Authored by Penny S. Harmon in Home Security
Published on 04-04-2009
Do you want to go to bed knowing your home and your family is protected? Do you want to feel safe and secure in your own home? These are the main reasons many purchase a home security system. They want to know there home is protected from someone breaking in or a fire. However, before you go out and purchase a home security system, you will want to be aware of a few things.
The first thing you must realize is most alarm systems are not hooked directly into the fire or police department’s system. Instead, the alarm signal is received by an alarm monitoring company. This is staffed by operators who, when receiving the alarm, dispatch according to the instructions you have provided to them. In other words, if a smoke alarm sends a signal, you can decide who they should call first-the premises or the fire department. Make certain when you set up your dispatch procedures, you are clear with your instructions.
One of the main items you need to check into are false alarms. Unfortunately, there are many things that can trigger alarm to go off besides an actual alarm. All it takes is one piece of burnt toast to set off your smoke alarms. A power surge can even set off the alarms in your home and if you can not be reached by telephone, the authorities will be called. You will want to check with the city or town you live in to find out if they will charge you for false alarm responses, as many may charge as much as $100 each time they respond to a false alarm.
When you have your system installed, you will also need to set up a list of contacts for each alarm type. The people on the list are called RPs or responsible persons. If your alarm sends a signal and the monitoring company is unable to reach you, the RP will be the next one called. If you have too many alarms go off, you may have a large bill from your RP or even lose friends over this nuisance. You will also need to make certain your RP has a key and code to get in your home, so if you do not feel secure giving them the information, you may be handling all the alarms at your home by yourself.
A full alarm system can protect you home and family from many different dangers, including fire, burglars, and even harmful gases. However, as a home owner, there are many things you can do to help improve how your alarm system takes care of your home. Always check with your local authorities to make certain you are aware of any fees that may be incurred due to false alarms and have a list of responsible people that can be called should you not be available. By knowing everything you can about your security system and how the alarms are handled, you can further protect your home and family.
