There could be a great price difference on what seems like the same system. Reputable companies provide specification sheets on all the major components being installed. This should be required by all bidders, this is the only way to be sure that they are all bidding on the same system with the same components. The most important thing that you can do is ask questions. Let them help you make an informed decision regarding your upcoming purchase.

A bell or an outside horn does provide additional peace of mind. But, to have that as your only source of notification is not recommended. There are so many bells and horns that go off these days, most people tend to ignore them until they become annoying. If you decide not to have your system monitored, we would like to suggest a cost-effective addition to your security system that has a two-fold purpose. The addition of a latching strobe light on the front of your house or company that flashes when the alarm is tripped. This strobe would be programmed not to reset until you reset the panel. This way when you arrive at your house or company you would know that the alarm system has tripped before you get inside. It would also make it easier for the police to locate the premise in which the alarm was generated from.

Every accessible door and windows should have some sort of protection. This protection can range from contacts to shock sensors to glass break detectors to motion detectors or any combination. We often see customers who want every degree of protection, when they can reduce the risk of intrusion by simply installing motion detector lights in the back yard. Does this mean that they did not need any protection on the rear of the building? Absolutely not! What it means is that a security system is not the only way to reduce the risk of a break in. In order to answer this question, we need to ask you what you are trying to protect? If you are only concerned with your personal property while you are gone. A properly installed motion detector can detect the intruder and summon police. If your main concern is personal safety while you are home then you should at least contact every window with a combination contact/shock sensor.

A great number of factors affect the decision. What is the construction of the building? Is it an older building with plaster and lathe walls that will interfere with the systems ability to communicate with all the devices? Can the wires of a hard-wired system be hidden, and how much labor will this entail. Five years ago the batteries of a wireless system needed to be changed every six months, now with advances in technology many batteries are lasting four or more years.

Most wireless devices check in with the panel on a periodic basis. This allows the panel to know that the devices are on line and that the batteries are not low. The devices will send a code to the panel when the battery in that device becomes low.

No. This was common on older systems that needed to be armed and disarmed from the outside of the building. Newer systems have a delay feature built in. When a predetermined door is breached the keypad will sound for a programmed amount of time to remind you to disarm the system. If the code is not received the panel will transmit the alarm to the Central station and the siren will sound. If you have a light on the outside of the building you might as well hang out a sign to a thief that the system is not on.

If you are just trying to protect your property while you are away, this type of system should cost you around $ 500.00. It should include all entry doors and two or three well placed motion detectors. If you are purchasing the system mainly for your personal safety (protecting every accessible window), you should budget around $1,000.00 to $1,500.00.

Yes. We offer a free hard-wired alarm system consisting of two door contacts, one motion detector, one control panel, one siren, one keypad, and one backup battery. We require you sign a central station contract for five years at $ 20.00 per month. We require a site survey to ensure that we can install this system in your premise without having the wires exposed. We will not put our name on a system that is not installed neatly.

Required Systems – Are systems that are required by the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction). They will dictate the scope of the work to be preformed depending on the building use group. These systems require a permit from the AHJ, and an inspection by the AHJ after the installation is complete.
Non-Required Systems – Are systems that are installed by the building owner and / or tenant strictly for the protection of their businesses, employees or tenants. Please note that even non-required systems must be installed as if they were required systems, meeting all the codes of a required system. There are no short cuts when it comes to Life Safety. These systems may or may not be required to have a permit, depending solely on the AHJ.

Yes. Some jurisdictions impose penalties for numerous false alarms. Most of these township ordinances impose a monetary penalty after two false alarms. What is most important to remember is that most false alarms happen at the keypad due to user error. Make sure your alarm system is easy to use and that everyone who will operate it receives the proper training.