Blog

Are All Home Security Systems the Same?

March 25, 2020|fsstechnologies

Home security used to be synonymous with burglar alarms, but this is no longer the case. Home security today is not only about protection, but also comfort, convenience, communication, and information.
 
All home security systems never were the same—there were different manufacturers, different types of equipment, and various providers. Today, there are entirely new categories of equipment and technology that fall under the broad banner of home security. The best way we’ve come up with to bucket them is under the banners of home automation, property protection, and life safety.

Property Protection

Property protection systems are the home security systems with which consumers are most familiar. These home security systems include components like alarm keypads for arming and disarming your security system when you enter and leave your home, window sensors, door sensors, glass break alarms, motion detectors, and security cameras. 
 
It used to be that home security systems were hardwired into a home, using the home’s telephone landline to communicate. Today, there are both wired and wireless home security options, giving homeowners more flexibility in placing and moving components of a security system. There are pros and cons to both types of systems, and consulting with a professional installer can help you determine which would be best for your home.
 
Another important consideration you will need to make when it comes to property protection is whether you should you get a monitored security system. A monitored home security system gives you the added peace of mind that the proper authorities will be dispatched to your property if you are not capable of assessing the situation or responding to an alarm.

Home Automation

Home automation technology is what powers the smart home. A smart home is a home where you can adjust the temperature before you leave work, talk to the delivery person at your front door, or start a pot of coffee while still laying in bed all with the touch of your mobile phone. 
 
The main issue to consider when it comes to home automation technology is compatibility. Devices, apps, and hubs from various manufacturers may not work well with one another.
 
The power and reach of your Wi-Fi network are also critical to set up a home automation system successfully. Many consumers are unfamiliar with their internet service provider and precisely what type of service they are, or are not, getting, such as upload speeds. If your internet is not sufficient, you will have a challenging installation experience (especially if you are trying to do-it-yourself), not to mention disappointing user experience.
 
Experts recommend installing a whole-home system, like Alarm.com, rather than trying to put together a smart home security system piece by piece. While there are tons of DIY home automation kits out there, professional installation is essential as you may need electrical experience to connect smart home technology with expensive components in your home like your HVAC system.

Life Safety

The third category of available home security components includes what we refer to as life safety—alarms and detectors that save lives. Life safety equipment includes things like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, water detectors, and heat detectors. This equipment is critical because, in only two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening, and in five minutes, a residence can fully engulf in flames.  
 
Also, life safety equipment can include automation components to help older adults age in their homes, like those available from Alarm.com’s Wellness. With intelligent sensors placed throughout the home, caregivers and family members can monitor activities such as how much time they spend in bed, in a favorite chair, or out of the house. Moreover, the technology can learn a person’s activity patterns and alert you if anything is out of the ordinary, such as leaving the house at odd hours. This type of equipment can also pair with Personal Emergency Response pendants.
 
With over 45 years of experience, FSS Technologies is an industry leader in providing home security systems that provide both comfort and convenience as well as peace-of-mind and protection.

For more information on designing the right security system for your home,

Contact a Security Expert Today

Explore Our Other Blogs

outdoor-security-cameras-Hero-min

What are the Best Outdoor Security Cameras?

When it comes to protecting your home, you need to think about both the indoor and outdoor components of your security system. Security cameras can allow you to see and monitor what is going on, even if you aren’t there in person. Placing cameras outside to protect your home or business requires a bit more…

Continue reading
Hero-restaurant-min

Fire Systems for the Restaurant Industry

Companies in varying industries face fire hazards in their standard operations to a certain degree. Businesses that operate commercial kitchens, however, are at significant risk for fire-related hazards because cooking equipment is a leading cause of commercial fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 50% of non-residential fires were caused by cooking in…

Continue reading
3-types-of-lighting-hero-min

3 Types of Security Lights

Your security system is only useful if you can see what is going on when you can’t be there. This also means that when it gets dark, your cameras need to be able to capture the image clearly. To do this past dusk will require that you set up security lighting. Additionally, check out the…

Continue reading
Herotestfirealar-min

Testing Fire Alarm Call Points

Most large commercial-grade fire alarm systems today are an addressable fire alarm system. Addressable fire alarm systems, also known as addressable fire panels, give every smoke detector or sprinkler head on the system its own uniquely identifiable address or call point.      When any sensor on the system is triggered, the main control panel shows exactly which device or point was triggered to pinpoint…

Continue reading
Blogs-LowesIris-min

Lowe’s Iris Line Goes Under

Many consumers are seeing red with the recent news that big-box retailer Lowe’s is shutting down service to its Iris smart home platform. Lowe’s launched its Iris cloud service in 2012 so it could sell its own smart home products to the public. Customers with an Iris smart hub, the heart of the network, could…

Continue reading
Hero-PreventShoplifting-min

3 Ways to Prevent Shoplifting

Preventing shoplifting is a big deal if you’re a retailer. According to the 2018 National Retail Security Survey, shoplifting continues to be the leading cause of inventory loss for retailers. Loss of stock is a big deal in this country to the tune of nearly $47 billion. The survey also identifies the top ways retailers try…

Continue reading
weakness-diy-security-system-Hero-min

Cons of DIY Home Security Systems

When considering getting a home security system, some people might assume they can set up a fully functioning system themselves.     The reality is that DIY systems come with some significant drawbacks. Here are some of the things to consider before you decide to take on this project yourself. Not Professionally Installed  The importance of…

Continue reading
how-often-fire-inspection-hero-min

How Often Should You Inspect Your Fire Alarm System?

Everyone dreads the day when fire alarm systems are being tested because they are often loud and annoying. However, the importance of making sure your fire alarms are working properly outweighs the small distraction of lights and noise. Putting off a fire alarm inspection can be both risky and negligent for business owners as it…

Continue reading
Hero-SecurityCameraWifi-min

How Much Data Does a Wifi Security Camera Use?

Internet Speed Bandwidth Internet bandwidth is a significant issue nowadays. Everything is tapping into the internet— from our phones to our refrigerators. If you’re installing internet protocol (IP) security cameras, they will inevitably use some of the bandwidth from your network. The question is, how much?   When you purchase home internet service, you typically…

Continue reading
convential-vs-addressable_fire-alarms-hero

Addressable vs. Conventional Fire Alarms

When determining what type of fire alarm systems are best for your business, it boils down to your choice between a conventional and addressable alarm system. The combination of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors work together with your control panel to keep your business safe. Additionally, you will need to determine what kind of automatic…

Continue reading
24h emergency
Secure My Space
chat with us