Priced for every budget, today's home-security systems....

Priced for every budget, today's home-security systems are geared for peace of mind

Written by Paulette Dague

It's a sad fact of life—property and personal crime are on the risein just about every area of the country. Although you can't stop increasing criminal tendencies, you can take measures to protect your home and family with a home-security system. According to statistics cited by the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, homes without alarm systems are as much as three times more likely to be broken into and suffer hundreds of dollars more in losses than those with systems. With the many reasonably priced systems on the market, and the savings you may realize in homeowner's insurance,it is well worth your time to investigate the possibilities.

The basics

All electric alarm systems feature the same components: a control panel, one or more keypads, sensors for windows and doors, motion detec-tors, and a signal device.

• The control panel is the nerve center reading information from the components and triggering a signal in the event of a break-in. 
• The keypad arms and disarms the system and responds to a code (usually to disarm). Some have a panic-button that triggers the signal instantly. Industry experts recommend locating the keypad near themost-used door (especially if you have only one)—in most houses, this is the access door to the garage.
• The sensors feature magnetic switches that alert the control panel that a breach has occurred. One part of the sensor is fixed to the sash of the door or window,the other to the door frame or windowf rame. When the door or window is opened and the parts separate there is a break in electrical current, tripping the alarm. Most door sensors have a time-delay feature that gives you an opportunity to key in the code before the signal is sent. Passive infrared sensors (PIRs), which detect body heat, and motion sensors pick up the presence of intruders. Some are programmed to ignore anything weighing less than a certain amount—preventing the family pet from sending a false alarm.
• The signaling device may be simply an audible alarm—perhaps with flashing lights—or an alert to a central monitoring agency, or both.

Got wire?

Alarm systems are either hardwired or wireless—either of which may be a stand-alone system (sounding an audible alarm) or may require a central monitoring service. Which is better? "Wireless and hardwired systems are equal in reliability," advises Linda Patsakos, customer service manager for NAPCO Security Group. "But wireless can be more convenient to install in hard-to-reach places."

Wireless systems use tiny radio transmitters for communication between the control panel, the sensors, the keypads,and the siren. They are convenient for use in existing homes since they install easily—with no holesto drill or wires to pull—something that can usually be done by the average do-it-yourselfer. Additionally, they are portable and can be taken with you if you move.

Hardwired systems (as the name suggests) use wires between the components. The wires are usually hidden behind walls or in attics or crawl spaces so they are not intrusive. Because installation of a hardwired system is more complicated, it is best left to a professional installer—and the easiest time to install is at the construction stage, so new homes are good candidates for these systems.

What price security? "Prices can range anywhere from $99 and up, depending on the type of system," says Patsakos. Anadequate wireless system with indoor motion detectors, window and door sensors, an audible alarm, and an automatic call system to as many as four numbers (sending a pre-recorded message) is available for under $150. Many other more feature laden systems are priced between $250 and $700. Good hardwired systems with motion detectors and door and window sensors run less than $1,000. Start including more sophisticated options and the price climbs significantly. Adding outdoor surveillance cameras, driveway alarms, gate controls, and motion sensitive lights will boost the price to well over $2,000. A 24-hour-a-day central monitoring service ranges from $15 to $40 a month—perhaps a prudent choice, as Patsakos points out: "Most homeowner's insurance {companies} offer a discount on alarm systems that are connected to a central station."

Valuable extras "There are many items you can add to your system," Linda Patsakos explains. "My personal favorite is the wireless key fob with LCD readout." Following are some other note worthy options:

• Automatic light activation—turns on house lights when alarm is triggered. May also allow you to call from a cell phone to turn on interior and exterior lights before you arrive home.
• Automatic paging—calls your pager if alarmis tripped or for a programmed event (yourchild arriving safely home from school).
• Smoke and heat sensors—like the standard units, but hardwired; they alert a monitoring agency to call emergency services.
• Remote operation—lets you call the system to change settings and check status. Also allows the monitoring company to test the system remotely.
• Welfare monitoring—great for the home-bound, it alerts the monitoring station if the motion detectors sense no movement in a specified time period.
• Special window screens—trigger the alarm if cut or removed.
• Glass-break sensors—sound the alarm if they detect the sound of breaking glass.