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.
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.
Hardwired Security Systems
Everything You Need to Know About Hardwired Security Systems In most homes and businesses there are hardwired security systems. These systems have a control panel that is normally located right next to the most commonly used entryway. There are some individuals or businesses that will put their control panel in a hidden location such as a closet or an area away from the door so a burglar can not see it. However, the presence of an alarm system can reduce the chance a burglar will enter a home or business, making the alarm alone a good deterrent. Everyone has their own reasons behind where they place their control panel. Different Components to a Hardwired Security System Hardwired security systems do not come in one package, as there are many different areas in homes and businesses that might need to be secured. Smoke Alarm – Will detect smoke. Ionization and photoelectric are two different types of smoke detectors. Heat Detectors – Works side by side with smoke detectors. This type of detector detects heat. Indoor and Outdoor Motion Sensors – these sensors will detect the motion of people and animals. Indoor and Outdoor Sirens – A siren alarm will alert the homeowners and neighbors of any sort of alarm interference. Panic Button – This button is normally hidden and can be pushed whenever the homeowner or individual at a business is feeling threatened. This button is connected to the security alarm company and the police. Going With A Hardwired Security System Hardwired security systems can be cost-effective. With this being said, it can be an intensive installation process. Homeowners and business owners can add and remove components. In the event of a power outage, the hardwired system has rechargeable batteries. Just for having the security system in your home, you can get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance. Contact An Experienced Rochester Security Alarm Company Not only is it a good idea to have a security system in your home or business but it is also a good idea to have a security system installer come to your house to make sure that you are getting all that you need to protect your property. If you or any one that you know is considering getting a security system contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Wireless Home Security Notifications Explained
What Do All of These Notifications Mean? The best wireless home security systems can now inform you of anything happening in the home. You can receive an alert if there is an unwanted intrusion. You can even be alerted when the kids get home from school or when the dog walker has come to take your dog for a walk and how long they were gone. If the dog walker isn’t walking the dog long enough, you will know it. Yes, there have probably been a few dog walkers fired for not exercising the dog for the agreed upon amount of time. How do these alerts happen? You can get them through text or email on your smartphone. The moment something happens, you are going to know about it. SPS Fire and Security can set you up with a wireless home security system that alerts you when there is activity. Call 585-770-0348 or complete the contact form. You can also have multiple recipients receive notifications. This means you and any other adults living in the home will know what is happening. You can even set it up for a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member. If you have a caretaker for the property or a handyman, they can receive notifications as well. By customizing the notifications, you can determine which sensors send notifications and who will receive those notifications. If you only want to receive alerts at a certain time, you can do that. You can also determine what type of signal will trigger a notification. It’s very easy to set up and also change your notifications when you need to. Examples of Security System Notifications Here is a list of the types of wireless security system notifications that you can receive: Know what door has been opened and when. Have a sensor placed on your gun safe so that you know if the gun safe has been opened. Have a sensor placed on a regular safe so that you know if anyone has tried to access the contents. Place a sensor on the medicine cabinet to ensure children or others stay out of it. If an elderly parent is living alone, keep track of doors opening and other doors throughout the home. If a garage door is left open too long, you will know it. Know every time the alarm is armed or disarmed. If you leave home and forget to arm the system, you can receive an alert before you get too far from home. You can arm the system remotely using the system’s app. When there is a power outage, the system will let you know. When the power comes back on, the system will alert you. Add thermostats to your smart home configuration so you can operate them remotely and keep track of them. If someone manually changes thermostat settings, you will know about it. As you can see, a wireless home security system is about more than knowing if someone has broken through a window or a door. Home security is about having complete control over your home, even if you aren’t there. You know what’s going on at all times so that you don’t have to worry. It’s amazing what can happen to your day when you don’t have to worry about your home. Imagine being on a vacation and not worrying about whether or not you turned off an iron or unplugged the things that needed unplugged. Imagine knowing everything that is happening so you can enjoy your vacation and not worry about what is happening at home. Call Your Rochester Wireless Security Company Today At SPS Fire & Security, we want to give you peace of mind. You deserve a safe home and one that you can have complete control over. With our home security solutions, you will have just that and more. To learn more, call us at 585-770-0348 and let us give you a free quote on the system you envision for your home.