Most people recognize the value of ome security systems.
When glass is broken or motion sensors detect an intrusion, a loud alarm is all it will probably take to scare off a burglar.
Whether you are home to hear the alarm or not, it's likely to do its job.
Nearly everyone lives with several smoke or heat detectors in their homes that will sound if a fire breaks out and give them time to get out safely.
There is a major difference between burglar alarms and fire alarms, though.
While your burglar alarm is likely to scare off a criminal, a fire alarm will do nothing to stop the spread of fire.
Although nobody will be harmed if a fire starts when you and your family are away, your possessions and property will be destroyed if the fire is not put out.
In the case of fire, monitoring security systems can make a tremendous difference.
If a professional company is monitoring your alarms and a smoke or heat detector is activated, swift action will be taken to stop the destruction of your valuables and property.
Your local authorities will be notified and the fire department will be dispatched within minutes.
Thanks to the fast response of integrated fire alarms, fire fighters may even be able to save pets at home from harm, too.
When choosing a fire or combination burglar and fire alarm monitoring service, one thing to consider is how the signals transmitted to the monitoring center are sent.
Do your detectors send signals via telephone lines?If so, the monitoring service is limited.
The problem with alarm monitoring that relies on telephone lines is that a burglar can simply cut phone lines to prevent detectors from transmitting their signals.
If telephone lines are damaged during a fire or if telephone service is interrupted due to some other cause, your home will be left unprotected.
The better choice is an alarm monitoring service that relies on wireless communications instead of telephone lines for emergancy transmission.
You may also want to consider how many call centers a home security company has, and how they handle emergencies such as power outages or telephone service interruptions.
If for some reason your monitoring company's only call center had to be evacuated, would your house go unprotected?Some larger national alarm monitoring companies have several call centers located across the country.
If one call center is experiencing an emergency and cannot serve clients nearby, another call center will.
Once you contract with a quality alarm monitoring company, you'll be able to enjoy peace of mind while you are at home and also when you are away.
Whether you're on a business trip, vacation or just a shopping spree, you can relax knowing your home is protected.
Best of all, home security monitoring services are very affordable.
Compare home security systems and their options before making your final commitment.