Checklist for Buying a Home Security System

Getting a home security system can be an involved project. The safety of your home and family rests on a good selection. It’s not something you want to take lightly or do half-way. That’s why before making a decision on a home security system, you need to go in ready with a checklist of things to examine and consider.

Things to look for as recommended by the Washington Crime Prevention Association:

• A supervised system. The control panel and sensors should constantly be sending each other signals.
• The control panel should be in a locked and tamper-proof area.
• The sensor should send two signals to activate the control panel.
• Transmitters should be tamper-proof.

When examining exterior protection options, look for:

Magnetic contacts: The most commonly used, electromechanical device that activates when the magnet and contact are separated. These concealed devices are used on doors and windows.

Window screens: Specially made screens that contain hidden alarm wires. They activate when ripped, torn or removed.

Foil Tape: This thin metallic tape triggers when the foil is torn or broken. Used primarily for commercial settings, it can also be part of a very high level home security system.

Sound Discriminators: Sound-sensing devices activate an alarm after detecting specific sounds such and crashes and broken glass. The big problem with these is that they can often trigger false alarms since they don’t always distinguish between noises as well as they should.

When looking at interior protection options, look for:

Passive Infrared Sensors: Detect infrared heat generated by the presence of a body heat within a protected area. These are great so long as you have no pets.

Pressure Mats: A pressure sensitive flat pad activates when stepped on. However heavy foot traffic can wear them out and cause false alarms. Be careful where you use them.

Photoelectric beams: These transmit an invisible beam across a protected area. An alarm activates when the beam is interrupted.

Motion Detector: This alarm is activated by any movement in an area. Sensors can be either ultrasonic or microwave.

Panic Button: Allows you to activate an alarm system manually with push of a button. They come in both wireless remote and fixed station varieties They are also great for people with medical problems.

Impact Activated Microphones: Microphones that transmit sounds to a receiver at a central location. They detect breaking glass and voices.

Photo via seier+seier