House Alarms
You want your family and your property protected from any harm, be it a home intrusion or fire. Fortunately, home protection has become simpler yet more sophisticated.
House alarms systems are about peace of mind, ensuring the safety of your family and your property while dissuading potential intruders. Unfortunately, most people only consider a house alarms system when they’ve just been robbed.
The most common type of home protection is the house alarms. Security alarms have sensors that are connected to a control unit via either a high-voltage hardwire or narrowband radio-frequency signal, which interacts with a response device. The most common types of security sensors indicate the opening of a door or window or detect passive smoke. Most infrared sensors are for indoor use only. Outside sensors are available but are costlier and are not false alarm–proof.(house alarms)
If there is an unauthorized entry, an active alarm system sends a signal to a central monitoring station, which monitors systems every minute of every day. If necessary, the central monitoring system alerts local police to send someone to your home.(house alarms)
Quality alarm systems combine audible and silent alarms triggered by sensors placed throughout the home, not just on doors and windows. It is recommended to use a combination of both hardwired and wireless sensor technologies for fewer false alarms. Some alarm companies do not offer the wireless option, even though it is the easier of the two types to install.
Entry-level wired systems utilize a "star network" topology where the panel is placed centrally and all devices “home run” their wires back to the panel. Installation of a hardwire system is obviously much cheaper if wiring already exists in the home.(house alarms)
If no pre-wiring exists, wireless is a less costly option because installers do not have to drill any holes, lift any carpets, nor string any wires throughout the house. Wireless systems, however, do require frequent changes of lithium batteries, and the system is less effective without this diligence. One or two wireless repeaters may be required to get the signal reliably back to the alarm panel. Wireless systems are also easier to expand to outdoors because they do not require any ditches to be dug.(house alarms)
The main control panel for an alarm system is usually hidden in a closet or garage because hiding the main brains of an alarm system lowers the risk of a burglar disabling the system. A keypad is placed inside the house, usually by the front door, where residents can easily arm or disarm the system as they come and go. Another keypad placed by the bedrooms allows for convenient arming of the system at night.
House Alarms
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A Buying Guide(House Alarms)
House Alarms
There are 10 house alarm companies that also manufacture monitoring equipment. Those 10 companies then provide their products to thousands of dealers that sell the equipment and install the alarms.
Be wary of companies that install proprietary systems that they claim only work with their licensed monitoring systems. Also, some alarm companies will not allow you to change your pass code on your own or allow you to switch to another monitoring company when your contract has ended. A good rule of thumb: Make sure your system uses non-proprietary components and you have access to all codes and programming features.
Talk to three or four house alarm companies and have them evaluate your risk assessment to determine what your security challenges are and how to address them. Make sure the company offers to come to your house to do an on-site inspection free of charge. Don’t even consider a company that tells you it won’t need to send a representative to your home.
Get price quotes in writing and make sure they include set-up, equipment, monthly monitoring fees, and warranties.
Get some references from house alarm companies of previous clients. Find out if the company installed the equipment within the given time frame. Was the company available quickly if there was an equipment problem? Did it explain the system to everyone living in the home? Is the contract clear and straightforward? If a client had an intrusion, was the police contacted promptly? Will the company send you notice if it sells your contract off to another central monitoring station?
Expect to pay $1 to $2 per square foot of your home for a basic system installation and $25 to $40 per month for monitoring. Add an extra $10 per month for intercom communication. Add an extra $50 to $300 per month for dual-tech sensors and pet alleys. Add an extra $5 per month for fire protection. Add an extra $75 to $100 one-time-only fee for a remote control.
Set-up/installation fees vary according to the type of equipment installed, number of individual security devices included, and the size of your home. Expect anywhere from $100 to $1,500
(the high end being a 3,000-square-foot house with a multiple set-up).
To add fire protection, add $200 to $500.
Be aware of house alarm companies that charge a fee to connect to a central station. Typically, those fees are built into the pricing. Installation time can vary. Bigger homes take longer and may take one to three days, especially if the home has no previous house alarm wiring. In smaller homes (approximately 1,200 square feet), it will generally take a day or less, especially if any pre-wiring exists.
Wireless installation takes only one to three hours.
You can also lease equipment for approximately $300 to $500 a year.
Once your system is in place, you may be required to sign a three-to-five year contract with the house alarm company. Make sure the contract guarantees no fee increase during its tenure, and ask if breaking the contract before the expiration will result in penalties.
After the expiration of a contract, you usually get to keep door contacts, motion detectors, and glass-break sensors. Make sure this is part of your contract.
Many police departments require two permits to have a monitored home security alarm system installed. The first is a state monitoring permit with the local police and the second is an electrical permit to install and monitor the system. Charges for false alarms vary by area; check with your local police about the policy.
House Alarms
There are 10 house alarm companies that also manufacture monitoring equipment. Those 10 companies then provide their products to thousands of dealers that sell the equipment and install the alarms.
Be wary of companies that install proprietary systems that they claim only work with their licensed monitoring systems. Also, some alarm companies will not allow you to change your pass code on your own or allow you to switch to another monitoring company when your contract has ended. A good rule of thumb: Make sure your system uses non-proprietary components and you have access to all codes and programming features.
Talk to three or four house alarm companies and have them evaluate your risk assessment to determine what your security challenges are and how to address them. Make sure the company offers to come to your house to do an on-site inspection free of charge. Don’t even consider a company that tells you it won’t need to send a representative to your home.
Get price quotes in writing and make sure they include set-up, equipment, monthly monitoring fees, and warranties.
Get some references from house alarm companies of previous clients. Find out if the company installed the equipment within the given time frame. Was the company available quickly if there was an equipment problem? Did it explain the system to everyone living in the home? Is the contract clear and straightforward? If a client had an intrusion, was the police contacted promptly? Will the company send you notice if it sells your contract off to another central monitoring station?
Expect to pay $1 to $2 per square foot of your home for a basic system installation and $25 to $40 per month for monitoring. Add an extra $10 per month for intercom communication. Add an extra $50 to $300 per month for dual-tech sensors and pet alleys. Add an extra $5 per month for fire protection. Add an extra $75 to $100 one-time-only fee for a remote control.
Set-up/installation fees vary according to the type of equipment installed, number of individual security devices included, and the size of your home. Expect anywhere from $100 to $1,500
(the high end being a 3,000-square-foot house with a multiple set-up).
To add fire protection, add $200 to $500.
Be aware of house alarm companies that charge a fee to connect to a central station. Typically, those fees are built into the pricing. Installation time can vary. Bigger homes take longer and may take one to three days, especially if the home has no previous house alarm wiring. In smaller homes (approximately 1,200 square feet), it will generally take a day or less, especially if any pre-wiring exists.
Wireless installation takes only one to three hours.
You can also lease equipment for approximately $300 to $500 a year.
Once your system is in place, you may be required to sign a three-to-five year contract with the house alarm company. Make sure the contract guarantees no fee increase during its tenure, and ask if breaking the contract before the expiration will result in penalties.
After the expiration of a contract, you usually get to keep door contacts, motion detectors, and glass-break sensors. Make sure this is part of your contract.
Many police departments require two permits to have a monitored home security alarm system installed. The first is a state monitoring permit with the local police and the second is an electrical permit to install and monitor the system. Charges for false alarms vary by area; check with your local police about the policy.
House Alarms
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