The Impact 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.
Is it Possible to Turn Your Home into a Smart Home?
Get the Facts on Home Automation First, let’s debunk the misconception that your home can’t be transformed into a smart home. Even if your home is 100 years old, you can automate certain functions to make your life a little easier. Home automation that was once the way of the future is now the way of the present. There is nothing more concerning than being ten miles from your home and wondering if you turned off the range, left the lights on, left the iron plugged in, or forgot to adjust the thermostat. Such concerns can nag at you all day, ruining your focus and even causing you to have to derail the flow of your day by turning around and checking all those things. Fortunately, home automation can give you the functionality you want. You can turn off lights, shut off the iron, adjust the thermostat, turn off the range, and perform a host of other functions from wherever you are. What’s even better is that this capability is becoming more affordable, making it possible for more people to utilize automation in their homes and their businesses. It’s All About the Internet of Things (IoT) Although newer homes can be built with certain technological functions integrated into them, not everyone takes this route because it can be cost prohibitive during the construction process. To compensate for this, people are creating smart home ecosystems as they go based on the latest technological developments. This is possible due to scalable systems and installers that know the technology and equipment. We also have to thank the Internet of Things (IoT). Now, this isn’t a new type of internet. Instead, it is what has happened to the internet as time progressed. Decades ago, just computers connected to the internet. Later, cell phones became Wi-Fi enabled so the internet could be accessed instead of data. Tablets were also invented and primarily use Wi-Fi rather than data to connect to the World Wide Web. Now, thermostats, sensors, security systems, surveillance cameras, and other devices can connect to the internet through the router in a home. This allows a person to download the applicable application on their phone, tablet, or computer and control temperature, turn lights on and off while on vacation or at work, shut off the outlet the iron is plugged into, and even lock the doors if someone forgot to lock them. If it seems like the world is turning into something out of a Sci-fi movie, that’s because the sci-fi genre has always been a good predictor of technological advances designed to save time, money, and comfort. Contact Your Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse Home Automation Experts Get your free, no-obligation consultation to see what you can do to make your home a smarter home. At SPS Fire & Security, we use state-of-the-art equipment and we are well-versed in the technology and installation techniques that make life more comfortable and convenient for our clients. Call today at 585-770-0348.
Discovering the Truth About DIY Security Systems
DIY vs. Professional Security Alarm installation Discovering the truth about DIY security systems is a very important topic to keep in mind these days. Keeping your home or business safe is important because of the time and money you have put into your space. Putting a security alarm system in place is one of the protective methods to implement. However, the question is what is the best route for doing so: Install a security system yourself Invest in a door alarm system Professional security system installation We are going to look at all three of these. DIY Security System Alarm Installation There are DIY systems out there, but there are some things to consider: Wiring: At least some kind of electrical wiring may be required. If you’re not an electrician or a home security specialist, it can be easy to make a wrong move that could be dangerous. One of the biggest mistakes, however, is installing the system in a way that it doesn’t work. Maintenance: Some type of upkeep is required. Since security systems can have many components (cameras, sensors, etc.), the DIY installer is responsible for every component working correctly or the system could be pointless to have. Extras: There are certain extras that are missing from a DIY system. For instance, monitoring companies will not monitor a self-installed security system. Other features such as smoke detection or carbon monoxide detection may be missing. Overall, the equipment tends to be less sophisticated. The Truth: People are discovering the truth about DIY security systems through installation complications and being able to keep up with the maintenance. The worst way to find out is when a break-in happens and the lack of monitoring means the authorities aren’t notified. Door Alarm Systems Door alarm systems tend to be the least sophisticated. A sensor is placed on doors and windows and an alarm sounds if an intruder breaks into the home or business. Wiring: These systems tend to be wireless. Sensors wirelessly communicate with an alarm box that may plug into the wall. The range of these systems can be limited, so the box may have to be located close to the sensors. A knowledgeable