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How to Install Burglar
Alarms
Home security is regulated listed among the paramount concerns
of homeowners, and with good reason. No matter how much money
you put into renovation, repair and upkeep, all that effort
will mean little if the entire house can be easily breached by
an intruder. Although some such criminals only come for your
valuables, it’s sadly all too common for botched burglary
attempts to result in serious injury and even death. It is for
this reason that burglar alarms have become obligatory
elements in any well-kept home. If you’re like many
homeowners, you may have wondered whether precautions such as
these should require you spend thousands on a professional
installation.
The answer is no. Although a number of sophisticated systems
come with trip wires, motion sensors and other advanced
electronics built in, for the most part such devices are
modular. That means the electronics that run them are
essentially self-contained, so the installation is largely
conventional and familiar. If you can attach screws, check
circuits and test the proper operation of simple consumer
electronics, you should be able to get an entire network up
and running within a matter of hours. Exercise good judgment
about the placement and orientation of your alarm components
and you can expect outstanding security for years into the
future.
The most important step to any installation is choosing the
proper configuration for your home. Although a number of
security companies would have you believe countless sensors
and alarms are required for airtight security, the truth is
that nearly every home intrusion utilizes the basic doors and
windows you would expect. That means it pays to be
conservative about how much you pay – more bells and whistles
rarely translates into better security. Still, most of the
experts agree that the surest way to protect your family is to
cover all the bases carefully, including chimneys and smaller
windows.
Place the alarm itself somewhere it can be heard, and be sure
to test it regularly. If there is one constant in police
reports of failed security systems, it tends to be that the
alarm itself failed to sound adequately. Even in homes where
an alarm is prevalent, it’s important to train family members
– and neighbors – to recognize it immediately. Anything less
that proper preparation and you could end up a victim of
“distributed responsibility,” that tendency of bystanders and
neighbors to ignore sounds of distress because they assume
someone else must have taken care of it. Thankfully most
quality alarms are deafening and consistent, so if you can
attach a backplate to a wall and secure a few screws and nuts,
this part of the job goes rather quickly.
Next you want to install your various sensing devices. Nearly
all such devices work with magnets, so it is important to
measure carefully to ensure you have two distinct settings
when the door or window is either open or closed. If you place
the magnets too far apart to begin with, for instance, you may
encounter troubles as the circuit doesn’t know when an opening
has been breached. Test a few times to see just what kind of
activity it takes to trigger the alarm, and adjust accordingly
until you have the sensitivity you want.
The most demanding part of the burglar alarm installation
process is setting up a circuit that will always work if any
node is disrupted. The wire itself is made to be thin, light
and unobtrusive – fragile intentionally because you want it to
be responsive. The first connection you’ll make is to the
terminals in your alarm box, a job which may require
rudimentary knowledge of how to strip and wrap wires. Next
lead the line to the first sensor and attach to the terminal
screws in the same way. You’ll then continue in this way,
running along floorboards or under carpeting, until the full
circuit has been completed. Test it per the manufacturer’s
instructions. If all appears to be working, you only need to
check battery leads or power sources once a month or so to
make sure the entire system remains audible and accurate.
Benefits of Wireless
Alarm Systems
Alarm systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes nowadays,
from very basic motion-activated alarms through fully
monitored home security systems. In between lie a number of
variations on a theme, including trip wires, motion sensors,
closed circuit telemetry and more. If you have come online in
search of some good information about which system may be best
for you, it helps to consider each room the standpoint of
expense and reliability. The truth about alarm systems is that
more money doesn’t always ensure superior performance – in
fact, above a certain threshold, you may even see diminishing
returns.
One of the hottest new varieties of home security system is
the wireless kind. These simple systems rely on radio signals
to keep everything connected. The advantage is that you save
tremendous amounts of time and money on the installation –
with few exceptions, most wireless alarm systems can be
installed in a matter of hours. The reason for this is simple,
of course: no wires means no electrical leads, wire-stripping
or circuit testing. Often all you need is a few screws, some
basic tools and a little patience to have everything up and
running within a day.
Wireless alarm systems come with a host of other advantages as
well. Many experts cite their outstanding range as an
essential asset – some of the best systems can communicate
readily over hundreds of feet without difficulty, effectively
doubling the size of the dragnet you deploy. For homeowners
with large properties or anyone looking to cover a greater
swath of territory, simple solutions like these let you create
vast and effective networks quite literally out of thin air.
Couple the basic components with additional sensors that
transmit their own radio signals and you can even
“daisy-chain” several systems together to cover unlimited
acreage.
Of course, distance is just one of the things that wireless
systems do well. Another is penetrating walls, building
materials and other obstacles that might otherwise present a
prohibitive expense for installation. Although most
electricians can bore through concrete given the proper tools,
there are some homes that make use of virtually impenetrable
layers such as granite and marble for their aesthetic value.
