As a complete security integrator, we’ve long touted burglar alarms as one of the most powerful forms of security. These systems create a blaring onsite response to an activation. If monitored, they also create a central station response that can lead to a police dispatch if necessary. The combination of an immediate onsite notice to a breach and a visit from the authorities makes installing a burglar alarm a great decision for any property owner. As part of installing these systems, we place contacts on each exterior door. Additionally, we also make a plan to provide important window security as well. This aspect of alarm design has several variables, and we have many options when addressing it. For this reason, securing your windows deserves special attention when determining a security plan. Today, we’ll show you how exactly what solutions we use to create this valuable security for you!
First, we’ll show you the most popular and “basic” method of securing your windows using individual sensors for each window. Installing window sensors makes it very difficult for burglars to break in to smaller double-hung windows without detection. From there, we’ll move on to equipment that secures large areas rather than individual windows. Namely, we’ll discuss fairly common equipment such as motion detectors and glass break detectors. Additionally, we’ll also detail our security screen offerings, which provide extremely effective and unique security. Finally, we’ll review smart camera security, as surveillance represents a great way to add window security to any home. Now, let’s dive in with a look at window sensors’ place in securing your windows with a monitored security system.
Securing Individual Windows
Window contacts (also called “sensors”) create basic window security on a per-window basis. The sensor generally sits on the window itself, with a magnet on the window frame. Once the window opens, the magnet and the contact move away 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 window to hold the button in place. Upon the 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.
Window sensors, such as this wireless model by Interlogix, activate when the magnet (on the left) separates from the sensor itself (on the right).
However, installing window sensors on every window can get expensive quickly. Additionally, these sensors do not work on picture windows, and do not create an alarm activation if someone breaks into your home without physically opening a window. Our next type of window security sensors can create efficient security that addresses these issues!
Creating Window Security in Large Areas
At this point, we’ll shift our focus to sensors that go about securing your windows without installation on the windows themselves. As we mentioned earlier, the equipment described here can catch activity that window sensors will miss, making it an important addition to any alarm. Additionally, installing these sensors and foregoing individual window sensors can cerate a more cost-effective security solution, especially for homes with many windows. Let’s begin with a sensor that can secure your rooms with large panes of glass, which often entices thieves.
Motion Detectors
Motion detectors generally work by sensing the heat caused by a person walking into a room. We often install these detectors in rooms with many windows or with 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. As we mentioned above, 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 recommend installing these sensors in your home’s main areas. Now, let’s move on to some of the lesser-known ways we secure our customers’ windows!
Glassbreak detectors, such as this one by Interlogix, can detect thieves before they enter your home.
Glass Break Detectors
Glass break detectors play a large role in our security installations for customers with picture windows or sliding doors. 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 which allow burglars to gain entry by breaking glass and walking right in.
Since these sensors activate upon the breaking of glass, they create a siren response before a burglar enters your home, rather than after! This gives them a leg up on motion detectors, which do not sense a thief’s presence until they’ve entered your home. Furthermore, you can arm your glass break detectors while you are home. This option is not possible with motion detectors. Let’s now look at one more type of security product designed to stop burglars from ever entering your home.
Security Screens
A lot of our customers have never heard of security window screens. Despite this fact, window screens can provide a great first defense against intruders. In order to break in through a window, burglars must first remove or cut through any screen blocking their way. Monitored window screens will create an alarm response as soon as this happens. Whether a burglar carefully removes the screen or brazenly cuts through it, these actions create an alarm response. Hearing the siren at this very early point in their burglary attempt can unnerve thieves. Window screens can create the quickest possible alarm response to a burglar’s attempts to break in through a window.
Connecting Smart Cameras to Your Alarm
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.
Our Alarm.com smart cameras allow you to add window security by keeping an eye on your property 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 Securing Your Windows with Your Alarm
We hope that this post helps you in securing your windows using your alarm system. As always, we encourage you to contact us with any questions raised by this post. We will happily answer any and all of your security-related inquiries. Additionally, we also invite you to take advantage of our free site survey program. We offer both new and existing customers alike the opportunity to receive complimentary security audits and equipment quotes.
During our visit, we can discuss solutions to your existing security concerns. Furthermore, we can make suggestions of our own based on our observations of your property. Perhaps you have a security system in place but wish to take advantage of the suggestions in this post. Or, maybe you need a brand new security system designed from the ground up! Either way, we are here to help. Together, we can create a complete security plan to keep your home, your valuables, and your family as safe and secure as possible.