Home security systems are vital to the security of our home, our family, and our treasured keepsakes. We’ve all heard the story about the neighbor whose alarm is continually going off during your vital hours of sleep or every other afternoon. Do we ever stop to think about the consequences of false alarms?

Frequent false alarms can significantly reduce the effectiveness of our home security systems. Like the boy who cried wolf when an alarm continues to go off neighbors and local emergency response teams are less likely to respond during an actual threat. In some areas homeowners could be heavily fined for false alarms or denied service by emergency groups. If a denial of service occurs law enforcement and other emergency personnel will be told to ignore the alarm. This could leave you home unprotected during theft and your family unattended during an emergency.

False alarms can be caused by faulty equipment or design, acts of nature and error on the part of the homeowner. It is important to ensure that all family members have been properly trained on how to use the equipment. This will help to minimize false alarms due to user error. Keep instructions on how to use the system in a place that family members can retrieve it easily. Secure your password and account information in a place that the whole family can get to but it not out in plain view where an intruder could discover it.

Pets inside the home can be another source of false alarms. If you have an old system that you modified to ignore roaming pets it may be time to upgrade to the new pet immune motion detectors. These detectors use a combination of light and heat infra-red sensors to distinguish between pets and humans such as the PIR Detectors used by ADT Home Security. If you have installed pet-immune detectors and they continue to cause a false alarm it may be necessary for you to have an installation professional come out to your home to install the motion detectors for you.

Another source of false alarms is open doors and windows. It is important that you get into the habit of checking that all doors and windows are closed and locked before setting the home security system. An open window or door not only can cause a false alarm but is an open invitation to potential intruders.

It does not take long to properly train family members on the system, check for open windows and doors, or periodically test the system. This short amount of time can save you hundreds of dollars, reduce false alarms, and give you the peace of mind that help is only moments away during any time of need that may arise whether it be intrusion, medical, or fire.

By: Bruce Kelly

About the Author:
To minimize the potential for faulty equipment it is important for you to report any equipment failure to the home security monitoring provider such as ADT Security , Brinks, or Honeywell. A thorough system test should be done at least once a month. If your home security system utilizes batteries check the batteries and change when needed to avoid weak batteries causing a false alarm. Be sure to report any system changes such as passwords or phone numbers to the security provider immediately.

When considering your home security situation, you’ve no doubt thought about home alarms, cameras and even a safe room. These are all great ways to prevent crime, especially theft and home invasions. But, you do need to cover all your bases. The world today is incredibly unpredictable. Things happen and you cannot stop everything, however you can be prepared. One relatively old but still incredibly useful home security tool that hasn’t gotten much attention these days is the panic alarm. Even if you already have a fully armed home alarm system, consider the panic alarm as a simple but worthwhile investment. It complements any security system.

Panic alarms aren’t just for the elderly or for juvenile delinquents. Panic alarms bring help with the push of a button. In any emergency situation, a panic alarm can be reassuring. Panic alarms can easily be installed as part of your home alarm system; in an emergency, they can be used to signal for help whether it be for a medical situation or a break-in and robbery. Many businesses such as banks and jewelry stores and even hospitals install panic alarms as an added security measure, as assistance can be called in quickly, without any fuss.

So just how does a panic alarm work? The mechanics are simple, really. A panic alarm is activated when someone pushes the button. A signal is then sent out to a monitoring service or local emergency services who will then respond to the alert. There are many different types of panic alarms-you’ve got a small, hidden silent alarms usually used in the event of a crime or break-in; these types of alarms usually send out an alarm to an on-site monitoring service in the case of businesses or a central monitoring service in the case of homes and private property. The most important aspect of the panic button is that the perpetrator or criminal isn’t aware that security services have been alerted. Panic alarms can easily be mounted on a wall with activation buttons, such as the type you would see in airports or other public areas where security is heightened. Additionally, you’ve got alarms that can be carried on your person. These are portable and go where you go; they can easily be carried in a purse or pocket.

Many elderly people use this latter type of security alarm. These are generally known as a medical alert panic buttons and are commonly worn on the wrist as a bracelet. When it is pressed, a signal is sent out to a home console which dials an alarm monitoring staff. These alarms work via internal batteries, which are usually waterproof and shock resistant.

The concept has been carried on to home security systems as well. These are typically called holdup alarms and they allow a person to covertly trigger an alarm to summon the authorities. Although you often find these types of alarms in banks, retail stores and other businesses, more and more home owners are integrating them into their own home alarm systems. The trigger can be a button, a money clip, a foot rail, a pen etc. Also, in the event that the intruder orders the home owner to shut off the alarm system, these panic buttons can be a life saver. Usually, users can enter in a special duress code without the intruder knowing.

By: Natalie Ingram

About the Author:
Don’t be a victim! Watch over the people and things you care about with an ADT monitored home security system. ADT is the nation’s leading security provider with millions of business, government and residential customers. Look to ADT security for all your home security needs.