Home Security Systems: Getting The Protection You Need

The home security system that you purchase will depend on your budget and the layout of your home. Be familiar with the available products and exactly what to look for in each. Let us help you make educated decisions.

Your first decision about your home security system will be between doing it yourself or hiring professional help. You can go to a company such as ADT, Honeywell and Brinks, tell them your price range and ask them to protect your home. Or you can assemble and install one or more devices yourself. Either way, you should have a good working knowledge of the available devices so that you can make wise decisions.

Don't think that you must choose one of the following. Your "system" will normally involve several devices, sometimes with overlapping function. There's no such thing as "too secure."

Here's a rundown of the basic types of home security devices currently used:

Security Doors: These are high-strength doors with advanced locking mechanisms that are unpickable.

Door Jammers: Normally a metal rod, these are placed between the knob or handle and the floor to stop the door from being opened.

Window Jammers: These are commonly rods or clamps that, like a door jammer, physically prevent the window from being opened.

Alarms: Different alarm devices can be tripped in a variety of ways. Magnetic alarms are set off when the connect between the two components is broken, as when a door or window is opened. Door stop alarms are small devices which you simply place behind a door. They will sound when moved. Window breakage alarms are attached to windows and are tripped when there is vibration in the glass. Alarms can also be connected to other devices such as motion detectors.

 Motion Detectors: As the name says, these devices detect motion. They can be used both inside and outside the home and are useful in places which might normally serve as entry or exit routes. Powerful modern motion detectors can be set inside the house to detect motion outside through the walls. By itself, a motion detector can't do anything. It must therefore be connect to another device that is activated when motion is detected. This could be an alarm, a strong light, or a video recorder.

Video Cameras: Even phony ones can make your home a poor target in the eyes of an intruder. The real ones, which may be combined to make up a complex surveillance system, are excellent if you want to actually see or record what is happening in and around your home. A surveillance system normally includes the cameras themselves, a control unit, a recording device such as VCR or DVR, and a monitor (often simply your television or computer monitor).

These devices can deter illegal activity, prevent unwanted invasion, alert you and your neighbors to suspicious activity, scare off potential threats and provide a visual recording of any activity in and around your home. But sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes you want the help of professionals with monitoring your system.

Home security companies normally offer 24-hour a day home security monitoring services at fairly reasonable prices. It works like this: when your home's security is compromised, say when a magnetic window alarm is tripped, the system calls the security company. The security company will then contact you in case it's a false alarm. If there is no reason to believe it is a false alarm, they will contact the police. That's the basic operation, but most companies offer even more. They can monitor smoke, gas and flood detectors and can serve as your lifeline when you hit one of several panic buttons on the control unit. These home monitoring services may also bring discounts to your home and fire insurance.

Whether you're assembling a home security system from scratch or just hoping to upgrade your current system, this information should get you started. Read on to find out more about your options.