Complete Home Security Systems: Five Options for 2018
Having a home security system makes it easy to safeguard your family and your home. As technology improves every day, there are multiple devices out there capable of providing you with superior protection. With so many options on the market, it may be hard to decide what you need. We've compiled a list of the five best home monitoring systems for your house and explain why they will make all the difference.
1. The Monitored System
A home security system wouldn't get very far without a monitoring device. It's the brains of the entire operation receiving signals and communicating with the tools you have around your home. The system can work either hardwired or wirelessly to provide 24/7 access to assistance from your alarm company. If any of the signals are tripped, a message is sent to your monitoring service provider who is alerted to the potential danger at your home. They can call local authorities on your behalf getting you the assistance you need when you need it. Monitored systems are also customizable, giving each homeowner the opportunity to customize their protection.
2. Wireless HD Camera
The presence of a camera is usually enough to deter crime from happening. Thieves want an easy way to get in and grab valuables they can exchange or sell for cash. If they see a camera, they know someone is watching and that they can get caught. A wireless HD camera provides homeowners with a unique opportunity to benefit from everything a camera has to offer without the need for a large and bulky system. A wireless network is scalable and sleek in design. It allows you to obtain the protection you need without compromising aesthetics. The HD footage ensures that every image it captures is of the highest quality. Look for a system like Arlo that has free cloud-based storage, motion and sound-activation alerts, and a high-decibel alarm.
3. Monitored Smoke Detector
Living in a home without a working smoke detector is dangerous. These devices are designed to alert homeowners and their residents of potential fires. Proper installation in the house could save lives. According to Tennessee's State Fire Marshal:
Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance to minimize false alarms when cooking.
Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Wall-mounted alarms should be installed not more than 12 inches away from the ceiling (to the top of the alarm). Alarms mounted on the ceiling should be installed at least four inches from the wall or corner. If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm within three feet of the peak but not within the apex of the peak (four inches down from the peak).
Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, ceiling fans, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
Couple this device with your monitored system and you have unparalleled protection.
4. Contact Alarm
Contact alarms are utilized on the door or windows of the house and reinforce your home's security. In the event that someone tries to pick the lock or make their way through a window, the sensors on the contact alarm will send a signal to the monitoring device alerting you and your alarm service to the danger. If you have decided to forgo the use of a monitored system, these alarms will emit a high-pitched noise to let you know of the immediate threat.
5. Motion Sensor
A motion sensor uses multiple technologies to monitor movement inside the home. The two popular choices for residents are active and passive sensors. Active sensors utilize ultrasonic waves, the same waves used in ultrasounds to look for movement. Passive detectors emit infrared energy to look for the heat that comes from humans and animals. While these devices are sensitive, they are able to work in homes that have animals that weigh 100 pounds or less. They are activated when you are not at home and if they are tripped an alert is sent to the central system letting you know someone is in your home.
For more information about the latest home security devices, contact NCA today.