NorthStar Alarm Services

Home Security & How Can I Improve It?

Burglars are often opportunists, but are very good at targeting properties that appear undefended that leave doors and windows open. The first thing you should look at when improving your home security is securing your doors and windows. Consider installing deadbolt door locks for your doors and secure window catches for windows, especially the catches that don’t allow your window to open more than a few inches. It may be worth replacing your doors and/or windows if they are old and in need of repair. The worse condition they are in, the easier it will be for an intruder to break into your property.

Improving your exterior lighting will considerably increase your home security as intruders obviously don’t want to be seen when breaking into a property. Make sure you choose a position to mount your security lighting so that very poor lit areas of your garden will be illuminated. A popular choice is the PIR motion sensor exterior security light which senses changes in heat and hence will illuminate when something is within its range. These can also act as a welcome-home light to illuminate your path when you arrive home at night. It is also worth cutting down overgrown bushes and trees as these often shield a burglars attempt at the break-in.

Interior lighting is just as important as you will want to give the impression that someone is always at home. A dark, unlit house is a magnet to the burglar. Use timers to switch your lights on and off. You could also leave a radio switched on.

One of the most effective ways to defend your home is to install a home alarm system. The visual presence of a siren/bell box together with signage will often put off a burglar, even before they set foot onto your land. But for those who think they are smarter than the alarm system will get a surprise when they trigger the sounder. A professionally installed alarm system will prevent virtually all burglaries attempted by opportunist intruders. Ultimately, when a burglar sees you have an alarm system, they will move on to an easier target.

For real peace of mind, install a monitored burglar alarm system. These systems are connected via your phone line to a monitoring center. If your alarm system is triggered then the monitoring center are notified and they immediately call your home. Unless whoever picks up the phone can give the correct pass-code or if there is no answer then they will call the authorities straight away. If you are concerned that the burglar may cut your phone line then you can install a wireless monitored alarm system. These use regular cell phone technology to dial the alarm center so no phone line is needed.

Always go for a quality alarm system and the best you can afford. Less expensive alarm systems may be easily disabled by a burglar. Take advice from a leading alarm company before you purchase a system so that you get the correct and most effective security solution for your requirements.

By: Andy Jon

Travel Away from Home with Peace of Mind with a Home Security System

With the summer travel season approaching in a few months, many people are planning on taking extended vacations away from their home. While this may be an enjoyable time for the family, it is also a time when the home is vulnerable to break ins and burglaries. Before you take that trip this summer, buy yourself a little peace of mind and have a home security system professionally installed. Having a fully monitored home security system means your home will be protected from theft and intrusion while you are away enjoying your vacation and you can rest assured that help will be dispatched if the alarm is triggered.

Having a home security system with professional installation and live monitoring is a good investment for any home. With crime statistics showing home invasions and burglaries on the upswing, it’s important to have protection for your home all year round. Having a monitored home security system is a sure way to have help dispatched to your home when the alarm is triggered so a burglary can be stopped in its tracks. This is important regardless of whether you are at home or away on vacation. While you are a way on vacation, as long as your system is armed, you home is protected by around the clock monitoring. You do not have to worry if your home is safe from intrusion. Monitoring guarantees that help will be summoned immediately to your home hopefully in time to apprehend any intruders who were not scared off by the high decibel alarm that sounded when they broke into your home.

When you are travelling away from home, the last thing you should worry about is your home’s security. That is why having a professionally monitored home security system is a good idea. It allows you to travel away from your home with the peace of mind that your home is protected around the clock by state of the art technology and live monitors who are standing by in a centralized monitoring center ready to act should an alarm be triggered at your home. They are well versed in the protocols of what to do when an alarm is triggered in your home, and if they are unsuccessful in their attempts to reach you, they will immediately call the police to your location.

Live monitoring means never having to depend on neighbors to act when they hear your security alarm sounding. Many people disregard security alarms or figure that the homeowners are handling it in their own way. The monitors make sure that each alarm that is triggered is handled in a professional fashion and that police are dispatched to every alarm that is verified as valid by the monitor. This means that your home is covered and police will respond to an alarm whether you are home or not.

With the travelling season of summer approaching, many homeowners who will be taking extended vacations should really consider investing in a monitored home security system. It is a surefire way to make sure you home is protected while you are away from any unwanted intrusion and burglary with a guarantee that help will be dispatched when the alarm is triggered.

By: Laura Williamson

Honeywell Security System

Honeywell security systems are considered one of the best in home security service. Majority of home security system companies all over the United States extensively use Honeywell security systems for residential and commercial property protection and monitoring. You would be able to function peacefully, only when you know that your home and all your loved family members are safe and everything is secure. Data prove that in-security systems had helped in protecting property and in preventing loss of human life. As such, the money spent in a good home security system is one of the best and wisest investments that anyone could think of.

Honeywell security systems for residences had been designed with special care for complete protection. The heart or the brain of the home security system is the control panel, which is normally placed in a basement or a closet. Several sensors are located throughout the house and they are connected to the control panel. When the security system is armed or activated, the sensors detect any intrusion or tampering of the doors and windows. Immediately they send a signal to the central control panel and in turn, the control panel connects to the monitoring station and alerts the dispatchers monitoring the installations on a 24×7 basis. The dispatchers notify the relevant authorities like the local police station or the fire service station.