intruder can tell the difference between this type of system and one that connects to a monitoring center that will call the police. Maintenance: These systems are inexpensive, but the individual sensors may require batteries that must be replaced more often than you can keep up with. Extras: You may be able to add more sensors. If these sensors start to go out of the alarm box’s range, additional systems may have to be purchased to hopefully scare away any intruders. Truth: Aside from there not being a monitoring service, people have learned that these systems are just as effective as not having any protection at all. Burglars are aware of these burglary-friendly systems. Professional Security System Installation A professional system will have a monthly cost associated with it, but the following should be considered: Wiring: Any wiring that must be installed is done by a professional who will exercise the latest safety methods. Everything is done according to local and state regulations. Maintenance: If something is wrong with your system, you can call your security alarm installer and the problem can be quickly rectified. There are certain guarantees that you are given to protect the integrity of your system and the home or business it’s protecting. Extras: You get the 24/7 security monitoring, sensors where you need them, fire protection, carbon monoxide protection, video surveillance if you want it, home automation if you want to automate certain functions within your home, and smartphone monitoring so you can monitor your home or business while you’re away. Truth: Homeowners and business owners are experiencing peace of mind from having properly installed systems that are monitored, not to mention the freedom from system maintenance. Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse Professional Security Alarm Installation Don’t miss out on what professional security system installation can provide you. Through professional installation, you can effectively protect what you care about. Plus, you can get some great extras that truly make your system work for you. To learn more or to take the first step toward protecting your home or business, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Get Started on Your Home Security New Year’s Resolution Now
Have Your Best and Safest Year Yet! The New Year is fast approaching, which means it’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions. One of those resolutions should involve enhancing home security. Fortunately, making this resolution a success is easier than you may think. Tips for a Successful New Year’s “Security” Resolution Making a “home security” resolution isn’t as difficult as sticking to a diet or a financial plan. Here are some tips that will keep you and your family safe in 2018: If there is a flyer on your front door, remove it as soon as possible. Sometimes, burglars will put flyers on doors to see if a person is home. If a flyer isn’t removed after a day or so, the burglar sees that as a sign that the occupants are long gone. Arrange for family or friends to pick up your mail and remove any flyers or other items that make it obvious you’re not home. Install timers on indoor and outdoor lights so they come on at night. However, you can change things up with a home automation system that enables you to control your lights from wherever you are. For instance, turn on and off different lights at different times to make it look like someone is home. Take those leftover boxes from Christmas to a recycling center or make sure they are cut up into small pieces so they can fit inside a garbage bag. When a burglar sees that plasma TV box sitting out with the trash, they know there’s a plasma TV in the house. Even if you trust your social media connections, don’t post when you aren’t home or when you’ll be away for long periods of time. It’s tempting to post those vacation photos, but you need to wait and post them after you return home. Fix those loose door jams. Did you know that 70% of break-ins are successful because the burglars are able to kick in the doors? It’s inexpensive to reinforce the door jam. Come up with creative hiding places for your valuables. Never leave valuable items in places that can be seen through windows. If you can do it, a safe in the floor or hiding behind a picture on the wall may not be a bad idea. Get a home security system with 24/7 monitoring so that your home is always protected. Today’s security alarm systems also alert of fire and carbon monoxide. There are also smartphone apps that let you monitor your system yourself so you know what’s going on at any given time. If you’re REALLY feeling the need for even more added security, video surveillance is an affordable option. Make sure the bad guys know that you have a home security system in place that will catch them if they even attempt to break into your abode. Your Rochester, Syracuse & Buffalo Home Security Experts At SPS Fire & Security, we want you to have an amazing holiday season and the best 2018 possible. By protecting your home, business, or anything else important to you, you are creating more security in your life. To learn more, call us at 585-770-0348, MAY YOU HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 2018!
