We all want to keep our home and loved ones safe. It can not only be a financial loss if your home gets burgled, but it can also feel like a violation of privacy. Although it’s not impossible to stop your home from ever being a target of crime, it is possible to dramatically reduce the chance of your home being targeted, with the help of a home alarm system.
In this complete guide to home alarm systems, we’ll be covering everything you need to know, from what they are and how they work, to the different types and costs involved.
We all want to keep our home and loved ones safe. It can not only be a financial loss if your home gets burgled, but it can also feel like a violation of privacy. Although it’s not impossible to stop your home from ever being a target of crime, it is possible to dramatically reduce the chance of your home being targeted, with the help of a home alarm system.
In this complete guide to home alarm systems, we’ll be covering everything you need to know, from what they are and how they work, to the different types and costs involved.
What are home alarm systems?
Home alarm systems are an effective way of protecting your home from criminals. They consist of various electronic components that work together to alert you if your home has been broken into. Although there are various types of home alarm systems, they essentially consist of motion sensors, door and window sensors, a central control panel and a bell or siren.
How do house alarms work?
Home alarm systems work by securing the entry points to your home. This is done by placing sensors on doors, windows and any other vulnerable entry point, as well as motion sensors around the home. These sensors then communicate with the control panel, either wirelessly or through a wired set-up. If any motion is detected on any of the sensors, they will send a signal to the control panel, which then triggers the bell or siren to make a loud, high-decibel sound.
Depending on the type of home alarm system you have in place, additional steps may take place. These could include notifying your alarm monitoring company or sending a notification to your smart device.
Let’s dive deeper into how each component works:
Control Panel
The control panel acts as the primary control for your entire home alarm system and is used to arm and disarm the alarm, communicate with the other system components as well as communicate with your alarm monitoring company, if you have an alarm monitoring contract in place.
The control panel is often a small touchpad that’s wall-mounted somewhere easily accessible and convenient in the home. It is where you will enter passcodes to arm or disarm the alarm system. Depending on the type of control panel, you may be able to use voice commands and it be compatible with key fobs.
Door & Window Sensors
These sensors come in two parts and are installed adjacent to each other. One part is on the door or window, with the other on the door frame or window sill. When a door or window is closed, the two parts come together to form a full circuit. Therefore, when an entry point has been opened, the circuit has been broken and an intrusion is implied. This trigger is relayed to the control panel that activates the alarm.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensors are just that; they detect motion. These are placed in rooms and key areas around a home, such as hallways. When the home alarm system is activated, any motion in these rooms will trigger the alarm. These are particularly effective in larger homes and rooms containing valuable items.
Bell or Siren
The bell or siren creates a high-decibel noise to alert those within the home, passersby and neighbours that there is an issue within your home and that a break-in has occurred. In addition, the loud and high-pitched alarm will create a sense of panic for the intruder, deterring them from carrying out the burglary and making them flee from your home.
What are the benefits of home alarm systems?
Increased Security & Protection
A home alarm system will instantly alert you whenever your home’s security has been compromised and an intruder has entered your property. An alarm system provides an increased level of security and protection for your loved ones compared to if you didn’t have one in place.
Deter Criminals
A home alarm system can actually deter criminals and prevent your home from becoming a target of theft. Research shows that 60% of burglars interviewed would be put off from targeting a property that had an alarm. Criminals want an easy target, that allows them to go unnoticed and to carry out the burglary as quickly as possible. A home alarm system adds an extra barrier of entry and acts as a deterrent to your home being targeted.
Reduce Insurance Premiums
Due to a home alarm system improving the level of security of your property, it therefore will be classed as a lower risk to your insurance company, compared to if you didn’t have one in place. Depending on your insurance policy, you could experience a reduction in your insurance premiums due to the installation of a home alarm system.
Increase Property Value
A high-quality security system has become a valuable attribute of homes in recent years, particularly smart security systems. The sense of safety and security is invaluable and it is something home buyers are wanting in their search. Having a home alarm system installed can therefore help to increase the property value of your home, proving it to be a worthwhile, long-term investment.