The specialty of Honeywell security system is that the latest systems function on the breakthrough technology of wireless connections. They overcome the problem of the burglars cutting the telephone wires, as well as the telephone system failing due to a power outage or faulty telephone lines. At the same time, they are very flexible during installation. Drilling of holes in the walls and ceilings are avoided. The wireless Honeywell security system is not only cleaner but also faster. The wireless keypads allow you to operate the Honeywell security system at the touch of a single button. It is also quite small like a car alarm key. Hence, it could be attached to a keychain and carried around easily.

Another innovation of Honeywell security system is known as the interactive telephone module. When this interactive telephone module is appended to the home security system, you would be able to access the system from any landline or a cellular phone, irrespective of your remaining in any part of the world. This system allows you to operate your lights, thermostat, air conditioner, and other home appliances on a remote basis, which is an added advantage at a very small extra cost. Further, the Honeywell security system also comes with add-ons like smoke, fire and gas detectors and pet immune motion detectors for absolute protection of your loved property. The passive infrared motion detector or PIR monitors the entire house and triggers the alarm when somebody intrudes in the property. Install Honeywell security system in your home and enjoy complete peace of mind. Honeywell security system dealers are present in Houston and all other cities in the US.

By: Writers Den

The Flaws of Cheap Security Systems

What can you really expect of cheap security systems? They are easy on your budget and usually very easy to install. People choose cheap security systems in an effort to address their security needs but still avoid paying the cost of an electronic security system. No one’s judging you if you take this action! After all, you can only afford so much a month. However, you may want to consider that cheap security systems can be expensive in the long run. If you lose half of your possessions, suddenly that $20 security measure actually costs you several thousand dollars—not to mention great emotional pain that could result from the loss of personal possession! Let’s discuss some of the cheapest security systems and why these systems are flawed.

Man’s Best Friend: Man’s best friend seems like a ready defender. Dogs do bark and some will bite quite viciously if approached by a stranger. However, putting dogs in the backyard or tying them to a chain at night is never going to be a reliable means of protecting the house. The dog can be injured by a motivated thief. The dog can be bribed with steak or any number of other distractions. The dog will probably end up being more trouble than he’s worth, since his barking will probably only annoy neighbors instead of inform them of trouble.

Siren Alarms: Siren alarms are all about noise but not much intelligence. When a siren alarm sounds the whole neighborhood is alerted. However, no one actually calls the police unless the alarm continues for an unusually long time. Neighbors might assume that you turned on the alarm by accident (and many homeowners do) and dismiss any suspicions. Besides, how many times are neighbors going to respond after hearing so many false alarms?

Video Cameras: You have to consider the very real possibility that the burglar can destroy a small camera if it is visible. If you manage to successfully hide a camera out of view, then you may be able to record footage of the burglar performing the act—but good luck on identifying him and prosecuting! What about hanging up a fake camera or of course, using the old “you are being taped” bluff as a sign? These signs usually only scare the most inexperienced of burglars away. Experienced burglars know that the houses that are fully protected have no reason to make such boasts.

Making the House Look Lived In: Again, a major risk as any burglar that has an ounce of patience will see there’s something very suspicious about a house that never moves or sounds, but which appears to be lit. All it takes is a little investigation to reveal that the homeowner is gone and has no defense system in place.

Instead of focusing on these cheap security measures, why not invest in a full scale home security system? Imagine how peacefully you could sleep at night, whether at home or on vacation, knowing that your home is being monitored and that police are just a phone call away. The newest security systems are equipped with sophisticated technology. Find out more information by searching for home security systems online.

By: Kieran Adams

Areas to Protect with a Home Security System

Determining your security needs can be somewhat difficult. How do you ensure you are able to protect your home and your family? Obviously, a home security system is your first step. You’ll need to choose a system that offers the best mix of benefits and affordability. However, you will also have to ensure that the system protects the key areas of your home. What areas are the most important? Where do you need the most protection?

Entryways – Your front and rear doors are obvious concerns. The system you choose should provide you with protection at both your front and rear doors. An additional concern should be the door leading into the garage, as well. You need to ensure that the system you purchase provides you with door sensors for at least the front and rear doors of your home.

Ground Floor Windows – Your ground floor windows are also a security concern. While your windows should have locks on them, they can still be broken or forced easily. Window protection is essential, especially for the windows on your ground floor. The most obvious windows are those that lead to large rooms, such as your living room and dining room.

Motion Sensors – While entryway protection is important, you need to have protection in the interior of your home, as well. Motion sensors provide this protection, but there are concerns here, as well. For instance, if you have pets or small children, they can inadvertently set off the alarm. However, modern motion sensors are able to distinguish between full-grown intruders and pets, as well as small children. These smart sensors can be a dramatic addition to the protection in your home.

Digital Control Panel – The control panel is one of the most important aspects of your security system. The wrong control panel can lead to false alarms and security concerns. However, if you have a digital security control panel, you will be able to avoid many of the problems common with older technology. These keypads have larger screens, one-touch communications and many other features that make home security systems easier to use. Any security system you purchase should have a digital keypad/control panel.

These are just a few of the items you should ensure are included in a top quality security system. However, these are not the end of your security concerns. Other items on the list include exterior home protection. You can install your own options, such as motion sensor activated floodlights, but your security system should include yard signs and window decals, to help promote greater protection.

Yard signs can often be the only deterrent you need. Studies have shown that criminals will bypass a home with a security system yard sign in favor of easier prey. If your system includes these (and it should), you can enjoy better protection. However, you must ensure that you change the yard sign out when it starts to fade – faded yard signs have the reverse effect and can lead to problems.

By: Laura Williamson