Burglar Alarm Tips

Today, a wireless burglar alarm system isn’t much more expensive than a hard-wired system. In the past few years, prices have really come down.  And nowadays, the hassle of a hard-wired system — which can take several days to install — seems hardly worth the effort.  The new generation of wireless systems is almost as reliable as the old hard-wired systems.

Wireless alarm systems work on the same principal as hard-wired systems, but running wires through walls and doors is time-consuming, costly, and disruptive.  If a wireless home security system costs more, you should factor these disruptions into the equation.

Hard-wired home security systems require professional installation, often involve some demolition, and usually take several days to install.  But wireless burglar alarm systems can easily be installed by handy home owners and do it yourselfers.  In most cases, professionals can install a wireless burglar alarm system in just a few hours.

If you install a wireless system yourself, then you can shop for the best deal on monitoring, without signing a long-term contract.  This gives you greater flexibility and maximizes your cost savings.

Many of today’s wireless systems include cellular service in case land telephone lines are down, and back-up batteries to ensure service during power outages.  If you choose not to have a monitoring service, you can program the auto dialer to phone the police and incur no monthly monitoring charges.

The first step is to figure out where to put the control panel.  It should be easily accessible, but in a place that’s not obvious to intruders.  And it should be near an electrical outlet.  Use the control panel worksheets in the manual to program it.

The name wireless security system implies that there are no wires.  But there are a few.  The system should be connected to the keypad and control panel, and if you’re having monitored service, to a telephone line, as well.

Make sure the control panel can target specific zones.  For instance, once the kids have gone to bed, you may want to arm the upstairs and leave the downstairs disarmed.

The next step is attaching the burglar alarm sensors to the window and doors.  Usually, the transmitter gets attached to the jamb, and the magnet gets attached to the window or door.  This is a fairly easy task that completes the system.

One of the advantages of wireless is that the sensors can be easily moved, unlike with hard-wired systems.  And if you decide later on that you want to put sensors on additional windows or doors, it’s easy to expand.

There are lots of sophisticated features you can add to your system, including remote control and programming, video surveillance cameras, speakers that connect to the monitoring service, and more.

Wireless burglar alarm systems also offer the advantages of being portable and easily expandable.  The only downside is that you have to monitor the batteries and change them when needed.

Burglar alarms and home security systems are a great way to protect home and property.  Over the last decade or so, the technology of these systems has really advanced, and prices have come way down.  So these days, most home owners can afford an alarm system.

Today’s burglar alarms are intuitive, easy to use, and multi-purpose — many also protect against fire, carbon monoxide, and rising water.  But as simple as the systems are, false alarms still happen.  And when they do, they’re costly, wasteful, and potentially dangerous because they can keep police, fire, and EMT crews from real emergencies.

Statistics show that 70% of false alarms are caused by user error.  So there’s plenty you can do to make sure you never have one.  Here are some steps you can take to make sure your burglar alarm only notifies the authorities when there’s a real emergency.

1)  Make sure you, and everyone who enters your home, knows how to cancel an alarm.  Read the manual that came with your alarm system thoroughly.  Rehearse all your family members.  Then think about who else has a key to your house — a maid, a babysitter, a dog walker, or a house sitter.  Everyone with access needs to know how to cancel an alarm within the allotted time.  Keep the alarm monitoring service phone number handy, so anyone can find it when they need it.   Call the monitoring service in advance before you test the system.

2) Check the connections on your doors and windows and make sure they’re tight.  Loose connections can cause a break in the circuit that triggers an alarm.

2) If you change your cell or contact number, notify the alarm security service.  Make sure the contact information they have for you is up to date.

3) If your alarm system does activate when there’s not an emergency, key your cancel code into the keypad and then call the monitoring center to confirm the cancellation.

4) If your system has motion detectors, make sure they’re clear of insects and cobwebs.  And if you have pets, make sure they don’t trigger your alarm system’s motion sensors.  If your pets are setting off alarms, have your system recalibrated.

5) Fans, ceiling fans, heaters, fireplaces, and air conditioners can cause drafts that can moves plants or curtains.  This movement can set off the motion detectors in your home, triggering an alarm.  Holiday decorations and helium balloons can also set off motion detectors.

6) Check wireless burglar alarm system batteries often and change them when needed.  Some sophisticated security systems monitor battery life for you.   And test your system often to make sure it’s working properly.   When you purchase a system, look for one with a maintenance plan that includes an annual checkup.

7) Check with your local police department to find out how much they charge for false alarms.  With fines as high as $300, this can be a great incentive to prevent them.

By taking these precautions, you can significantly reduce the chances that your burglar alarm system will call in a false alarm.

For many people, getting a burglar alarm system provides them with complete peace of mind.  Not only can an alarm chase away an intruder quickly, it can also convince a thief that breaking into your house is not worth the risk.

But even the best home security system can’t guarantee you’ll never have a problem.  After all, an alarm won’t do much good if it’s not turned on.  And there are lots of things you can do to make your home less appealing to burglars.  So why not use these simple techniques to protect your home even more.

1) Lock all windows and doors.  As simple as this sounds, most burglars come in through unlocked doors.  Make sure all exterior doors have deadbolts.  If you have sliding glass doors, buy braces to make them impossible to open.  Keep your garage doors and fence gates shut and locked.  And don’t hide keys in obvious places like under the doormat or in a planter.

2) Install motion-detection lighting on the exterior of your home.  Front and back.  Though most burglaries take place between 6AM and 6PM, good lighting can reduce your risk.

3) Keep your bushes trimmed, especially those near windows.  Don’t give burglars a place to hide until the coast is clear.   For added protection, plant rose bushes, cacti, or other thorny plants near doors and windows.

4) Display your home protection service sign prominently.  The presence of the sign alone is often enough to convince thieves to move on.

5) Get opaque curtains and keep them closed.  Don’t put your valuable possessions on display for all to see.

6) Participate in your neighborhood Block Watch program and get to know your neighbors and their habits.  If you look out for them, they’ll look out for you.

7) If you’re traveling, make it look like someone’s home.  Stop the newspaper.  Have a neighbor get your mail.  Put timers on lights and televisions in several rooms.

8) Hide valuables inside your home. If you don’t have a safe that is too heavy to move, hide your valuables someplace unexpected.   Avoid places that thieves look first like underwear drawers, under the mattress, or in the bedroom closet.  Be creative.  Put jewelry in a dark jar in the refrigerator.  And include your important papers — identity theft can be more damaging than anything else.

9) Get a dog.  Even a small dog can frustrate thieves and alert neighbors that something’s not right.

10) Personalize your possessions.  If your name is etched on your technology products, they’re easier for police to identify and harder to sell.  Many thieves won’t take the risk.

Taking these simple precautions will enhance the protection that your burglar alarm system provides.