Home Security

Home Security With Lighting

When dealing with a burglar, light is one of your most important allies. Burglars fear three things and those are noise, time and light. We’ll be discussing this last element and see how you can set up your home security system to enhance the effectiveness of your lighting as well as what some of the best and some of the worst lighting security components you can find out there.

Home lighting options

You will basically have several “lines of defense” in what regards your home’s illumination. The first one is the use of outdoor spotlights and landscaping lighting. Outdoor lighting is by far the most important line of defense you’ll have as a well lit house is a certain scarecrow for most burglars. Pay special attention to the areas from which you might think a burglar could sneak in and also illuminate your doors, windows and other critical areas that could be subject of a burglary.

Your next line of defense is your indoor lighting system. This is normally composed of (mostly) your average, day to day light sources that you use, but if you feel you need extra light in some areas that could be a juicy opportunity for a burglar even when you are home but in a different area of the house, you should consider supplementing them with some extra brightness.

Last but not least, if there’s an unlit area in your house and you don’t want to consider getting a light source in there (or if it’s impossible) your last bet is a night-vision home security camera. These cameras act as normal ones during the day, but when the light goes below a certain level, they automatically turn on their infrared mode and they will virtually see every movement through the dark. Obviously, if you’ve gotten to the point where you catch a thief on tape, moving around in your house, chances are you should’ve done more to prevent this situation from happening.

Using lighting to protect your home while you’re on vacation

The old “leave your lights on when going on vacation” trick is rather obsolete, as any clever burglar will notice a house is vacant when the light is on day in and day out (or, well, night in and night out). It will also prove to be quite costly and costly is not an option for something that could very well be useless. For this reason, modern home security systems started implementing remote light controllers that can be used remotely, or even from the Internet. With these remote light controllers connected to every light source in your house, you will be able to turn your lights on and off from a distance, causing the impression that the house is occupied.

Unfortunately, home security lighting technology also had some hiccups over the last few years, one of these being the PIR (passive infrared) controlled floodlights. Despite being a good concept, PIR controlled floodlights are easily outdone by many other lighting sources in what regards home security. Some of the main disadvantages of PIR controlled floodlights include the fact that they only illuminate the surroundings when a burglar has already reached its boundaries, hence he’s already picking your house for the theft and he’s already in your yard; in addition, these floodlights are very inefficient from an the point of view of energy consumption and their high intensity flash lights cause the bulbs to burn off easily and they will require constant attention. For their price, the nuisance they create and their unreliability, you’re very likely to be better off with a different home security lighting system.

Planned Home Security Gives The Peace Of Mind You Deserve.

Fraser Wheaton is the founder and publisher of The Home Security Reports website.

http://www.HomeSecurityReports.com

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Tags: Lighting, Security

Home Security Goes Beyond Alarms – The Facts on Security Windows

There are many things you can do to add something extra to your home security system. For many people, a home alarm is just the first step in providing good home security for their family. There are some things that people never even consider when it comes to security, things such as what kind of windows you have in your home. Depending on where you live, you might require different things from your windows.

In a city many people opt to install security bars on their windows. Some believe these to be eye sores, but for windows on the ground floor of a city apartment building or home they are a must have. There are security bars that can be quite attractive and have an antique look to them, which can be a better option for people who are concerned about the appearance of these bars. These can protect against intruders but also ensure that basement windows aren’t kicked out or accidentally broken by a neighbor child’s soccer ball while playing. Since most intruders won’t be able to make it up to the second story of your home or building, you probably only need to have these installed on the basement and ground floor windows. Another important thing to keep in mind, especially if you have your building split into apartments, is to have a means by which your tenants or family (whichever the case may be) can escape in the even of an emergency. Security bars of high quality should also have a break out mechanism installed so that the bars can be bypassed if there is a fire or some other emergency where you can’t use the doors.

