Home Security System Upgrades for the New Year

As you well know if you’ve followed this blog at all, we tout installing a monitored home alarm as one of the most effective forms of security available. These alarms provide a couple valuable layers of security to your home. First, they create a blaring siren response upon activation. This alerts anyone in the home to the danger, and usually scares off would-be burglars as well. Moreover, monitored security systems also create a central station response to an alarm, which in turn can create a police dispatch if necessary. We recommend that customer keep their alarm’s equipment up to date with the latest and greatest security technology available. And what better time than the arrival of a new year for you to look into powering up your home’s security? Today, we detail some important home security system upgrades for the new year!

First, we’ll show you some unique alarm sensors that you can use to add unique security to your home. These sensors offer an important extra layer of burglary-related security. Then, we’ll discuss some important life safety devices you can also monitor through your alarm. Adding these devices provides security arguably even more important that the burglary security that these systems traditionally offer! After this, we’ll see how adding interactive monitoring can create an overall alarm upgrade that adds both reliability and convenience to any home security system. Finally, we’ll discuss some smart security products for your home. We can integrate these devices with your existing alarm to round out your security nicely. Now, let’s dive in with a look at some unique security sensors you can add to your alarm.

Unique Security System Sensors

Of course, most people know about our most “basic” security sensors. These include door and window sensors, as well as motion detectors. However, many customers do not know about some of their other options for securing their home against break-ins. For example, we offer glass break detectors for areas with large windows. These sensors add tremendous security in rooms with sliding doors or picture windows. Moreover, we also install “shock” detectors on windows that can activate your alarm before a burglar even opens your window! Additionally, we can also install security screens that detect a thief cutting or removing window screens.

All of the sensors mentioned above add tremendous security against burglary-related threats. For even more all-around security, consider adding environmental sensors to your alarm. These sensors can detect conditions such as extreme cold, or the presence of water. The ability to stay informed of these types of events can help you address potential emergencies quickly. In turn, this can help you keep weather-related conditions from turning into emergencies. For more information, check out our Specialty Security Sensors for Your Home.

Monitoring Your Smoke and CO Detection

When we install a security system for our customers, we also connect their alarms to our monitoring service. In doing so, we make sure that our central station responds to any alarm activations. Up an activation, our central station dispatchers can call the premises to check on the situation. If necessary, they can even dispatch the proper authorities to your home! Obviously, this adds quite a bit of security and peace of mind for our customers. When most of our customers think about this service, they think about it in terms of burglary-related security. Of course, this represents an extremely important aspect of what these systems offer. Thieves coming through doors or windows activate door sensors and motion detectors that activate your alarm’s siren, set the monitoring response in motion, and get the police to your property.

However, burglar security only represents a small portion of what these alarms can accomplish. In addition to watching over your home for criminal activity, they can also provide a valuable measure of life safety as well. We offer monitored smoke and CO detection that can alert you to the presence of a fire or carbon monoxide-related emergency in your home. More importantly, these devices also create a fire department dispatch that can save your home in your absence, or even save the life of you or a family member if someone is home during one of these events! We highly recommend adding this security to any existing alarm system. Next, let’s look at the benefits of upgrading your security monitoring to make your alarm even more effective.

Upgrading Your Security Monitoring

Alarm monitoring has long remained one of the most powerful security services we offer. This service creates a central station response upon alarm activation at your home. Traditionally, we would create an alarm connection to our central station using your existing phone lines. However, this technology has evolved, allowing us to create more security and convenience than ever. Upgrading your security monitoring now involves installing our Alarm.com-powered cellular dialer. This device uses a cellular network, rather than a phone line, to monitor your home. Therefore, phone outages no longer affect your security system’s ability to call our central station for help. Of course, this feature alone greatly enhances your alarm’s security.

Furthermore, our cellular dialer allows for interactive cellular monitoring. This feature allows you to use the Alarm.com mobile app to control your security system. Now, you can turn your alarm on and off remotely with your cell phone. Moreover, you can set up text alerts based on alarm activity. Therefore, any alarm activation or system arming or disarming event can create an instant alert. These features make our cellular monitoring one of our very most popular security upgrade options. Now, let’s wrap up our discussion on home security system upgrades for the New Year with a look at adding smart security to your home.

Adding Smart Security Products to Your Home

In addition to communicating with our central station, our Alarm.com dialer also acts as a Z-Wave smart home hub. The term “Z-Wave” refers to a mesh network providing communication between our Alarm.com dialer and smart home devices that operate on this network. As one of the most popular smart home platforms, Z-Wave technology gives you many options to add smart security devices.

Our Z-Wave smart home offerings include several options for improving your security. For example, these devices include appliances such as Z-Wave light bulbs that you can control remotely to make your home look occupied while you are away. Additionally, Z-Wave keypad locks allow you to let contractors or house sitters into your home without providing a key. Z-Wave thermostats allow you to control your home’s temperature remotely and even create pre-set heating and cooling schedules. Installing smart cameras around your property can even provide you both live and recorded video footage that you can access on any internet-connected device at any time.

In addition to controlling these devices remotely, our Alarm.com customers can also receive alerts about their smart appliances. For example, Z-Wave locks will notify you when someone locks or unlocks the door, as well as the identity of the person involved. Additionally, they also let you lock and unlock your doors remotely. This allows you to let house sitters or contractors in without providing a code or a key.  The convenience and security these products deliver make them invaluable in adding security for any home!

Putting out Home Security System Upgrades for the New Year to Work for You

We hope that this post helps you find some useful home security system upgrades for the New Year! Additionally, we encourage you to contact us with any questions this post may raise for you. We’re always happy to help educate our readers on the latest and greatest security solutions available for them. Moreover, we also offer free sire surveys for anyone considering adding security for their properties. We extend this offer to both new and existing customers alike. During our visit, we can address any and all of your existing security concerns. Furthermore, we can make our own suggestions for you based on our observations of your property. No matter how much — or how little — security equipment you have now, we can help you prepare for life’s unexpected moments. Together, we can help you keep your home, your valuables, and your family as safe and secure as possible!