Wiring such exotic materials can be an exhausting and
exorbitant proposition – one which sends many electricians
scurrying to find a contractor. Go wireless and you can forego
such destructive installation altogether, relying on nothing
less than energy itself to carry those encrypted signals from
station to station.
A third great advantage of the wireless approach is that such
systems do not have to rely on your home’s power grid to
function. Although a number of traditional alarm systems use
battery backup, the truth is that such emergency measures only
last so long before they are exhausted. Alarm systems that
were designed to operate wirelessly from day one, however,
tend to offer far more robust and reliable battery power. Many
of them also prompt homeowners to check the batteries fairly
often – a feature few wired security systems ever offer.
Finally, many wireless alarm systems include cellular
notification for monitoring purposes. To many experts, this
feature represents the true power of the wireless model.
Unlike more conventional systems that rely on phone lines to
contact authorities to your home, wireless systems offer
sufficient signal strength to get in touch on their own. That
means even if the power goes out or the home’s phone lines are
cut, you can still expect first responders to arrive within a
matter of minutes once the alarm has been tripped. Savvy
criminals have been known to splice even dedicated landlines
to avoid this kind of response, so a fine wireless system is
the surest way to stay ahead of such tactics.
If you have been looking for an alarm system that is
inexpensive, effective and easy to install, you may want to
look into the many benefits of today’s finest wireless alarm
systems. Stick with major brand names and follow the
manufacturers’ instructions to the letter if you want to enjoy
many years of airtight security from your product. As long as
you test it regularly and change the batteries often, you
should without question sleep better at night.
How to Install a Smoke
Detector
Many people take smoke detectors for granted, but the truth is
that these simple devices save thousands of lives each year.
Home fires have grown more common over the last several
decades as increasing numbers of electronics have overburdened
the circuitry in older homes. Couple this with the wide array
of recreational activities that can lead to fire and it’s no
wonder so many federal and state regulations insist that smoke
detectors be installed in every room. If you are wondering
where and how to install smoke detectors in your own home, it
may help to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
The most important part of installing any smoke detector is
understanding why they are necessary. Although much of the
news about fires tends to focus on dramatic burns and
household damage, the truth is that smoke can kill and injure
you far more quickly than actual flames. When homes burn, they
tend to release prodigious quantities of toxic gas and debris,
including powerful carcinogens, cyanide and worse. But the
most insipid part of most home fires is the sudden rush of
carbon monoxide – this odorless gas can render people
unconscious in a matter of seconds, dooming them to
catastrophic inaction in the face of an enveloping blaze.
The most basic way to fight back against such danger is to
place the smoke detectors in smart places. Some people
mistakenly believe that one per home is plenty, but the truth
is that instant-response devices such as these need proximity
to do any good. Bedrooms are obligatory locations for smoke
detectors, though you may also want to add more in hallways,
meeting areas, basements and attics – anywhere an errant arc
or spark could create a conflagration. It’s wise to err on the
side of overkill when it comes to these simple machines,
especially in homes that house children or heavy sleepers.
Once you have chosen your locations, it is essential to
install each in the right part of the room. Fires tend to
crawl across floors, furniture and other low-clung surfaces,
but the fire isn’t what smoke detectors are looking for. The
smoke itself poses the immediate danger, and that smoke tends
to be hotter than the surrounding air. Because heat rises,
smoke tends to accumulate along the upper edges of any space.
This is why manufacturers insist that smoke detectors are
installed near the ceiling of rooms where they will pick up
airborne particles most quickly. For walls, this means 4 to 8
inches clearance from the ceiling, and for ceilings it means a
similar clearance from the nearest wall.
Actually installing the smoke detector may be the simplest
part of the process. Most basic designs attach with a few
simple screws, though it is important to find a proper patch
of wall space for a secure fit. If your home has drywall or
temporary materials in place, vibration and impact could knock
a smoke detector off its perch. Look for wall studs and be
sure to tighten everything well – houses that are coming
undone may be wracked by explosions and movement before the
blaze ever reaches your door. One final note for residents of
earthquake-prone cities – you may want to opt for longer
screws. Be sure and check building codes before you come home
with all your materials.
Thankfully, maintaining a smoke detector couldn’t be simpler.
Every node comes with a test button built in, and most will
begin to chirp if the battery is running low. Indicator lights
such as LEDs provide an additional layer of redundancy as
well. You still want to test the system often and replace the
batteries long before they expire. Most experts also recommend
training your family to respond immediately to the sound of a
triggered detector, including defining a path and meeting
place in the event of fire.
If you want to provide additional protection, you can also
invest in smoke detectors that hook into home alarm systems
for a comprehensive monitoring solution. Systems such as these
do the simple sound alarm one better by calling emergency
services to your doorstep – a pricier option, to be sure, but
one which may literally save your life.
