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Burglar Alarm System Basics 

Burglar alarm systems can be very mysterious to homeowners. Television commercials with layers of protection seeming to emanate from the keypad and concerned operators calling mere fractions of a second after the alarm is tripped are what I’ve been seeing lately. This is unfortunate, because it offers the homeowner a false sense of security that can have expensive or tragic consequences. Hopefully, this brief write up will give you a better understanding of what you have or what you’re considering buying.

Check the license 

Does your state or local authority have licensing requirements for alarm installers? Is your installer licensed? Do you need a license or permit for an alarm in your home? These days, it’s easy enough to verify license numbers using the internet. Don’t assume that just because the license is valid that you are dealing with the licensee. It’s not unusual for unlicensed installers to use someone else’s valid license number. Your consumer affairs department or the licensing agency should be able to help you confirm these things, and they should be able to help you confirm that the company is operating as required by law. Your local authority will know the permitting requirements for alarms in your area. 

No Free Lunch It’s not uncommon for installation companies to install a system in your home for free or for a small fee. This is effective, because most people do not know what they are getting for the price and the installation isn’t where the installers make their money. The ultimate goal is for you to be under contract for as long as possible. Eventually the profits from your monthly payments will cover the cost of the installation and the equipment. The remainder of the contract is pure profit for whoever owns that contract. These contracts can be sold by the installer or held by them, depending upon their business plan. I’m not exposing any dirty secrets here; cell phone companies and other providers have been doing this for years. Profit isn’t evil, my purpose it to help you understand what you are getting for your money. The free or cheap installation will be a package that includes as little hardware and labor as possible. That’s because the less expensive the installation is, the sooner the costs are met by your monthly payments and the profits begin. You can add to those packages, but then you may leave the realm of free or cheap installation. 

What’s in the installation? 

At a minimum, you’re going to have a main panel- something that connects to sensors, keypads and can transmit information to a central station. You’ll need a keypad to turn the alarm on and off, a horn to make noise, and at least one or two sensors. These days, there is typically very little actual wiring involved except in new construction projects. Wireless detection devices are far easier to install than wired devices. They also expose the installer to less risk of unintentional damage to your home during the installation. Finally, wireless devices run on batteries that someone will have to replace, an opportunity for a service fee to the installer.

Some things to understand 

The key thing to understand about any security system is that it offers you two benefits: deterrence and detection. Alarm systems don’t offer protection any more than life insurance protects your life. The deterrence a system offers is maximized by signs, stickers, and visible external evidence of an alarm system. You don’t have to make your house look impregnable, you just have to make it look more difficult to break into than your neighbor’s homes. A keypad with lights that indicate that it is not armed probably shouldn’t be installed where it can be seen through a window. Detection is the detection of an intruder, which is determined by two things- sensors detecting activity such as motion or a door opening and the system not being disarmed. Intruders are only detected if there is some detector installed where they intrude, and that will be tripped by their method of intrusion. Once an alarm is tripped, the intruder should know that he probably has a limited amount of time before police arrive or neighbors investigate the siren. Even if police do not respond, you will have the benefit of being aware that there may still be an intruder in your home. 

Function or package? 

Does what’s included in your installation allow your system to do what you want it to? This is the key question with any system, and should therefore be the starting point for any system design. Are you more concerned about the house being broken into when you are home or away? What you want from the system will determine what types of sensors you will install, and where you will install them. If you’re only worried about intrusion when the house is empty, interior motion sensors at key points such as hallways or staircases will trip the system and are an inexpensive installation. If you’re only worried about detecting intrusion when you’re home, detection of exterior doors and windows or of glass being broken to gain entry would work best for you. Obviously, if you’re home you would most likely be the one tripping interior motion sensors. 

Know what you’re buying 

You should know what you want to trip the alarm system before you begin working with any designer. Technology will change, but intrusion will not. If you know you want the system to trip if your patio door is opened, that’s something the designer will need to know. If you also want the system to trip if the glass in your patio door is broken, the designer will need to know that as well. Since you’re the only one who knows how valuable it is to you to detect an intruder if they break the glass on the door but don’t open the door to enter, you’re the only one who can decide if it’s worth the expense. If you simply accept whatever the designer suggests or accept a package, will it detect an intruder entering your home how and where you think it will? If you’re not sure, clarify it with your designer. 

Test it

After your system is installed, you should test it regularly. It’s probably spelled out in your contract how frequently you are supposed to test the system at a minimum. Most systems will notify you if there is a problem with a detector or with the panel itself. There are limitations to the ability of the system to detect failures or problems, testing is the only way to be sure. Hardware can fail, software could have been incorrectly written, wires could fail, and the central station could have errors in its database. First, you’ll need to contact your monitoring company to notify them that you will be testing your system so they don’t send the police when your system trips. Then you’ll need to arm your system and trip it, just as though you were the intruder. The monitoring company should be able to tell you what detectors you tripped as you moved around the house. Verify the monitoring company has the correct address for your home and that they can accurately tell you which door or window you opened to trip your alarm. You should also keep any telephone numbers they call when the alarm trips up to date. If you’re not comfortable doing this, have someone who is qualified do this for you regularly. It is possible for failures or errors to go undetected, causing an intruder to go undetected. 

Test it!

Be an educated consumer 

Before you make a final decision on what system to install, research it. If you have specific equipment in mind, these days user’s manuals and consumer reviews can be found online. How can the system be expanded after the initial installation? Some systems can do more than simple burglar alarm functions, integrating other systems to your alarm system. How easy will it be to change access codes, or to alter programming? Can you access the system via telephone or online? Is the system you are considering close to obsolescence? Will you be able to find an alternate service provider if something happens to the company who installed your system? Your research beforehand can save you frustration and expense months or years after the system is installed. Your understanding of what you are getting for your money will help you avoid being taken advantage of. 

Questions?

Please submit your comments or questions regarding this or any other post to artdunn@yourhomeservesyou.com, or visit www.yourhomeservesyou.com. I promised full disclosure; NANLOW-DUNN Inc. is an authorized dealer for Home Automation Incorporated www.homeauto.com

A Radionics System Keypad