When it comes to securing your home, very few measures do as good a job as a monitored security system. These alarms create a siren response upon activation that lets you — and anyone who tries to break in — know that someone’s been caught in the act. Additionally, a monitored alarm also creates a response from our central station. This means that you and anyone you want to know will receive notice of the alarm. Furthermore, our central station can dispatch the proper authorities upon activation as well. This adds multiple layers of valuable security to any home! Unfortunately, some homeowners fail to maximize the security offered by these systems for a variety of reasons. We’ve spent over 35 years helping homeowners just like you address these issues. In this post, we’ll show you how you can go about making your alarm as effective as possible.
First, we’ll show you the importance of starting your security experience with a great alarm design that works for you. After all, no two properties share the same layout, and no two customers have the same security goals. From there, we’ll detail how you can add security by adding multiple codes to your alarm. And last but certainly not least, we’ll show you how you can best monitor you alarm to set yourself up for success. Now, let’s dive in with a focus on effective alarm design!
Adding Glass Break Detectors to you alarm, such as this model by Interlogix, can help you create a more effective security experience than relying solely on “standard” alarm sensors.
Create an Effective Alarm Design
When designing an alarm system, we take several things into account. First and foremost, we look at how to add the most security. Installing contacts to secure every likely entry point should be a no-brainer. However, insufficient installation of security contacts remains one of the most common security system installation mistakes. Sometimes, alarm customers designing and installing an alarm as a DIY project leads to this issue. Furthermore, customers occasionally turn down recommended equipment as a cost-cutting measure.
We certainly do not recommend going through the trouble of installing an alarm system only to take partial measures while doing so. In addition to securing the most likely break-in points, we also recommend at least basic coverage in somewhat less likely areas. After all, thieves know that many security systems leave weak points to exploit. For example, many homeowners do little to secure their second stories and basements. Installing at least basic security in these areas can greatly increase your overall security.
Many alarm systems out there rely solely on door and window contacts, along with motion detectors, to secure a property. However, while often largely effective, this approach does have its shortcomings. For example, window contacts only catch thieves who break in by opening a window. They unfortunately fail to catch those who break windows and climb through without opening them. While motion detectors can help in these scenarios if you are gone, you cannot arm these detectors while you are home without creating false alarms. For these reasons, we often install glass break sensors near casement windows, sliders, or large windows in general. These sensors, as well as equipment such as shock sensors and even security screens, can greatly improve the effectiveness of your alarm. Next, let’s review how you can add security by adding and maintaining multiple alarm codes for your alarm.
Use Different Alarm Codes
Many alarm customers give out the same code to anybody who may need to disarm their security system. After all, why attempt to track who uses which code when the same four digits can work for everyone? As it turns out, we have very good reasons to avoid the “one code fits all” approach. In our Five Security System Use Tips, we outlined why homeowners should pass out — and track — different alarm codes. The longer you use the same code, and the more people you give it out to, the greater the chance that it lands in the wrong hands. Acquaintances or “friends of friends” often turn into criminals after obtaining your alarm code.
Perhaps a close friend wrote your alarm code on a piece of paper that others have seen. Or maybe a contractor disarmed your system in front of a “curious” employee. Handing out different alarm codes can create additional security in a couple different ways. For one, doing so allows you to delete codes once you no longer need them. This will deny access to any additional individuals who stumbled upon the codes.
Furthermore, using different codes allows you to track who uses your alarm, in case someone with a code does enter your home uninvited. Our “open-close” reporting service described in our Unique Security Monitoring Options post allows you to track exactly who arms and disarms your security system — and when. Furthermore, our unique intreactive monitoring services allows you to track alarm use in real time! In fact, let’s look at this monitoring service in our next tip for making your alarm as effective as possible.
We highly recommend adding multiple codes to your alarm and deleting them as needed, rather than having many people using the same code.
Take Advantage of the Best Security Monitoring Available
The majority of our security system customers take advantage of our alarm monitoring services. Setting up this service involves connecting your security system to our central monitoring station. Older alarm systems generally utilize a customer’s existing phone lines to create this communication. Unfortunately, this often proves ineffective. For starters, traditional phone service does not provide reliable, consistent communication. Phone service can fail due weather-related incidents or even car accidents involving telephone poles. Furthermore, burglars often cut a property’s phone lines before attempting their crimes. They do this to disable any attempts to call for help that you or your alarm system may make after a break-in.
Recently, new technology has created the ability for better alarm monitoring. In particular, our interactive cellular monitoring service, powered by Alarm.com, provides the best security monitoring available. For starters, this service utilizes a cellular network, rather than phone lines, for monitoring. This leads to consistent central station communication regardless of your phone line’s status. Moreover, this service also allows you to control your security system, as well as a wide variety of smart home devices, with a smartphone! Now you can arm and disarm your security system remotely, and even receive smartphone alerts for alarm activations and any other important security updates. Check out our 5 Benefits of Cellular Alarm Monitoring for more information on this unique monitoring option!
Putting it All Together and Making Your Alarm as Effective as Possible
We hope that this post helps you see how we can assist you in making your alarm as effective as possible. Additionally, we also encourage you to contact us with any questions this post raises for you. We will happily answer any and all of your security-related queries. Moreover, we also invite you to take advantage of our free site survey plan. We offer complimentary security audits and equipment quotes to both new and existing customers alike. While on site, we can address your security concerns with the same solution-oriented approach that you’ve seen in this and all our other posts. Furthermore, we can make additional suggestions based on observations we make during our visit.
Perhaps you have a decent security plan implemented now, and wish to bolster your security further. Or, maybe you have yet to consider security in any detail, and wish to get help drawing up a plan from scratch. Either way, we are happy to help! Our 34 years in business have been spent creating and implementing security plans with customers in every variety of application. Together, we can create a plan to keep you, your property, and everyone on it as safe and secure as possible.