When we work with customers to design a monitored security system, we take a whole-home approach to creating this security. Many larger companies sell small alarm “packages” that include sensors to secure your doors and take only a cursory approach towards securing the rest of your home. However, at Northeast Security Solutions, we complete a thorough walkthrough with our customers to design an alarm that addresses each and every security weak point on their property. In particular, many windows provide easy access to your home, sometimes well within the cover of your shrubbery or fencing. Addressing areas such as these should take top priority when designing an alarm! Today, we show you how we can help with creating window security at your home using a variety of security equipment.
First, we’ll detail some alarm equipment that you can use to create this security. Specifically, we’ll begin this discussion by reviewing how our standard window sensors work. Then, we’ll move on to a common less common sensors to add this security. This will include a look at detectors for both motion and the presence of breaking glass within a room. From there, we’ll show you an advanced security approach for creating window security at your home: our Alarm.com cellular dialer and Wi-Fi connected smart cameras. Installing this equipment can help you keep eyes on your property at all time, providing the most effective alarm monitoring as well as a valuable measure of surveillance-based security as well. Now, let’s dive in with a look at some alarm equipment designed to create window security.
Window sensors, such as this wireless model by DSC, activate when the magnet (on the left) separates from the sensor itself (on the right).
Standard Window Sensors
As we pointed out earlier, door and window contacts (also called “sensors”) create basic security for all of our alarm customers. The sensor generally sits on a door or window, with a magnet on the door or window frame. Once the door or window opens, the magnet and the contact itself separate from each other. In turn, the breaking of the magnetic seal activates the alarm system.
We also offer slight variations of this contact. For example, some sensors have buttons that sit in a frame, allowing a closed door or window to hold the button in place. Upon the door or window’s opening, the button pops up and trips the alarm. No matter what type of contact we install, they all do a great job alerting you to someone opening a window when your system is armed. Furthermore, our monitored security systems also call our central station upon activation. If needed, our central station alerts the authorities and creates a police dispatch. Obviously, these factors all make installing contacts on windows an effective security measure. However, we also offer other means of securing areas with windows. Next up, let’s look at the types of sensors we use to make this happen!
Specialty Alarm Sensors for Added Security
In addition to window sensors, we also install other types of alarm equipment to “watch” over areas with windows. In this section, we’ll look at three unique ways to make this happen. We’ll examine these sensors from most to least well-known. So now, without further ado, let’s take a look at how motion detectors can help you secure large areas of your home.
Motion Detectors
Motion detectors can detect the heat caused by a person walking into a room. We often install these detectors in rooms with many windows or sliding glass doors. This offers cost-conscious customers a more efficient security option than purchasing contacts for each and every window. These detectors can also act as a backup in case burglars utilize advanced methods for a entering your home. For example, window sensors do not detect thieves who break in by cutting or smashing glass without opening a window. In these instances, motion detectors provide the security needed to activate the alarm. For this reason, we always recommend installing these sensors in your home’s main areas. Let’s turn our attention to another useful sensor we can use to provide window security.
Glass Break Detectors
Glass break detectors play a large role in our security installations. These unique sensors can detect the sound and impact of breaking glass in your home. One detector can generally catch breaking glass up to 20 feet away. Therefore, installing them in the center of a room with many windows can effectively help secure the entire area. We often install these detectors in rooms with picture windows or sliding glass doors, both of which allow burglars to gain entry by breaking glass and walking right in. Additionally, since these sensors activate upon the breaking of glass, they usually create a siren response before a burglar enters your home, rather than after! Speaking of which, let’s look at another type of security product designed to stop burglars from ever entering your home.
Using Smart Surveillance to Create Window Security
We often install smart cameras as part of a security system installation. When we install home security, we generally do so using our cellular dialer powered by Alarm.com. The Alarm.com cellular dialer creates a direct connection between your alarm system and our central station. This provides the most consistent alarm monitoring possible. While traditional alarm monitoring involves tying a security system in to our customers’ phone lines, cellular-dialer based monitoring keeps your security system monitored even when your phone lines go down. Additionally, the Alarm.com dialer will allow you to control your security system and any other connected smart home devices remotely using a smart phone and the free Alarm.com app. In addition to your alarm system, you can control smart locks, thermostats, and other smart devices using this app.
Alarm.com smart cameras allow you to use your cellphone to track activity around your home at all times.
However, our most popular security-based smart home addition is the Alarm.com smart camera. These cameras provide a powerful and convenient solution for home surveillance. Alarm.com smart cameras provide both live and recorded video in and around your home. Moreover, they also allow you to create live video alerts. This ensures that you do not miss any important activity on your property. In this manner, smart surveillance can help you secure your windows both from the inside and from the outside! Installing exterior smart cameras allows you to potentially catch thieves snooping around the home before they attempt a break-in. The ability to keep “eyes” on a home and yard make these cameras one of our most popular window security options.
Putting it All Together and Creating Window Security at Your Home
We hope that this post helps you with creating window security at your home. As we mentioned, windows often provide the most accessible and easily-breached areas of your home. Therefore, taking these precautions can go a long way towards securing your home. As always, we encourage you to contact us with any questions this post may raise for you. We will happily answer any and all of your security-related inquiries. Furthermore, we also invite you to take advantage of our complimentary site survey program. While on site, we can address any and all of your existing security-related concerns. Additionally, we can also make our own recommendations during our visit.
Perhaps you have some security equipment in place, and wish to take advantage of some of the suggestions laid out here. Or, maybe you don’t have a security plan in place yet, and wish to start from the ground up. Either way, we are here to help! Over our 38 years in business, we’ve helped over a thousand homeowners just like yourself create invaluable security and peace of mind. We’d love to help you design and implement a system of security equipment for your home as well. Together, we can create a complete home security plan to keep you, your home, and your family as safe and secure as possible!