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What to look for in a burglar alarm system

vsaunders | Jun 14, 2010 |

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Nowadays, there are burglar alarm and home security systems that do everything but take out the garbage. With the latest technology, you can manage your system from a smart phone, or watch your place from anywhere in the world over the Internet.

Chances are, unless you have some valuable possessions to protect, you won't need all the bells and whistles. But there are a few features that no burglar alarm system should be without. Here's what you'll need to ensure that your home and property are well protected.

The control panel is the heart of your burglar alarm system. Most often, it's programmed using a wall-mounted keypad, although some newer systems feature wireless remote control devices too. The best have a two-way voice communication set up that lets you converse with your monitoring service if the alarm is triggered.

Door and window sensors secure the perimeter of your home by creating an electrical circuit that triggers the alarm when it is interrupted. You'll need a set for all the windows and doors on the ground floor and for upstairs windows that are near trees or are out of plain sight.

With the perimeter secured, motion sensors are used to detect movement inside the secure area. Several different technologies are used, including radar-based -- like they use in grocery store doors -- photo sensors, and Passive Infrared (PIR), which detects temperature changes in the environment. People with pets should opt for PIR since pets are less likely to trigger false alarms with this kind of motion detection.

A power supply that has a back-up battery is desirable in case the power goes out. And a system that uses cellular service if land lines are down is also an option.

Perhaps the most important part of any system is the yard sign. Combined with a home security service window decal, these let potential intruders know that your home is protected with a burglar alarm. Often, that's enough to convince them to look for other victims.

The other essential element for comprehensive protection is a monitoring service that will call for help if your alarm goes off.

These are the basics, but there are a number of other options you might want to consider adding. Smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors are all designed to alert you of potential dangers to your family. An accompanying sounder that beeps when there's a problem, can warn your family in ample time to avoid a tragedy.

Detectors that monitor for water and extremes of temperature can also protect your home from flooding, burst pipes, and damaged plumbing.

Video surveillance cameras enable you, or a service, to watch your home in real time and the recorded feed can be used as evidence. And valuable objects can enjoy the additional protection offered by sensors that trigger an alarm when a valuable object is moved.

Although you can buy a burglar alarm system over the Internet, it's a good idea to have a security consultant come to your home to see what your exact needs are.