Article Written By: AmyTaylor369
The first step in external safety is prevention of unwanted intrusion. Home protection can be low-tech, such as locks, window bars, and adequate outside lighting. Effective systems can help stop intruders, alert homeowners if someone has entered, and ensure the personal safety of residents. At a minimum, every outside door, including garages, basements, and side doors, should be equipped with deadbolt locks. Simple deterrents such as these have their uses, but lack the ability to give warning if the premises have been entered. Many homeowners prefer to hear a siren or other audible indication of unlawful entry.Basics include sensors on doors and windows that sound an alarm when opened. Intruders expect front and back doors to be secured, making it important to install alarms on all outside doors. Motion detectors and breaking glass alerts provide additional protection. Driveway alarms warn homeowners of approaching vehicles or individuals.People have traditionally relied on safes inside the home to secure valuables. With the rampant identity theft in today's world, personal information should also be locked up. Thanks to technology, safes are now stronger and offer more protection than ever before. Most electronic equipment, such as computers, can be programmed to sound an alarm when tampered with.Personal safety is essential. Motion-activated security lights will deter an intruder, as well as reduce the risk of attack of residents arriving home late. Nearly all residences have a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. The main purpose of these are to protect residents from accidental fires and deadly fumes, however they also warn if an intruder has set a fire or released a toxic substance.Gated entries, although usually silent, provide an additional layer of security, because they require an access code to open. Keypad entries offer another measure of protection. Surveillance cameras and recording devices, available in a wide range of price and sizes, provide evidence of indoor and outdoor activities. They may be prominently displayed as an obvious deterrent, or hidden.Monitoring is key factor in the effectiveness of home systems. A security company and/or law enforcement must be notified when security is breached. Notification is automated, usually by the system placing a phone call. Some systems will send a text message to absent homeowners.Installation can be complex or easy, depending on the expertise of the homeowner and whether a hardwired or wireless system is chosen. Experts tend to regard hardwired as the most reliable, however those systems can be more complicated and often require professional installation. Wireless systems can be do-it-yourself. An additional advantage of wireless is that homeowners can control the equipment from their cell phone. Wireless systems, however, can often be more easily disabled by an unauthorized person.An important component of a home security system is the control panel. It needs to be located where individuals can conveniently turn the equipment on or off, but not in an area to which an intruder can gain access and disarm the alarms. A battery backup is highly recommended in the event of a power failure or if the power lines are cut.Criminals often look for a quick and easy break-in. Properly installed and maintained home security alarms will send them elsewhere. Experts advise asking for an in-home inspection and detailed estimate from more than one company or manufacturer before choosing a system.
This Article Has Been Published on Mon, 7 Nov 2011 and Read 51 Times