Security alarms monitor your home twenty-four hours a day. Whether armed or disarmed, your security system also protects you from tragedies such as a fire, water damage, and high temperature or carbon monoxide levels. Imagine the devastation when you arrive home to your basement ruined from water damage because your sump pump failed; our system can prevent that.

Let’s talk about the security alarm keypad; this device has many functions in addition to the four digit code to disarm your system. The first useful function on your DSC keypads is the convenient quick arm buttons that quickly arm your home in the stay or away mode for ease of use. When you’re walking out the door press the away key and off you go! It’s that easy. DSC Keypads also have a built-in door chime mode. This feature is a bell chime that sounds every time the door is opened and closed. Many don’t understand the value of this feature; however, quite possibly this feature could save the life of a child or elderly. This chime could make you aware that your child has gone out to the backyard where you have a pool, or it could signal you that your two-year old has escaped from the house and is heading towards the road. Or, if you have an elderly person with Alzheimer’s living with you, this chime can make you aware that someone has left the house and prevent a serious tragedy. Your keypad also has ‘Life safety buttons’. These are the Medical, Fire and Duress buttons on your keypad. Pressing these buttons will send an emergency signal to central station, and will provide immediate assistance. When you are in the midst of a medical emergency, if you are scared, or in trouble these buttons are invaluable.

Most insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners that install a monitored security system. It is a well- known fact that houses with visible window decals or lawn sign can deter an intruder. Houses with alarms are more likely to have a thief spend less time in their home, as they know that the alarm will signal a police dispatch. It’s all about convenience and arming your system must be simple. To accomplish this, our system will allow you to add a variety of wireless remote controls that will tailor to your specific needs. Again for a family with young children, remotes are extremely handy. In my case I have a status module in my garage that allows me to verify that the alarm is set. So I help my young children into the car then arm our alarm with the remote while backing out of my garage. With a system like the one I have, it’s nearly impossible to forget to arm the system. For anyone that currently has an alarm, I’m sure you can relate to this…. You’re snuggled in your bed, cozy and warm and you forgot to arm your alarm. So rather than go all the way downstairs, you simply decide that tonight you won’t arm you system. Instead of playing the odds, you can install an wireless wall plate inside your bedroom closet or beside your night table that will allow you to arm or disarm the system and call for help. In addition to this wall mount, you can also add a single button remote that can be worn around the neck for those requiring medical assistance or panic assistance.

We would love to help make your alarm more user friendly and convenient.

Contact SECUR-U to speak with our qualified sales staff. Remember, always arm your alarm.

Avoiding False Alarms - Tips from your local Security Professional.

Having a security system can certainly provide the peace of mind that many homeowners count on but your alarm system must be a reliable solution that you can trust.   Here are a few simple things that you can do this winter to help prevent a false alarm.    

Your security system uses contacts on windows and doors which activate the alarm when separated.  In our cold climate some door and window frames have the tendency to contract.  This contracting increases the spacing between the door, window and the frame so check that all contacts are spaced correctly. 

To check for proper spacing of the contacts, enable the chime feature on the keypad (if not already on). Once the chime is enabled, close and lock the protected window or doors.  Then try opening the door or window by pulling or pushing on it.  If you do not hear the chime then the spacing alignment is correct.  However, if you can hear the chime then you should consult your security company for an adjustment to the spacing of the contacts.  

The interior of most homes are protected with motion detectors.  You can reduce false alarms by ensuring that the motion detector is mounted at the correct location.  A professional installer is well versed at where to mount the devices so that they are at the right height with the correct settings as recommended by the manufacturer. 

Yet, homeowners can avoid false detection by simply being aware that the motion is sensitive to movement and heat.   For example, moving a table to within six feet of a motion detector could offer your cat or small animal the perfect resting spot.  This new resting spot can activate your motion detector and trigger an alarm.  If you have a pet, you may want to consider one with intelligent signal analysis (ie. LC-100 from DSC) these motions detect pets up to 55 lbs. without triggering an alarm.

Similarly to avoid triggering motion detectors, consider where you hang decorations.  A balloon or streamer offers the perfect sway to set off a motion.  It would be really frustrating to rush home or worse have the police dispatched because your alarm is going off only to find that your party decorations from the night before have come undone and are blowing around your foyer!!

Lastly after 18 years in the business, I always recommend providing each key holder with their own four digit code.  This code should be specific to the key holder and EASY to remember but not generic (i.e. Avoid using 1234 or the year of your birth etc.) By having a code that is easy for you to remember when in a stressful situation such as the alarm going off, you are less likely panic and forget the code.  And please, if you don’t remember any of my tips just remember this one… don’t write your alarm code on or above the DSC Keypad!     

If you have an alarm, use it.  You may never need it, but are you prepared to take that chance?

SECUR-U Inc. has been a local leader of security systems in Milton for over 18 years.  We would be happy to assist you with any questions that you may have.