Options for Home
Security Systems
We live in uncertain times, with a number of cities reporting
substantial crime rates that never seem to diminish into
anything like a comfort zone. Despite the best efforts of
neighborhood watches and municipal police forces, an
opportunistic criminal will almost invariably find a way to
make it into your home. This is why so many homeowners opt
each year to take matters into their own hands by investing in
a good home security system. Many of the finest models come
with outstanding response and exceptional resistance –
everything you need to buy the time necessary for a
professional intercession.
What does home security really mean? Some people define it
simply as creating a home that is effectively impregnable to
criminals – the fortress model. Others prefer silent alarms
and notifications instead – the eye in the sky. And nearly
everyone looks at home security as a bulwark against theft and
violence, offering alternative means of escape and defense
that may not necessarily come included in the blueprints to
that structure. No matter what your priorities or budget, you
should be able to find something that helps you sleep easier
at night.
Some of the most basic home security measures are also the
most effective. Door alarms and breakage alarms offer sirens,
lights and other spectacular responses if any egress has been
compromised. Many of these work not unlike a car alarm,
creating commotion to scare criminals away, inform the
residents something is amiss and get the gears turning on a
neighborhood response. Although some come with only basic trip
wires and magnetic seals, more advanced versions may include
gyroscopic sensors and infrared, virtually ensuring no party
can pass undetected. Arm them once a night and you will know
anytime someone is coming or going.
More advanced sensors may cover the exterior and interior as
well, offering something like real-time monitoring at low
cost. These tend to work on infrared as well, ignoring leaves
as they blow by but zeroing in instantly on any warm bodies.
The great advantage to motion sensing of this sort is that it
doesn’t rely on predetermined access points to your home – if
someone is inside, no matter how they got there, the system
will know. That said, a number of people still like to
supplement motion sensors with simple mechanical devices such
as door and window jammers to further reduce the chance of a
break-in.
All of the devices discussed so far have one thing in common –
they are self-contained home units whose only response is an
alarm. If you want to invest in something far more
sophisticated, it may be time to graduate to a system that can
communicate on your behalf. The best of these offer detailed
information to a central security command the instant your
home is violated, including where the criminal may be in the
home at that precise moment. Depending on your preference, you
can even set many such alarms to trigger silently, giving
police responders the element of surprise as they apprehend
that intruder.
The final tier of security does monitoring systems one better
by adding real-time telemetry, including live video and sound.
Elite security systems often make use of such measures to
eliminate uncertainty and provide first responders with
essential information in a pinch. Video monitoring lets them
know how many intruders you have, for instance, as well as
whether family members are inside the house. It can also be
used as ready evidence if someone manages to escape, ensuring
you never have to worry about the same problem recurring in
the future.
There are advantages and weaknesses associated with every kind
of home security, so the best advice is simply to exercise
caution. The truly paranoid and outlandishly wealthy may even
look into the market for so-called “panic rooms,” though most
experts recommend against anything that traps you in the event
of danger. One thing you should never do without considerable
training is bring a gun into your home. A high number of
break-ins turn to tragedy every year when such weaponry is
used against the homeowners themselves.
Home Fire Safety
Fire safety should be at the top of your priority list if you
want to protect your family in the event of an emergency.
Here's some advice on keeping your home and family safe and
sound:
1. Prevention is the best method of fire protection. In
residences, most fires break out when family members are
cooking and using various heating appliances. Common sense
rules here – don't leave food unattended (either on the stove
or in the oven) and don't wear long, loose-fitting clothing
when cooking.
2. For the smokers out there, realize that most fire deaths
are a result of a smoking-related blaze. Smoking is the second
leading cause of residential fires. Smokers must refrain from
smoking in bed and should never leave cigarettes burning in a
room. Never dump the smoldering contents of an ashtray into
the trash and don't smoke near upholstery.
3. Protect your children from potential fire hazards. Store
matches, lighters, and flammable substances in safe places,
out of children's reach, and never leave burning candles
unattended.
Smoke alarms are the most effective method of alerting you to
a fire. In fact, they decrease the risk of death by 40-50%.
Install one smoke alarm per bedroom and one on each floor of
the house (this includes the basement). Lithium-powered
batteries are ideal because this type of battery can last up
to 10 years. Installing smoke alarms with hush buttons is also
a good idea, as this makes it easier to deal with the alarm
when it goes off due to excess steam or oven smoke in the
house.
Not everyone has lithium battery smoke alarms, so for devices
that take regular batteries, ensure that you change them once
a year.
Remember to make the change by doing it every year in the
autumn when you change the clocks back one hour. Also test the
alarms once a month to see that they are continuing to work
properly.
Keep a good fire extinguisher in the house at all times, and
make sure everyone knows how to use it properly.
Discuss a family fire escape plan with your whole family and
review it every six months. Your plan should include at least
2 ways of escaping every room in the house in the event of a
fire inside your home. Also, assign a meeting place in front
of the house or apartment building where everyone is to meet
in case of a fire emergency. |
