Evaluating
Home Security Systems
Evaluating a home security system is an easy task that can help
reduce the chance of loss due to crime or disaster. Thinking about
the value of items and the safety of family it is an excellent idea
to evaluate your system every few years. New technology emerges
everyday and the cost of electronics is getting less expensive.
Familiarizing yourself with the current systems and technologies
offered will help determine if you are in need of a simple upgrade
or a new system.
The best starting point is to imagine you are "a would be" thief.
Stand on the sidewalk and look at your house. Are there any sign's
or stickers warning you of an alarm? Can you see anything of value?
Next as you walk up to and around your home think about how you
would break in. Are any windows open, are the doors locked? Just a
note, most break-ins occur through a door, no-one likes broken
glass. You should be making notes of possible entry points and
verifying you have proper detector coverage. Where is the keypad for
your system located? Is it in view of a window from the outside?
This can give a clue as to the system being armed or not. Perform
your survey of the home noting anywhere you can add motion activated
lighting on the outside or removing cover in close proximity to
entrances.
After doing your walk around check to see if you have an alarm
detector covering the entrances you noted. Look at the detectors, if
they are older than 5 years you should replace them. Magnetic
switches in door or window contacts are mechanical devices and they
wear out. Motion detectors and glass break sensors also wear out.
Check the backup battery in the system, if it is older than 3 years
change it. Look at the main control panel, if it's older than 6
years change it. Are there any points you can enter your home from
and not be detected? Don't forget the roof or balcony. How far could
someone get inside before being detected? This will point you to
area's that you need to improve upon. Put your system on TEST' with
the monitoring company then ARM' it then walk through to ensure all
detectors are working.
Security systems reduce loss. When a criminal is detected and the siren goes off
they are put onto a clock. They will grab anything of value and head
out the door. The idea behind a security system is to deter and to
reduce the amount of loss. Check with your insurance company they
usually provide a discount for having a monitored alarm system.
Don't be afraid to spend a few dollars on a system, it is protecting
everything you have in your home.