7 Christmas Home Security Tips: Beat the Burglars
Top 7 Tips to Protect Your Home This Christmas Black Friday is over and that means there are gifts in homes waiting to be revealed on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, burglars expect this. They expect that a majority of people did a great deal of shopping on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Here are 7 Christmas home security tips to help beat the burglars. What’s the first thing a burglar looks for? A home without a security system. What’s the second thing they look for? The occupants to not be home so they can get inside and see what’s under that tree. The closer you get to Christmas, the higher the odds of becoming the victim of a burglar become, especially on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is when you leave your home to celebrate with family, which means gifts are left under the tree unattended for a long time. Fortunately, you can protect your home and purchases. Home Security Tips for the Christmas Season Motion sensors, flood lights, video surveillance, or a home security system throughout your entire home can make all the difference in the world. When a burglar sees cameras or evidence that a home security system is in place, they move on. Don’t feed extension cords through windows because that leaves them partially open Ensure doors and windows are secure when leaving. Install dead-bolts if you don’t have any. Keep blinds, curtains, or drapes closed, especially when the tree and the presents underneath it are visible. Valuables should always be out of sight of windows. Don’t hide keys under door mats, in flower pots, or under stones. Burglars know this trick very well. If you are going to be gone for an extended period, have a neighbor park their car in your driveway or arrange for gifts to be stored with someone you trust. You may want to keep receipts until after the holidays, so lock them away in a safe, file cabinet, or fireproof box. Burglars have been known to dig through the trash. If you must throw away receipts, shred them. Rochester, Syracuse & Buffalo Residents – Protect Your Home All Year Round! At SPS Fire & Security, we can help you protect your home at Christmas, New Year’s, and all year round. While burglaries climb during the Christmas season, they can happen anytime. It’s good to always be prepared. Call 585-770-0348 to find out how you can affordably protect your home.
It’s Fall Y’all! Time to Prep Your House Against the Elements
7 Tips to Help You Get Your Home Ready for Fall The weather has been unseasonably warm, but can you feel it? It’s still there – it’s Fall! The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice is everywhere, the Fall events are in full swing. However, the change of seasons can take its toll on your home. That’s why it’s important to get your home ready for fall, which will also put you on the road to getting your home ready for winter. Fall Home Preparation Tips Here are some tips to help you prep your house: Prevent flooding by cleaning your gutters. Water that flows over the gutter’s edge can pool around the foundation and enter cracks and crevices. Over time, the pooling can create those cracks that can allow moisture into your basement. A gutter leaf is a good way to keep debris out of your gutters to make cleaning much easier. Clean the fireplace, chimney, or chimney pipe of debris so that a fire doesn’t occur. You can hire a chimney cleaner who will ensure a properly closed damper and that all charred wood and ash is removed. Outdoor faucets need to be drained to avoid freezing. An outdoor faucet with water still in it could freeze up and crack, which can cause a leak. Hoses should also be removed and shutoff valves turned to those faucets. Gaps around windows should be sealed up so you can keep home energy costs down. Plus, you’ll be a lot more comfortable if you don’t feel cold air from outside blowing in on you when you’re trying to cozy up on the sofa. Have a roof inspection performed. This is the perfect time of year to have a roof inspector come and check for small bits of damage so that the damage doesn’t worsen over winter. Roof inspectors can also see if you are at risk for ice dams. Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse get cold and ice dams are common and damaging. Prevention is key so you’re not calling an ice dam removal service in the middle of winter to take care of a problem. Check vents to the furnace to make sure they are not clogged or covered up by furniture or rugs. Blocked vents are fire hazards and can affect airflow. Upgrade your security alarm system if you haven’t yet. Systems can now detect fire, flood, and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a bigger danger in the fall. Carbon monoxide is a bigger danger in the fall – protect your family! Call Your Rochester Security Company Today! At SPS Fire & Security, we have helped people throughout Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo keep their homes safe and secure. These tips, along with our business security and home security services, will keep some money in your pocket and keep you and what’s yours safe. Call today at 585-770-0348 for a free estimate.
