Having the best residential security systems is an important matter because of the need to protect family members and loved ones from any harm. Before settling on any security system, you should compare a number of them so that you can choose the best. The tips below will help you to get the best security system with the best deal.

Comparing the systems

Select a number of residential security systems and go through the customer reviews for each one of them. The reviews are on the website of the product or of home security companies. Read the reviews to see the reaction of other customers to the service. Note what the customers thought of the system, if it was effective and easy to operate.

Find out what the professionals are saying about the security systems. How the experts are rating and comparing them. Most professional reviews can be found in expert review websites and magazines. For instance, you can find reviews in Customers Digest, which is a magazine for consumer products reviews. Sort the alarm systems using the number of sensors they have. The ideal system should have a sensor for every entryway of your home such as the windows and the doors. You will find some systems with sensors only for the back and front entryways. Others have sensors for windows and doors. The fewer number of sensors mean that only a few entryways will be covered and therefore, the alarm system may not be effective in controlling burglary because an intruder can get in using other entryways.

Another aspect to use in comparing the residential security systems is the motion sensors available if at all, they are included. The more the number of motion sensors the system has the better to ensure proper protection of your home. This is because movement in various parts of the house can be detected triggering the alarm and alerting the occupants. Sort your list using how many sensors the systems have and use it later to make the decision of which alarm system to use.

A good security system should have an easy to use keypad. Review the keypads of the systems to determine if they are easy to handle and operate. Also, use other features such as the inclusion of a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector to compare the systems. Comparing the different features of various home alarm systems will assist you to make the decision of which one to choose based on its suitability.

Investigate the installing company

A security system is not complete without the services of a security company to install the system. Find out more about the company, in areas such as how long it has been in existence and the customers it has served. Consider whether the company will provide after sale services such as repairing the system if required. Your final decision should be based on comparing your needs with the features provided by the systems. Choose the system that best fits your needs.

If you want to have a secure home, you will need to use some smart home security devices. Due to the growth of the home automation market, there are more devices for consumer to choose from and below are some of the devices.

Homeboy camera and Haven Lock

This is a wireless camera that can move around the house. It attaches itself to the base using magnets and can be repositioned and pointed where it is needed. The features that set it apart from other cameras include a long lasting battery that can go for up to three months. The camera is motion activated, and it can send notifications to you when it detects movement. If you would like to see the clips on the on goings in your home, you can request for them using android apps or iOS. This is one of the emerging smart locks that can be controlled remotely. The lock is fastened to the floor inside the house to create a barrier. This prevents the door to open, making it difficult to break into the house. You can control the lock from anywhere using a Haven app. You can also use a key fob to unlock it automatically when you are near. The lock can synchronize with smart home devices enabling you to run your house using the same system.

Presence

The app can control iPads and iPhones turning them into motion activated security cameras. Now you will have more use for your old Smartphone instead of using it just for Wi-Fi and gaming. The phone becomes a security camera that streams the videos. The app enables changing of the motion detectors sensitivity and also helps to switch between back and front cameras. You can also choose whether the recording should take place for a given amount of time after motion detection, or it should record until there is no more motion. Subscribing to the app provides online storage of up to 5 GB.

Cocoon

Cocoon is another one of smart home security devices that has changed smart security. The device can monitor the whole house from one spot. Its key features include a microphone, a motion detector, a loud siren, a thermometer and a high-density camera. It also has a sub sound detector that detects sounds of very low frequency that even a human being cannot hear. It uses it to establish if other rooms in the house has an intruder. The machine can learn and adapt to the sounds that are regular in the house, including the pets. The mobile app can inform you of the happenings in the cocoon. It will allow you to check cocoons video feeds, activate the siren and set emergency contacts.

Smart homes cannot be without smart home security devices. These are just a few and there are many more in the market. These are making it easy for one to connect and control the home even if one is far away from the home. They help to keep the mind at ease about the security of the home.

Installing a home security system ensures that you have peace of mind because it deters burglary and helps in home monitoring. However, it comes at a cost. Getting a definite cost is difficult based on the many factors that determine it. The cost will depend on the technology used, how many sensors you have used, the number of entry points and whether you have used a professional or have installed the system yourself. The services you will need after installation also determine the cost. 

Some of the factors determining the cost include:

Type of the alarm system

The alarm system type determines the initial cost of installation. Wireless systems cost much less, though they are more vulnerable and those providing free systems installations use them. Hard-wired security systems have high installation costs, though they are more reliable. The cost of each entry point, either a window or doorway is about 90 to 130 US dollars while each motion sensor costs 110 to 130 US dollars. This means that the total cost will depend on the size of your home, based on the number of entry points and motion sensors. A surveillance system will cost more than a basic alarm system.

To reduce the costs, you can install the home security system yourself and then pay for monitoring. Note that additional services cost extra. You may also find a company to install, maintain and monitor your system. Ensure that the company is local, and it provides full service without sub contracting the monitoring so that you can get service throughout and the best value for your money.

