Choosing Your DIY Security System
Selecting a security system to install yourself takes a lot of thought. You’ll find no shortage of options as you look around at some of the big DIY security system vendors like Security Systems Pro. Because you’re not going through one of the major security alarm companies, you’ll have to be even more informed than the average consumer.
Think through your home and family needs before making your important selection.
- Consult with a reputable home security system adviser. Select someone from the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (www.iapsc.org) to ensure you get someone with a standard of honesty, ethics and integrity.
- Choose a security system with a control panel that can monitor all the zones you have in your home. Each window or door integrated into the system is considered a zone. A basic security system is capable of controlling eight zones. However, many panels permit the addition of expansion modules that allow the system to watch up to 32 zones.
- Determine if the routing of the wires for a hard-wired security system might be too long. With a wired system, you will have to drill holes in walls where wires will have to be routed. If the wire run appears too long to you, choose a wireless security system.
- Make certain that a wireless security system can perform up to the distance of the farthest zone.
- Be certain that the security system you choose can accept fire-protection sensors, carbon monoxide sensors and combustible-gas detectors, anti-freeze-up low-temperature switches (especially in cold climates) and water detectors. Make sure panic buttons are or can be included.
- Choose a system that is user-friendly. Make certain that inputting codes into the keypad is not a complicated process and is one that everyone in the family can learn quickly. You don’t want to have to refer to the owner’s manual as you input or try to interpret codes.
Work the keypad of the security system you select to assure yourself that it is easy to use. Encourage all family members to work the keypad so that you will select one that everyone can use comfortably.