-
As a kid growing up, we all remember having a blanket at night that somehow made us
feel as though we were safer by being under it. It was even properly titled “security
blanket” because that’s what it was intended to provide. The truth of the matter however
is that a blanket really provides no security at all, does it?
In the same way, many home owners have security systems installed that they think are providing their families with peace of mind, when in fact what they’re providing is a false sense of security. Within recent years, the home security industry has taken a turn to providing home security systems at such an affordable price that compromises the level of security. This industry change has created an atmosphere where subscribers really have no concept of how well their homes are protected. Most home security system owners assume that the person designing their security system is covering all angles, but nothing could be further from the truth. So to define what exactly the causes of this false sense of security are, the remainder of this article will give a detailed list of what to look for.
Self Contained Security Systems
One of the greatest ways to be deceived into thinking your protected, when you’re really not is in determining what kind of security control panel you have. There are presently two types of home security control combinations. The first is the traditional method which utilizes a control panel and a separate arming keypad. In the traditional method, the control panel will generally go in a closet or attic space. The arming keypad will then be placed by the main entry of the home and will be wired back to the control panel. The other method is known as the self contained method. The self contained method utilizes a control panel that has the arming keypad integrated. This method makes for a much easier and faster installation.
The traditional method of using a separate control panel and keypad combination offers a far greater level of security. On the other hand, the self contained method of combining the control panel and arming keypad creates a total false sense of security. The reason it creates a false sense of security is because of the way it leaves your home security system completely vulnerable. Because the arming keypad and the control panel are the same in one, it leaves the entire system vulnerable to a burglar coming in and ripping the entire thing off the wall and destroying it. On every home security system, the front door leaves a time delay window for the home owner to come in and out which means a burglar has the same time to enter the house without setting off the alarm system as well. This time window is all a burglar needs to enter the home and ripping the control panel / keypad combination off the wall and destroying it before it can send a communication signal to the central monitoring station. Using a self contained system may be cheap, practical and apparently effective but gives a complete false sense of security.
Door and Window Protection
Another way to be exposed to having a false sense of security is by not having full perimeter protection. With the advent of the “free” home security system package came the possibility of creating a false sense of security. Most alarm companies offering a free security system just protect a maximum of five doors or windows. The reasoning behind this is that most burglaries occur through doors rather than through windows. This also creates a false sense of security. To properly protect your home it is absolutely necessary to protect all doors and windows with magnetic contacts. Magnetic contacts initiate a burglar alarm condition whenever any door or window is opened when the home security system is armed.
Glass Break Protection
Most home owners automatically assume that the sensors placed on all the perimeter doors and windows provide glass break protection. This also creates a false sense of security. The door and window sensors installed simply provide protection against anyone opening the door or window but not against shattering glass. This means that a burglar can shatter the glass on a sliding door and walk in without actually opening the sliding door and enter undetected. The proper response to this problem would be to install glass break sensors throughout the home to provide glass protection. Glass break sensors do not go through walls so it is necessary to install one in each room individually wherever there is glass.
While there are other things necessary to make your home security system complete, these are the major ones that can give a false sense of security. Simply implementing the previous mentioned items into your home security system will insure that you can rest assured that if a burglar attempts to break in, your security system will alert you and the local authorities.
If you would like more information on how to make sure your existing home security system is complete, or if you would like information on how to properly protect your home with an ADT Security system then call us today at (786)325-7867 or visit our website at www.miamifloridahomesecurity.com and visit the contact page.
Share This