Looking to reinforce your home security with a new alarm system?
We must say it is a great decision.
The smart alarm system is placed on the key entry points across the house to detect several security breach incidents such as intrusion, glass break, etc. A smart home alarm system works by sending an alert to the hub when the sensor detects something done forcefully.
The hub activates an alarm, sends a notification, and can alert a monitoring center.
Sure, home alarms can help catch intruders or deter them. However, today’s savvy intruders can easily manipulate them, leading to burglary or other security breach. The efficiency of your home alarm system is determined by how and where it is installed.
Here is a rundown of some common mistakes you must avoid while installing a smart home alarm system.
Not Considering the Future Requirements:
Many homeowners install smart home alarm systems without considering if they can upgrade them in the future. This way, they are denied the latest technology. Therefore, ask yourself if your smart home can be integrated with the latest or upcoming technologies or if it can be scaled up to your future requirements. Here’s how…
- If you are not on fiber, you may be looking to switch to the new technology in the near future. Therefore, make sure your alarm system is compatible with fiber. Some systems are compatible with copper only, so you may not like to consider them.
- Maybe you are using a keypad to operate your alarm now. However, today’s alarm system can be controlled with your phone. Therefore, investing in a “smartphone-compatible” alarm system is a smart decision.
- Looking to own a pet? It will be cheaper to add pet sensors to your existing alarm systems during the initial setup than to integrate them later.
- Additionally, consider the alarm system that has a monitoring capability.
Using the Factory Setting Codes:
Relying on the same default codes can cost you.
Using security codes such as “1234” or “0000” are easy-to-guess codes for today’s invaders, giving them a clean chance to deactivate the alarm of your house.
Therefore, it does make sense to use the unique combination of numbers. One more thing, don’t share your codes with others. Keep it only amongst the family members if possible. The codes shared with your friends or teens who may be friends with your children can reach others and can travel to a potential invader.
Placing the Control Panel near the Entrances:
Avoid installing the main control panel of the alarm systems near next to or in front of entrances. This escalates the risk of your code being seen by a trespasser who can turn into an invader. After all, the entrance is the most accessible place for anyone to notice you entering the code.
The control panel kept near the entrance also lets the same trespasser time to quickly disarm the alarm. Therefore, keep the control panel at the places that are hidden or out of view from the entrances during installation. For example, they can be kept in kitchen and bedroom passageways, keeping them away from the trespasser’s sight.
Not Integrating Smoke Alarms:
It is one of the common mistakes not to incorporate smoke alarms into your entire security system. While we all are familiar with the protection ensured by smoke alarms, some of them may forget or skip them to connect to the existing alarm system.
This integration leads to timely response when a fire breaks out. When they detect fire or smoke, they get activated themselves, alarming everyone in the vicinity and neighborhood as well. In fact, they can trigger the monitoring service which can in turn promptly contact the fire brigade if you are not there.
Not Test the System Thoroughly:
Keep in mind that installation is incomplete till the thorough testing of the entire smart home alarm system. Maybe you believe that everything is working fine without performing comprehensive tests. Make sure all sensors and other things are working correctly. Test the alarm system frequently to spot any potential or existing issues and address them timely.
Ignoring Wi-Fi Network Security:
Smart home alarm systems are operated over Wi-Fi connectivity. However, not considering the security of your Wi-Fi network can make your entire system exposed to the threat actors. Make sure to protect your Wi-Fi network with a robust password, activate WPA3 encryption if available, and regularly update the firmware of your router.
Moreover, you can also create a separate network for your smart home devices to keep them isolated from other connected devices.
Underestimating the Importance of Professional Installation:
Sure, many smart home alarm systems are easy to install for homeowners without any professional assistance.
Make sure to call professionals if you are looking to set up specific products such as the Control4 alarm system. This is because the Control4 alarm system or any other Control4 products are designed to be installed by professionals only.
A smart home alarm professional can understand your home’s unique security needs, ensure proper placement of devices, and fix all potential issues.
Opting for professional installation not only ensures optimal system performance but also gives peace of mind knowing that the system is configured rightly.
Buying the Cheapest Solution:
For some homeowners, it is quite tempting to prefer a super cheap solution. But the cheapest one is not always the right one as it may come with certain drawbacks. For example, they may have less resistance to weather and impact. On top of that, they may lack service and support. The substandard components used in them may also lead to reliability risks, leading to compromised lifespans mitigated effectiveness.
Quality home alarm systems may cost you little upfront, but prove a great investment in the long run.
The Bottom Line:
Smart home alarm systems help improve the security of your home if installed correctly.
The installation of such systems involves careful consideration of various factors. If you find the process overwhelming or if you’re unsure how to begin, reach out to a smart home alarm professional.
At Tekmax Technologies, we guide you over the right smart home alarm system for your home and install it according to your requirements. Get in touch now!