Bring Criminals to Justice
Due to the nature of home alarm systems, they enable an immediate response when a home is broken into. This, therefore, increases the chance of the criminal being caught and brought to justice.
Peace of Mind
Having peace of mind that your home is secure and protected by a home alarm system is often underrated. However, it’s a major benefit of having one installed. Many homeowners often worry that their home might be at risk when they’re at work or on holiday. With a home alarm system, you or your neighbours will be notified if an incident were to occur.
Integrate with other Home Systems
Another great benefit of home alarm systems is that they can be integrated with your other home and smart systems. For instance, they can often be connected to your home CCTV system, video doorbell and smart intercom, to create a strong and effective home security system.
What types of home alarm systems are there?
There are two main types of home alarm systems. There are wired and wireless:
Wired
Wired home alarm systems are just that, wired and rely on all the system components to be connected via a network of wires. These will be concealed within the floor and walls of your home and therefore requires some internal wiring work to take place when it is installed. If your alarm system is monitored, then the system will communicate with the monitoring company via your phone’s landline.
Wireless
Wireless systems, on the other hand, are becoming the most common type of home alarm system to be installed due to the non-invasive installation process. Each component of the wireless home alarm systems communicates with each other via radio frequency technology. If your alarm system is monitored, then the system will communicate with the monitoring company via a cellular network or over WIFI.
What is the cost of a home alarm system?
The cost of a home alarm system can vary depending on various factors. For instance, the size of the property will influence the overall price. If you have a large property, you will need more sensors than a smaller property, which will therefore increase the overall cost. Other factors that influence the cost of a home alarm system include the type of components you choose, whether it’s wired or wireless and whether you choose to have your system monitored or unmonitored.
Although there are lots of influencing factors, the average cost of a basic home alarm system can start at as little as £200. However, it’s important to note that a home alarm system is an investment into the safety and security of your home and the protection of your loved ones. Making sure you have the right security system for your home with the correct type and amount of sensors is therefore vital in having effective home security. A professional installation with a home survey will guarantee a high-quality home alarm system that will not let you down.
How are home alarm systems installed?
The installation process of a home alarm system is simple when carried out by a professional home security company. Depending on your system type, internal wiring may need to take place which requires the work of a qualified engineer. It’s therefore always advised that you choose a home security installer that is NSI Gold accredited, as it means that they have gone through rigorous audits and work to the most stringent standards. Here is the installation process with Homewatch:
- At Homewatch, we will provide you with a free quote when you enquire about a home alarm system.
- One of our NSI approved engineers will then visit your property for a free home survey. They will take a look around your property and suggest the most effective home alarm system for you, taking into account your needs, lifestyle and budget as well as the vulnerable spots of your home.
- If you are happy with the design, we’ll organise a date and time of installation that suits you.
- On the day of the installation, we’ll let you know when your engineer is on their way. Once arrived they’ll get straight to work, installing your new system.
- Once installed, your engineer will carry out all the necessary safety checks to make sure your system is working efficiently.
- They’ll then give you a full demonstration of how to use your new system and answer any questions you may have.
What is home alarm system monitoring?
Home alarm system monitoring is another layer of security you can add to your alarm system. It essentially allows your alarm system to be monitored 24/7, by a third-party monitoring company, for any alarm activations. This is particularly effective when you are away from your property and are relying on a passerby or neighbour to alert you that your intruder alarm is sounding.
Home alarm monitoring also allows for instant action to be taken, whether that’s confirming a false alarm or calling a police response. These can be carried out in a matter of minutes by highly trained monitoring operatives and increase the likelihood of the intruder being caught in the act and brought to justice. If your home alarm system is monitored, then it will provide total peace of mind that your home is constantly protected and takes the responsibility away from you needing to action a response in a potentially stressful situation.
Our home alarm monitoring contracts start from just £24.99 per month.
Get in touch for a free alarm installation quote today
Home alarm systems are therefore a fundamental part of home security and prove to have many other benefits too. If you’re interested in installing a new or upgrading an existing home alarm system, get in touch! We’ll provide a FREE quote and home survey.
Call us on 0330 094 7404 or contact us online here.
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The Complete Guide to Video Doorbells