The basic elements of a burglar alarm system are:

Control Panel:

The location where wiring terminates as well as your backup battery is situated. This location allows the owner to control the entire system.

Keypad:

To arm and disarm the burglar alarm in a separate location than the control panel..

Siren:

A loud siren to alert you when there’s a break-in and it also notifies the intruder know he’s been detected.

Inside Motion Detector:

Microwave, passive infrared or photoelectric detectors sense modifications in a room caused by human presence. Special Motion Detectors are for sale for people who have pets to accommodate their motion.

Door and Window Contacts:

Magnetic contacts form a circuit from a door and door frame or possibly a window and a sill; if the door or window is opened (and also the alarm is on) the circuit is broken, this also sounds the alarm.

Central Monitoring Station:

Emergency signals from your own home are electronically transmitted on the 24-hour monitoring station, which summons help from police, fire or medics.
The most effective home security system will be customized to your lifestyle, should take your schedule into consideration and will specifically protect what you value. It’s been proven that user education is the foremost defense against false alarms. It’s very important that the installer teach you and your family how to properly use the burglar alarm, including false alarm prevention measures.

Additional Devices

Beyond the basics, there are some additional devices you should think of incorporating in your home alarm system. These components include:

• Smoke Detectors: These present an early warning of fireside and should be installed throughout your house.
• Glass Break Detectors: The unit recognize the sound of glass breaking and may sound the alarm.
• Panic Buttons: These buttons might be hand-held or may be be discovered in strategic places like next to beds and doors; just pushing the button will sound the alarm.
• Pressure Mats: These mats can be put under rugs plus they react to pressure from footsteps to activate the alarm.
• Closed-circuit TV: This can be a private TV system which lets you monitor and/or record inside or outside your home.
• Alarm Screens: They are special screens for the windows which have a wire woven inside their mesh which will activate your alarm when cut or removed.

Insurance Savings

Check with your homeowners insurance company! Typically they provide a discount between 2% and 20% on the insurance when you use a security system. Ask your agent in Sacramento which kind of system will qualify you for the greatest savings.

Basic Operation of your Alarm System

If your home security system is monitored, it’s going to send a signal towards the central monitoring station every time it is activated (i.e.. the entranceway or window contacts are broken while in the alarm is on, or even the motion detector senses an individual presence in the building). This signal in most cases be sent over your phone line (in some systems, cell phones may be used as a backup).

Most of the time the central monitoring station will call your house or office prior to calling the police to confirm that this is not a false alarm. If they do not get an answer your own house or office, or maybe the person who answers the phone does not give the proper password, the central monitoring station will then call the appropriate authority (police, fire or medical services). They’ll also try to contact you or some other one of your representatives so someone can fulfill the authorities at the building.

Why do I Need A Security System?

A burglary is committed every Ten seconds in America. This results in almost 13 million homes one of every 20.
There’s an average loss of $1,300 worth of property per burglary.
Based on the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, burglars target homes without a security system 3 times more frequently than homes with a system.
Today about One inch 6 homeowners have dedicated to an electronic security system – more and more Americans are saying which they feel safer having a home security system.
Over the last A few years the number of homes having a security system has increased by almost 40%

Your chances of a break in are highest soon after you move into a home – Burglars understand that most people don’t install alarm systems until 2 to 4 years when they move in.
Burglars are more likely to break into your home between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when you are at work, as opposed to breaking in during the night. Nearly half of burglars break-in through the front door, 32% choose the back door and 22% through a first floor window. The rest of the burglaries through a garage, basement or second floor window.

Selecting a Burglar Alarm Company

Following are tips for selecting a home security alarm company:
Contact several unique companies. Ask if these are members of the Arizona Burglar & Fire Alarm Association. Our members consent to maintain a high level of conduct under state and national codes of ethics.

Contact the greater Business Bureau to determine if any complaints have already been flied against the companies. Narrow the sector to 3 or 4 companies. Arrange a meeting with each company when all members of your household will be present. Be sure to ask for the name of the baby who will be calling on you, and verify his / her identification upon arrival. Require an inspection, demonstration along with a quotation in writing. Also request and check references.
Study each contract to ensure that you know exactly what you are getting. Consider buying vs. leasing a burglar alarm in Sacramento.

Proper Utilization of Your Alarm System

A burglar system is only as good as its user. Make certain that system installer explains how the system works thoroughly and answers all your questions. Everyone who’ll be using the system needs to be present during this educational process.

Many municipalities are actually charging fines for excessive false alarms, as they cost taxpayers 1000s of dollars a year by taking cops away from other duties to analyze the alarm. For that reason, you should be very careful in arming and disarming the body.