Home Security – Securing Your Home for Winter Vacation
Home Security and Home Prep Tips If you’re like many people in the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo area, you go south for the winter or travel during the holidays. According to the AAA, more than 103 million Americans will travel 50 or more miles between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. That’s a lot of people! That also means there are a lot of homes left vulnerable to thieves looking to take advantage of the situation. The following points are tips for securing your home for your winter vacation, whether it’s a week or a few months: 1. Prevent Water Issues Since you won’t be home using hot water, you can turn down your hot water heater to reduce the amount of energy it consumes. This will save you money. You can also turn off your main water supply so you don’t have to worry about unexpected leaks. The last thing you need is to come home to a flood or receive a very high water bill. You can also keep your heat on to prevent the pipes from freezing, but keep it no higher or lower than 50 degrees. This is just warm enough to prevent the freezing of pipes and still save you money on energy costs. 2. Prevent Electrical Issues When it comes to appliances and other electrical devices, there is one rule to follow: unplug it if you aren’t using it. There’s no need for the computer, blender, microwave, or even the television to be plugged in. All of these things have electricity moving through them even when they aren’t being used. You also reduce your chance of having an electrical fire. 3. Make the Empty House Less Obvious Next, make sure the house doesn’t look empty. You can do the following to make the house look occupied: Keep a few key lights on in the home, preferably those that are on the most anyway. This is to ensure nothing looks out of place. Have a friend or neighbor pick up your mail and newspaper each day so the mail doesn’t accumulate in the mailbox. Have someone on standby to shovel your sidewalk, porch steps, and/or driveway if it snows. Keep on a radio so voices can be heard through windows or doors. 4. Properly Secure Your Home The last area to consider is the security of your home. With a properly installed home security system, there are many things you can achieve: View your home while you’re away via an app on your phone that can see what your home video surveillance cameras see. Control the lights in the home so you can turn lights on and off no matter where you are. You can also control your thermostat. What better way to make a burglar believe someone is home than to turn your home into a smart home? If a pipe bursts, the alarm system can detect it and notify you of a problem so you can send someone to your home to see what is happening. If there is a fire, the fire department will be notified. If someone breaks in, the alarm will sound and the 24/7 monitoring center will be notified so the authorities can be called. A home security system with all this functionality can help you manage parts of the other areas you need to do to make sure your home is secure while you’re gone. An Experienced Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse Home Security Company At SPS Fire & Security, we want to help you protect everything that you have worked so hard for while you’re gone. If you don’t have a security system and you travel, now is the time to talk to us to see how you can better secure your home. Call us today at 585-770-0348 or complete the contact form below.
How Security Systems and Sump Pump Maintenance Go Together
Alarm Systems That Cover Your Whole House Did you know that a home or business security system can detect indoor flooding? If you didn’t, you do now. It’s not always about keeping burglars out of your home or business, but about keeping everything safe and secure. Overall safety is why these systems can also detect fire and carbon monoxide. But let’s get back to this flooding thing. Flooding is something that happens in the Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse areas. All it takes is a good rain to overwhelm storm drains and cause waterways to break their banks. Broken pipes are another reason. When you have a basement, the potential for flooding is always there. Even if it seems watertight, all it takes is a leaky pipe to cause significant water damage. The good news is that having a functional sump pump can make a major difference. Simple Sump Pump Maintenance Even when security systems detect flooding so homeowners and business owners know sooner rather than later, the sump pump is going to be a very good friend best friend. It can immediately start pumping out the water that is accumulating in the basement so that damage is minimized. However, you have to make sure your sump pump is in good working order by performing annual sump pump maintenance. The following are steps you can take to make sure your sump pump works for you when you need it: Make sure the sump pump power cord is plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Inspect the cord to ensure there is no wear and tear. Unplug the cord and take the pump out of the basin. Inspect the grate for debris and clean it. Too much debris can cause the sump pump to malfunction. Check the drainage pipes to make sure the joints are tightly connected and that they are draining to the proper area (pipe into the yard that points away from the foundation or main sewage line). All venting should be debris-free. Replace the pump and make sure it is upright and level. Test the pump by filling the basin with water. The pump should kick on immediately. If the sump pump fails to operate, you can have a plumber repair it or you can replace it. Sump pumps have a life span of 5 to 15 years. Usually, a sump pump under 5 years of age has a warranty. If it is between 5 and 15 years old, replacement may be your best option. Contact A Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo Security Company Your security system and sump pump can work together to minimize the damage in your home or business from flooding. The advanced warning given by the security system and the hard work of your sump pump can result in incredible cost savings when compared to the alternative. To learn more about these systems or any type of system you feel you need to keep your home or business secure, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 or complete the contact form below.