Additional services

If you prefer additional services such as monitoring, you will need to pay more. Using monitoring service means that the alarm company will also respond in case there is an intrusion alert. Avoiding the monitoring cost in the belief that the alarm by itself will deter criminals may not be beneficial considering that monitoring costs about 20 to 50 US dollars per month. For instance, if there is a burglary, and the alarm sounds, the entry way is left vulnerable and the burglar can return later and make entry. This would have been avoided if the alarm company were monitoring the alarm. The more features the home security system has, the higher the costs. If you include other features such as fire and water detectors, panic buttons and getting automatic calls on your phone when the alarm is triggered, then be prepared to pay more.

While considering the cost, it is also important to assess the benefits of an alarm system. While wireless systems are easy and cheaper to install, they are not a good option. The battery needs regular monitoring, and they may not have enough power to reach the farthest zone. This is unlike the hard-wired systems that cost more but more reliable. They do not succumb to battery problems or interference from other wireless components and cellular technologies. However, you should note that the wired systems should be installed during home construction.

Having a home security alarm system offers peace of mind because it helps to prevent burglary. There are different types of security systems, meaning that you should take your time to choose the one suitable for you.

Analyze your needs

Assess your home to determine the doors and windows that will use the security system. Decide where the keypads and control panels should be located. Control panel is for commanding the system while the keypads are for programming the system in turning it on and off. It may be convenient to have a keypad near the front door and the bedroom. Check the distance between doors, windows and the control panel. This is to determine the routing of wires in case you are using a security alarm system that is wired or to know how far the wireless system should be for it to communicate with the sensors. Note that a wired system is best installed when the house is being constructed. You can choose to use a security system that uses 24-hour monitoring or a system that uses a sensor and a dialer to sense motion and dial to a given number in case of security breach.

When deciding on the home security system to use, consider if there will be any movement at night, either from people moving about at night or from a roaming pet. This will affect the choice of motion sensors to use and its installation in order to prevent false alarms. You may also be required to use the keypad often to prevent motion to create false alarms.

Choose the home security alarm system

Once you have determined your needs, you can now choose the appropriate home security alarm system. The best thing is to consult with a reputable adviser of security systems to help you determine the best for you. Select a system whose control panel is capable of monitoring all the zones in the home. A basic system covers eight zones though some panels allow for expansion of up to 32 zones. If you will use a wired system, determine the wire routing. Remember you will need to drill holes on the walls for routing wires. If you choose a wireless system, ensure that the zone at the farthest can perform well.

Including an alarm noisemaker such as a siren, alarm bell or blast can help to alert the neighbors, in case there is an intruder. For better protection from other factors such as fire and gas, choose a combined alarm system that has fire, carbon monoxide, anti freeze sensors and water detectors. It should also include panic buttons. This way, you can be assured of all round protection not just from burglary, but also from fire, water and temperature. For ease of use, the alarm system should be user friendly such that it is easy to input codes in the keypad, and every family member can learn to do it. The keypad of the system should be easily used, and you should select the one that family members can use easily.

Installing home alarm systems ensures that one has peace of mind. However, have you ever wondered how these systems work? They consist of alarm sensors, motion detectors, alarm and the control panel.

The control panel and batteries

The control panel is the center of the home alarm systems. It is one of the important parts of the system which determines who is allowed to go in and go out, and who should not. When an alarm sensor is set off, the control panel knows there is an entry, and it begins a timer countdown. The alarm activates when no pass code is entered on the panel. If a pass code is entered, the alarm does not go off which means it is an authorized person entering. Some control panels can differentiate between a peaceful entry and a forceful one. Although the alarm system uses electricity, they also have batteries so that they can operate even if there is a blackout. Most of the batteries are rechargeable, and they are plugged in to charge constantly when there is power so that when it goes, they are fully charged and when power comes, they charge again.

Alarm and alarm sensors

During unauthorized entry, an alarm that gives sound is activated. This notifies those nearby that there has been an entry a fact that is likely to deter the burglar. The alarm also has a monitoring service that dials the monitoring company when it is activated, acting like a silent alarm. The company then notifies the police who respond. Alarm sensors are the ones that trigger the alarm in case a window or door is opened. They are the basic components of the alarm system. The sensors have two parts, a magnet and a circuit. The circuit has a metal switch, which the magnet closes. Opening a door or a window opens the magnet, and the circuit opens with electricity flow breaking. This triggers the alarm. The sensors are the most common because a break in causes the electricity not to flow setting the alarm off. This way, the intruders cannot disable the alarm by cutting the wires.

Motion detectors

Some home alarm systems have motion detectors. The detectors use radio waves that map a particular area, send out pulses, and they receive an echo. When an intruder gets into the area that is being monitored, the echo’s return is interrupted, signaling the system that there is something that has entered the area and thereby detecting motion. Other motion detectors have infrared scanners that help them to detect heat increase such as that generated by the body of an intruder. The rise in heat activates the alarm. For the home alarm systems to work, all these parts need to work together. The alarm sensor is triggered, and the control panel determines whether it is authorized entry or not. If it is authorized entry, the alarm is triggered, and it sends a signal to the monitoring company. Motion detectors help to detect if there is movement in the house.