Home security consists of both the physical security equipment installed in a home and people’s personal protection practices. Physical security equipment includes locks, doors, windows, alarms, and motion sensors. It is sometimes difficult to tell which security equipment is meant for protecting your home and which is meant for keeping things from going missing. Personal safety includes taking care of one’s own belongings; securing all cabinets, closets, and drawers; making sure that keys are in different locations; and wearing earplugs or a mask whenever someone is trying to open a door or window. Keeping one’s children safe by teaching them how to unlock the door when they are unattended is also a good practice.
One of the most important pieces of home security is the home security system. The home security system will usually consist of a single center command unit, which will control all of the components of the system. These components include window sensors, glass break detectors, door sensors, smoke detectors, panic buttons, and an interior wireless keypad. Most home security systems will require window sensors and glass break detectors in each room of the house. However, if a home security system includes more windows than rooms, some systems will add additional glass break detectors for each window.
Other home security systems that may be required to protect your home include medical alert detectors. These sensors are designed to detect an intrusion, and will either alert a medical response team or send a signal to a monitoring center. These sensors are commonly installed outside doors and windows, and may have the additional feature of glass break detectors as well. If a medical alert sensor is detected in the hallway or other common entry points in a home, it may be triggered by an alarm sounding in another part of the house. Some home security systems also include motion sensors that detect movement on the perimeter of the house, which may be activated if no one is home and an intruder comes in.
Some home security systems will include cameras to record the faces of any intruders. Others may use video surveillance cameras to monitor the inside of the house, and they may have infrared cameras to monitor the outside of the house. Both types of cameras should be monitored regularly and should be set to record if no one picks up the receiver. Many home security systems offer a smoke alarm with thermostat control. This ensures that the alarm is triggered once the temperature drops below a certain point.
Installing home security systems can also save money on homeowner’s insurance premiums. Often the cost of installing a home security system can be covered in full by the insurance company. In addition, by having a monitoring system in place, you will often qualify for a discount on your homeowners insurance. In some cases, you may even qualify for a discount for having an alarm system installed in your home as well.
If you have motion sensors throughout the house, you may also want to consider adding window and glass break detectors as well. These work in conjunction with motion sensors to detect when glass or window frames are broken. Often, when glass breaks, it does not stop the burglar. However, the sound of breaking glass tends to trip the burglar’s alarm, which means that the alarm is going to alert the monitoring center, which means that someone is going to get the authorities involved fast. It is better to find all the sensors that are going to be needed in advance, before buying the house, to ensure that you will be able to afford them. While these products are usually more expensive, you will save money in the long run by avoiding having to replace broken glass or alarm systems over again.