If you live outside the city you might want to take different precautions with your home security windows. There is a type of film or laminate that you can put on your windows that will ensure that shards of glass don’t go all over your home if a window is broken. This might not be your first concern if your window has been broken due to a burglary, but there are a lot of other reasons a window could have been broken. Rough housing kids or a simple slip and fall could be the culprit of a broken window and having dangerous pieces of broken glass can turn a harmless event into something much more serious. But these laminates or films can also be effective in protecting against burglaries as well. They actually make the windows more difficult to break and therefore make it more difficult for a thief to enter this way. You could even smash the window several times with a hammer and still not get through.

Home security windows can do a lot to add to the security of your property. Making these adjustments on your home might cost a little bit of money, but they are an investment and worth it in the long run with what you will receive in return.

Get home security windows to improve the security of your home. There are many alarm products that can benefit your home.

Tags: Alarms, Beyond, Facts, Security, Windows

7 DIY Home Security Projects

For the weekend do-it-yourselfer there are several projects to be completed to make your home secure. The average homeowner will often not recognize some of these home security projects as a way to make their home more secure. So let’s start with some of the obvious.

Install your own home security system.

By doing it yourself you will be able to pick the pieces you want to start off with and add to at a later time. However, if you feel the task of install a wired system too daunting, you can always opt for a wireless system. Wireless systems are the simplest to install. With a wireless system you may want to have a second phone line installed to accommodate the wireless system.

Install sturdy door and window locks

Each exterior door should have a dead bolt lock installed on it. The dead bolt must have at a minimum of 5 levers inside the lock and should be a double cylinder. They are more difficult of a lock difficult to pick.

The sliding glass doors are another favorite of intruders. The doors can be easily pushed off of the track. Patio bolts provide a good defense especially paired with a deadlocking handle.

Check the lighting around your home

How well is your home illuminated at night? Are the doors and windows dark or well lit? Motion activated lights are a great way to illuminate the outside of your home without having to leave the light on all night long.

Check the shrubs and bushes around your home

Have the bushes grown up so tall that you can not see the window from the street? If so, it is time to break out the hedge clippers and trim back the bushes. Tall bushes are a great place for a bugler to hide in and work on breaking into your home.

Add home security devices

If you already have a home security system installed, take an inventory of the accessories. There are a lot of home security accessories, such as sirens, strobe lights, motion detectors, surveillance cameras, and glass break detectors that can be added to your security system.

A commonly overlooked accessory category is fire and smoke detection. Consider adding smoke, heat and carbon dioxide detectors to your home security system.

A secure and locking mailbox

Why do you need one? Simple, two words identity theft. Around the first and fifteenth of every month people pay their bills. Their mail boxes are filled with credit card statements, utility bills and a host of other bills. For an identity theft, this is great information to use to steal your identity.

Video cameras

Video cameras have come down in price and the features that you can get in a camera are astounding. For the outside of you home invest in night vision video cameras that use infrared emitters to ‘light’ up the area they are watching.

All of these DIY home security projects will increase your safety and protect your home from burglars and intruders.

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Tags: Projects, Security

Home Security For First Time Home Buyers

Amidst the excitement of purchasing your first home thoughts often go to interior design or landscaping updates. All too often new home-owners neglect to consider protecting their investment until they come home from work to discover that the HDTV or Grandma Minnie’s treasured bracelet have been stolen along with their sense of security.

There are a few things that you can do to protect your investments. First and foremost you should have a good home insurance policy. This is often a requirement of mortgage loans. Insurance can help replace the monetary loss resulting from burglary but cannot restore the sense of loss or the feeling of insecurity after being the victim of this form of tragedy.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The best form of prevention is a home security system with monitoring services.

One of the most important things to consider when selecting a home security system is the company’s monitoring centers. A company with only one home security monitoring center may not be able to offer you complete coverage if they find themselves the victim of a power outage or a natural disaster. ADT home security provides customers with five monitoring centers which can immediately take over if a center goes down so that you can rest assured that your home is protected 24 hours a day.

Another consideration should be communication with the monitoring center. With the increase in wireless communications and the decrease in the use of land-lines look for a home security service that can also provide monitoring using cellular towers such as ADT SafeWatch Cellguard.

