Exciting Impacts of Winter Weather On Your Home Security
Protect Yourself Before the Next Storm Winter weather has already hit Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo this year and it is going to do it again. The winter storms that hit the area can come with high winds and large amounts of snow, which can cause power outages and a wide range of other issues that can affect your home security. Basically, winter weather can have an impact on your daily life. Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and subzero temperatures can affect heating bills, driving conditions, and the security of your home. To make sure winter weather doesn’t make your home vulnerable, there are some things that you need to know. 1. Power Outages Very cold temperatures and high wind can cause power outages. If you have a security system, it probably operates on electricity. Due to the number of power outages in the area, a back-up power source is necessary. That back-up power source can come in the form of battery power. Fortunately, there are security systems that have battery backup. If the power goes out, the system switches over to battery mode. When the electricity is restored, the system switches back to electric power. This gives you constant protection all year round (summer storms are notorious for causing power outages). 2. Communication Issues Communications are usually affected during a winter storm. This can be critical for 24/7 monitored security services. It is ideal to add cellular monitoring to your home security system so your security monitoring service is able to switch to your cellular connection in case your Wi-Fi connection fails. This helps you prevent burglaries or theft because the bad weather isn’t bringing down your home security system. You must also consider the fact that emergency services receive a lot of calls during a weather event. use.com, power outages are increasing in Upstate New York Basically, there are many ways to keep your system up and running during a storm, which amplifies every reason why professional security system installation is necessary. 3. Outside Lights and Surveillance Lights and outdoor video surveillance can be seriously affected by bad weather. Security lights can be damaged by wind or ice. Professional video surveillance installers tend to place cameras in the necessary places under as much protection as possible to minimize or eliminate damage. However, once again, it can come down to electricity. Any kind of battery backup that can be instituted can make an incredible difference. You might also want to consider a backup generator so that you can operate other areas of your home when you need to. Having lights on is a fantastic burglar deterrent. A burglar is less likely to target a home, or even a business, that is lit up when the power is out all around. 4. Protect Yourself More diligence is also needed when protecting yourself. For instance: Have a battery-powered radio on-hand so you can get updates, storm news, and other information. Make sure your cell phone is charged. Create an emergency kit that has food, water, hats, gloves, blankets, batteries, a flashlight, and matches. Make sure there’s enough to last a few days. Keep all windows and doors locked when inside and outside of the home. If you don’t already have a security system installed, call a professional immediately. These systems not only include video surveillance, but carbon monoxide and fire protection. Contact A Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester Security System Installer SPS Fire & Security wants you to be safe whether the electric is on or off. That is why affordable home security options are available that are customizable and scalable. To learn more, use our contact form or call us at 585-770-0348.
Professional Alarm Monitoring vs. Self-Monitoring
There is now an influx of DIY home security systems on the market, which has resulted in more people having systems installed in their homes. However, the question is whether self-monitoring is as effective as 24/7 professional alarm monitoring? To answer this question, we’re going to take a look at both. Self-Monitored Security Alarm Systems Monitoring your alarm system yourself is an option. You can check on system status from a smart phone app or a computer. You can also set the system to call you or another number on your contact list in the case the alarm is triggered. It’s even possible to monitor activities happening inside your home or business with live video feeds. Seeing what is going on can bring about a great deal of comfort. It’s nice knowing when the alarm is triggered and what zone is affected when it happens. It’s even nicer when there is no reason for the alarm system to sound. However, there are downfalls to self-monitoring despite the advantages. With only you monitoring your system, you could be in a position where you are not capable of notifying the authorities. For instance, you could be staying in a cabin in the mountains where a cell signal isn’t available. If your alarm is triggered, you aren’t going to know about it. If your mobile device’s battery dies or you become busy and leave your device in another room, you will be none the wiser and the authorities won’t be notified. This puts your home or business at serious risk. 24/7 Professional Alarm Monitoring Professional alarm monitoring gives you additional services that are nice to have. You can still monitor your system on your own, but professional monitoring is 24/7 no matter where you are or what you are doing. If you are unable to contact the authorities, the monitoring center can. In other words, if you are enjoying a beach somewhere and decide to leave your mobile device in your hotel room, your home or business is still being watched. Good professional alarm monitoring companies have exceptionally fast response times, which is important for the security and safety of your home or business. Studies have proven that 83 percent of burglars first look for an alarm system before they attempt the burglary. However, 40 percent of them will stick around and challenge it. Sixty percent know that the presence of alarm carries a high possibility of it being connected to a monitoring center that can alert the authorites very fast. Approximately half of burglars target homes, while 31 percent target commercial locations. Yes, there is a small monthly fee for your system to be professionally monitored, but there are no disadvantages to having that extra set of eyes watching your system. You can still access your surveillance system and remotely arm or disarm the system if you need to, but you don’t have to worry about a bad cell phone signal, a dead battery, or a busy schedule keeping you from noticing a break-in. A live person checks to see if the alarm is turned off within a specific amount of time. If the alarm continues to sound, that person contacts the police to check on your home or business. Another perk: Your insurance company may give you a discount when you have an operational and fully monitored security system in your home or business. This alone reduces the cost of investing in a security system. Contact An Experienced Rochester Security Alarm Company At SPS Fire & Security, we install affordable state-of-the-art systems that include 24/7 monitoring and the self-monitoring features that you need. To learn more about our systems, services, and how we can give you the peace of mind you deserve, call 585-770-0348. We serve Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and the surrounding areas.