Fire and Burglar Alarm Installation Services Q&A

Deciding on a fire or burglar alarm installation can be difficult if you don’t know what you need. Below we discuss the main features of an alarm system and define some of the components to help you pick the best option for your home or business.

A monitored alarm system is a great asset in any home or business. It allows one to have peace of mind and physical security. Alarm systems can be simple or have all the bells and whistles, depending on your needs and wants. Fire and burglar alarm installation services and fire alarm systems allow for custom features. Below, we outline some of the most common questions that we get asked and provide an overview of our recommendations to make your alarm system the perfect fit for your needs.

 

How does alarm monitoring work?

When an alarm is triggered, a siren will go off. This may be discouraging to a burglar, as it will inform the burglar that he or she has been detected, increasing the likelihood that the burglar will flee, rather than proceed into the building. You will receive a phone call from our 24/7 central station, which will inform you an alarm has been triggered, you will be able to cancel this alarm via passcode, if it is a false alarm, or request dispatch if you suspect a break in. If no one answers, police or fire will be dispatched, depending on the type of emergency reported. Aside from the phone call, you can also receive SMS notifications and/ or email notifications from our phone application. This will allow you to take proactive steps to act, when emergency strikes while you are away, by having police or fire confirm your home or business is secure. The monitoring center operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week, ensuring your premises is secure at all times.

Arming Options

There are different arming options, the most common are stay mode and away mode, however, there are customizable modes and schedules that you can set up, based on different needs.

Away mode indicates you are leaving your home and all installed sensors are activated.

Stay mode is used for times when you are home. It arms the doors, but does not activate motion sensors, as it recognizes that motion will occur, when someone is on premises.

Custom modes are available, these will allow you to pick certain sensors to be activated, but not all, for example, if you have kids and they sleep on another floor, once they go to bed you may want to arm an area that no one will be accessing after certain hours, such as a basement.

How many keypads do I need?

It depends, it is recommended to have a keypad at each main entrance to arm and disarm the system, when entering or leaving. This will make arming and disarming a breeze no matter which door you are using. If you choose to have less keypads, delay times can also be adjusted to ensure that you are able to walk out the door or to your arming station, without setting off the alarm system.

What is a door sensor and where do I need them?

Door sensors are used most commonly for exterior doors. We recommend one at each exterior door. For example, if you have a single family home, you will definitely want one at your front, rear door, and at a basement entrance or patio door, if you have one. These can be placed on interior doors as well, if you want a particular room to be secured. Exterior door security is vital, as many burglars will try to pick a lock. Door sensors are also preventive, as you will be able to see if a door is open or closed at any time, even when the system is not armed. This will give you peace of mind, as you will know which door is open, if for example, someone forgot to close it on their way in or out. An open door can be an invitation to intrusion.

What are motion sensors?

Motion sensors are devices that detect movement in the home. In a single family home, we recommend placing at least two in each living area of the home, such as the living room, kitchen, and basement, as well as one in each main hallway. This is useful, because if a burglar enters through an unsecured window, the motion detector will be set off, when the burglar passes a living area setting off the siren and transmitting a signal to the central station, which will notify you and the police of the emergency.

What are window sensors?

Window sensors are devices installed on your windows, that detect when a window is opened and trigger the alarm if a window is opened, while the system is in an armed state. This is a great option, if you have low basement windows that are easy to access or even first floor windows that are out of sight and might be an easy target for a burglar’s entrance. Depending on your home, we recommend securing basement windows as well as easily accessible windows on lower levels.

Smoke detector monitoring?

Smoke detectors are an optional feature, however, most jurisdictions mandate homes have a certain number, depending on square footage and other factors. In your home, we recommend having at least one per floor. It will allow you to be proactive as not only will the smoke detector sound, but you will also be notified as well as the fire department. This can potentially save lives and prevent a fire from spreading, especially if the smoke detector goes off, when no one is home.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

CO2 is a deadly gas that does not emit an odor, which makes detection more difficult. It is also flammable, meaning the risk of fire is increased, if it is given off through a leak in a fuel burning appliances, such as stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, dryers, water heaters, or even space heaters. We recommend at least one carbon monoxide detector per floor. The quick response and detection of CO2 gas can be a matter of life and death.

Easy to Use Application

Control your system anywhere, anytime. Tech Troops uses alarm.com’s phone application service to make your home and business security easy to control whether at home or on the go. See exactly what is going on in your home while you are away. Forgot to arm your system? No problem, just log in and arm with the click of a button. Second guessing if you closed a door, just open the Alarm.com application and double check in seconds. The system is not only convenient, it is also easy to use. The application is designed to give you full control of your system and view exactly what is going on in real time every step of the way.

 

Still have a question about  fire and burglar alarm installation services? Tech Troops is at your service. Message us before your order and we can help you decide the best options for your space and your wallet.