Assembling a coherent and effective home security system is all about good planning. Just as the electrics in your home are planned and meticulously tested, your home security should be designed in the same way.
Before you head out to your local DIY store, run through this quick guide. There may be factors you haven’t considered that could improve the efficiency of your equipment.
Planning your alarm
Whether you’ve already got an ageing alarm, or you’re fitting a new one from scratch, consider all the variables that make an intruder alarm effective.
It needs to be visible from the outside, so that would-be intruders know it’s there. Don’t buy a cheap box without an external siren, since this is counter productive to its deterrent effect.
Inside the property, your sensors should be placed where they cannot easily be disabled, but they also need to be accessible enough to be repaired when necessary. Additionally, your sensors need to be the correct type: if you have pets, you don’t want the alarm to set them off.
When we plan a professional alarm installation, we ensure that vulnerable entry points have sensors that will trigger the alarm if opened. Ideally, you should be able to zone these sensors so you can alarm part of the house overnight.
Sounding the alarm
Basic home alarms have a bell or siren that is triggered when motion is detected. Unfortunately, many of us have become immune to these alarms and we always assume they’ve been set off by accident.
To improve resilience, consider a remotely monitored alarm that will alert a monitoring centre and the police. This helps to ensure a fast response, even if you’re not around to check the property yourself. It can also help to ensure the alarm is turned off quickly so it doesn’t inconvenience your neighbours.
Automation and more
When planning your home security system, look for new technology that supports your project. For example, if you buy CCTV to keep your family safe, you should look for a system that can be viewed remotely from your phone. You can also add motion sensors to your gateways and driveways to give you early warning if someone approaches. And if you have a large garden, an intercom is a good idea, so you always know who’s on the property.
Note that there are some cheap alarms on the market that claim to send an automated text when they go off. While these are useful for low-risk environments, their effectiveness is questionable in the home. Many do not come with a visible alarm box, and rely on a working phone line or SIM card to keep you informed. We recommend using a traditional alarm system to be absolutely sure your insurance company covers you.
Seek professional advice
When planning an alarm, it’s important to look at your home through the eyes of a potential intruder. That’s where we can help. We don’t just fit alarms and CCTV; we also service equipment and attend break-ins. We can instantly spot weak points in your home’s security system, and can advise you on useful upgrades.
For more information about keeping your home secure, call Angel Security for a chat.