Many families outfit their residences with home alarm systems without really considering the impact this will have on parents, children and household pets. There are certain elements of home security which should always be conveyed to all members of the family before installation, including passwords needed to enter the home safely, times when the system will be armed, and the consequences for not following the procedures for arming and disarming the home.
If home alarm systems are meant to protect a home and family from intruders, then it’s important that all members of the family have a full appreciation of how best to use the system. Some points which are important to cover include:
- What to do if the alarm is triggered by an accident
- How to disarm an accidentally triggered alarm
- Strategies for exiting the home in the event that the alarm is triggered accidentally
- What do to when the alarm has been triggered by an intruder
Some families are not sure how old their children should be in order to be told passwords and entry codes for the house. If parents do decide to share this information with children, based on the age and level of responsibility of the child, then they must be prepared to reprogram security passwords and entry codes in the event of a child’s abuse of the knowledge. More than anything else, a child or teen who is entrusted with the entry code to a home must be impressed with the knowledge that they cannot share it with anyone – friends, relatives, or others who they might normally trust with sensitive knowledge.
Depending on the kind of home security systems your family is considering, the household should be prepared to deal with disruption during the installation process. Some systems, such as those which rely on window and door contacts to protect points of entry, will not disrupt family life too severely, while other systems, such as those which rely on video surveillance or motion detectors, might cause more changes to the family’s everyday routine.
In homes with pets, it’s important that families realize that home alarm systems that use motion sensors can be triggered by large animals, depending on where the motion detectors are located. Unfortunately, there is no way for a pet to deactivate an alarm, so it’s important to restrict pets to areas where they cannot accidentally trip the alarm during times when there are not family members present to turn off the alarm. If a loud alarm with sirens is being used, these loud noises can cause damage to pets’ ears if not addressed quickly. In a multi-floor dwelling, pets can be kept on an upper floor while ground-level security precautions are taken, or owners might decide to restrict internal motion sensors to specific areas their pets cannot access.
Having home alarm systems installed is a wonderful way for families to gain peace of mind and security in their residence. Becoming properly informed about all aspects of home alarm systems is an important step for families that want to take full advantage of the system they install. For more information, click on the link below and receive fast, free quotes from home security companies in your area.
