About Home Security Systems

Most home security systems have small sensors glued around all the doors and windows. When the home system is "armed," even the slightest opening of a window or door will trigger an alarm that is heard in and outside the home, as well as at a 24-hour monitoring station. If the alarm is not dis-armed within a certain period of time--usually 30 to 60 seconds--someone at the monitoring station will call the home. If there is no answer, an immediate call to another number on a list provided by the homeowner, will be made. If no contact can be made within a short amount of time, an immediate call to law enforcement authorities is made and a patrol car will be dispatched to the house.

In addition to the basic system that sounds an alarm when a window or door is opened or breached, you can get systems that are also attached to your smoke alarms and will alert the fire department if smoke is detected. You might also want an outside motion detector as part of your alarm system, one that will trigger a flood light if someone is detected lurking near your doors or windows. Older systems were likely to turn the lights on intruders such as cats or raccoons, but more advanced technology can now gauge the size of potential intruder and only turn on when it appears to be a person and not the neighbor's tabby prowling about. Some new home security systems can even detect flooding and dangerous gases.

Just having an alarm company sign in your yard or a sticker on a window may send some potential burglars to another house, but knowing that your windows and doors are equipped with highly sensitive alarm triggers will help you sleep at night--whether you're at home or miles away from your home. Some insurance companies also offer discounts if you have a home security system, but check with your insurance carrier first to make sure.

Even a basic system can be a little pricey, and because the costs and features can range considerably, you'll want to do your homework and talk with several companies about your needs. For a typical single-family home installation fees can range between $50 and $500, with monthly monitoring fees of around $30 to $50. Obviously the more features the system has, the higher the price, so consider what you want out of the system and what the other features are really worth to you. Because most systems rely on a keypad code to engage or disarm the alarm, consider who will be going in and out of the house and who will need to memorize the code. Think about a specific code or system that can be easily recalled by older family members with memory challenges or kids who may have equal trouble remembering a code they don't punch in daily. Nothing can get you panicking more than trying to remember a code while an alarm is blaring. Some systems come with a small tag that you can keep on a keychain that will disarm with system simply by waving it near the main unit. Again, think about what you want and shop around.

Home security systems will not prevent you from being robbed. They can decrease your chances considerably, but an alarm system is just that -- something to sound an alarm. Thieves can get in and get out while an alarm is sounding, but before you, neighbors or the authorities arrive. Hopefully, the bad guys who might strike your neighborhood won't want any part of the blaring noise and automated police call associated with a well-functioning alarm system. The other popular misconception is that the alarms are 100 percent fool-proof. You're going to want to make sure your back-up battery system is working and that the sensors around your doors and windows are working well, too. Technical glitches can occur, rendering the system useless for a time. But regular maintenance, as recommended by your alarm company, can eliminate that problem. And an alarm system is only effective if it's activated. Maintaining a home security system does not have to be an expensive proposition. As mentioned above, monthly monitoring fees range from about $30 to $50, though more involved systems with hands-free, two-way communication and other features can increase the fee considerably.