If an emergency is detected at your home the monitoring center will typically call you to ask for the security code. This will tell the monitoring center that you and your family are safe. An impressive feature in home security systems is two-way voice communication linking you directly with a dispatcher no matter where you are in your home.

A loss of power should not mean a loss of home protection. Make sure to look for a home security system that has a battery backup. This will ensure that you and your home will still be protected during a power outage.

Often the knowledge that your home is protected by a home security system is a deterrent for the petty thief. Even the smallest detail should not be overlooked when considering a home security system. Almost all home security services will provide you with yard signs and window decals which warn potential intruders that you home is being monitored.

Look for equipment accessories such as keychain remote access. This handy little device can make the difference when you are rushing out the door and forget to arm your home security system. It can also be used to disarm the system upon your return. While many of the security service providers charge you for this handy addition this device is a standard included in ADT Security Services.

Many people may be unaware that a home security system can protect you during other emergency situations. Some home security systems can be upgraded to include sensors for monitoring smoke, heat, carbon monoxide, water, and freeze such as the ADT monitoring system.

Keep the nightmares at bay by researching home security services before signing the closing documents on your dream home. It will give you the peace of mind that not only is your home protected but that someone is looking after you and your family.

Bruce Kelly, the author of this article, is an ADT adviser with Security Choice, an ADT Home Security authorized company. ADT is the Nation’s leading provider of security alarm systems. Protect your home and loved ones today with America’s most trusted security company, ADT.

Tags: Buyers, First, Security

Supplement Your Home Security System With a Permanent Escape and Rescue Ladder

Millions of households have integrated home security systems into their daily lives to protect their home and family. These security solutions typically include some form of fire monitoring whether it be simple smoke detectors, fire or smoke monitoring, or a one-touch button to call for fire rescue assistance. While fire and smoke detection are very important it is equally essential that a fire escape route be established in your home for your family’s protection.

A simple device installed in homes with more than one story can save the lives of our family members. It would be wise to consider installing a Permanent Escape and Rescue Ladder (PEARL). Escape ladders can provide your family members with a safe way of exiting the home if the primary exit is blocked by fire or some other emergency. When your security system alerts your family members to a fire they will have additional time to attempt to evacuate. Evacuation is a breeze with this permanent ladder system.

The PEARL ladders are very compact and can be integrated into your home easily. The ladder compartment is installed in the wall below a window eliminating the unsightly mess many escape ladders leave. The ladder compartment can be painted to any color to match the décor of your home. Inside the door of the compartment are easy to understand instructions on how to use the ladder. The ladder rungs are neatly stacked to prevent the tangling often associated with most escape ladders. A tangled ladder could potentially prevent evacuation. The PEARL ladder combined with your alarm system will help you to rest well at night knowing that your family will have a means to escape in the event of a fire or other emergency.

The PEARL escape ladders have many features which will be of interest to consumers. Whether you have a two or three story home these ladders can provide an emergency route for your family. This company made their ladders to be extremely strong supporting up to 1500 pounds. The strength of this ladder can allow many people to evacuate at the same time if necessary. Ease of use is another big benefit of this permanent ladder. The simple pull assembly and lightweight construction make it easy for a child to deploy the ladder on their own.

Consumers across the country have been taking the time and making the effort to keep their families secure. This simple ladder makes is an essential component for anyone with a multiple story home. The first method of detection should be your home security system. If you have not installed a security system with monitoring capabilities it is a vital system which can save the lives of your family members if an emergency is detected.

There are many home security products on the market including do-it-yourself kits and professionally monitored systems. The benefit of a monitoring security system is a faster response time if an emergency is detected. Monitoring centers are immediately notified that a condition exist requiring emergency response personnel. Local fire, police, or medical units are notified quickly providing your family with the necessary assistance they may need. A home security system is not just a line of defense against burglary. It watches of you and your family all day every day giving you the assurance that your family is safe and sound whether you are home with them or away on business.

ADT home security is the leading provider of home security systems in the U.S. Help protect your home and family today with ADT alarm systems from the number-one name in home security.

Tags: Escape, Ladder, Permanent, Rescue, Security, Supplement, System