Home Automation: Making Your Smartphone a Home Security Tool
Smart Home Connectivity Today’s security systems are much different than those that were installed 10 or more years ago. Today, you can make your smartphone a part of the system through home automation. Security systems are also much smarter than they used to be, as you can control everything from your lights to your thermostat from wherever you are. SPS Fire & Security can set you up with a smart home system that will give you peace of mind and freedom when you’re on the go A Rundown of Home Automation Here’s a rundown of how automating your home works: You have climate control capabilities that allow you to regulate the temperature of your home without using your thermostat. In other words, you can change the temperature from your couch or from a hotel in Hawaii. All you need is your smartphone and the applicable app. Watch your home security camera feed so you can monitor your home at all times. You can view multiple home security cameras at once and it is all live! If you want to see if the cat is climbing the curtains, you can do that. If you need to make sure no one has broken into the home, you can watch your feed to see if there is anything suspicious. If a break-in has happened, video footage can be used to catch the culprit. Turn on your interior and exterior lights to make it look like someone is home when no one is. You can also set rules for your lights so you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn lights on and off through the app. All this can be controlled through the app. If motion sensors are activated at your home, the app will send an alert to your smartphone so you are aware of what’s going on. You can arm and disarm your home alarm system remotely. This can give friends or family access while you’re gone. Instead of giving away your code, you can let them in when they need in. As you can see, home automation is amazing in that it gives you more flexibility, peace of mind, and control. One of the worst feelings is going on vacation and wondering if you adjusted the thermostat accordingly, locked the door, or set the alarm. If you have a smartphone, you have the control you need. Contact A Rochester Home Automation Security Company Home automation is becoming the way of the home security world as more homeowners want control. Even business owners are getting in on the technology. If you want in on this technology so you can secure your home and make your life easier, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 to request a free quote or complete the contact form below.
A Sump Pump Alarm Can Help Immediately Mitigate Basement Flooding
When it rains a lot, some homeowners throughout Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse experience basement flooding. Many homeowners who have had their basements flood either don’t have a sump pump or don’t have a sump pump alarm. What is a Sump Pump Alarm? An alarm for your sump pump is a smart way to protect your basement and any valuables stored there from water damage. This alarm sounds the keypad of the home security system. If the security system is monitored by the 24/7 monitoring center, the center will contact the customer to let them know that the sump pump has triggered an alert. Because the alarm is part of the home security system, it is powered by the system itself. If the power goes out, the alarm system’s backup battery takes over so the entire system, including the high-water alarm, remains active. How Does a High Water Alarm Help? Let’s say you live in an area where water has been known to flow into your basement during extremely heavy downpours. There are many reasons why this happens in some areas and not in others. You’re at work when a major storm moves through. This storm drops inches of rain in a short amount of time, causing water to enter your basement. This is the time your sump pump decides to fail and you’re clueless because you’re at work. Scenario 1: you don’t have a high-water alarm on your sump pump: You come home from work to find that everything stored in your basement that touches the floor is saturated. You also have a rather amazing mess of water to deal with because your sump pump malfunctioned and didn’t do its job. Scenario 2: you do have a sump pump alarm: You’re at work looking out the window in amazement at how much rain is falling. Suddenly, you get a notification from your alarm company’s monitoring center telling you that your sump pump alarm has triggered the keypad of your home security system. This tells you that you may need to go home immediately or call someone else in your household to go home and check out the issue. Now, let’s say you get home very quickly before the water has had time to reach items stored in the basement. You can’t stop the water from entering, but you can quickly move your belongings. Rescue Your Wallet In cases where leaky pipes have caused basement flooding, people have gone home and shut off the water to prevent further flooding. When the issue is addressed quickly, you reduce the damage to the basement, which saves a lot of money in repairs. Having an alarm on your sump pump is a win-win because they do fail eventually. Many times, people don’t know that they have gone bad until something happens and they don’t work. A sump pump can be inoperable for months or years without a single sign until the basement floods. Having this safeguard can prevent a lot of headaches and damage to your wallet. Contact A Rochester NY Security Alarm Company Knowing that your basement is protected with the sump pump alarm gives you more confidence when storing valuables in the basement. If you don’t have an alarm already installed, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 to schedule an appointment or for forth information.