated levels of CO in the air can cause immediate physiological effects, eventually leading to unconsciousness or even death.
The Benefits of a Monitored CO Detector
CO detectors monitored by a central station provide peace of mind by including an extra level of protection for situations
when:
- The residence is empty
- Residents are sleeping
- Pets, children and elderly are alone
- Residents are already suffering the effects from CO exposure (drowsiness, unconsciousness, etc.)
- A problem arises with the detector
If CO concentration hits dangerous levels, the central station will have the ability to alert the end user if the detector:
- Is in alarm
- Has been tampered with
- Is experiencing mechanical trouble
- Is in end-of-life and needs to be replaced
Will a Wireless Alarm System work as well as a Wired Alarm System?
Yes. Wireless security alarm systems are ideal for installation in a home that wasn't wired for an alarm system when it was
built. Motion sensors, door contacts and window contacts can all be wireless.
The various wireless components use RF (radio waves) to transmit their signals back to the main control panel. The only real disadvantage compared to wired systems is that the wireless components run on batteries, which will need to be replaced once in a while.
These batteries generally last for years, however, and many alarm companies offer service and maintenance plans that will cover the replacement batteries and the installation of them.
Wireless systems are usually a little more expensive than a hardwired system, but if the system is being installed in an existing structure, the wireless will certainly be the least “invasive” in terms of cutting into walls and installing various components. The installation of a wireless home alarm system is an excellent choice for older homes or pre-existing homes where drilling could be costly or impossible.
No system is 100% wireless. A wireless system is a system with a control panel, keypad, and some mechanism for either calling the authorities or for sounding continuously unless a person with the correct code is able to shut if off. These systems will usually require a few small holes to connect the keypad to the control panel and will most likely need an active telephone line.
One extra feature of a wireless system is a remote key. A remote key is similar to the remotes you get for car alarms. They can be used from a distance to arm or disarm the alarm.
Visit the Burglar Alarms Systems page for more information on the Alarm Systems that we install.
