3 Life-Saving Benefits of Home Security Systems

Most people think home security systems just protect against burglary and property theft. And, in the past, that was the primary reason for having an alarm system. Today, though, thanks to big advances in technology, home security systems can do so much more! Here are some of the life-saving protections and benefits available to you with today’s home security systems.

Home Security Systems Deter Burglars

You want to protect your family and your valuable possessions. Thankfully, the FBI reports that 65% of burglaries happen during daytime hours when no one is home. Most burglaries happen between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Even if no one is home, though, a break-in is stressful for everyone involved, making them feel violated and frightened. And, some burglaries do occur when someone is home, and many of these result in confrontations that lead to injury or death.

So, preventing burglaries and home invasions is still an vital function of a home security system. And, most of the time, it works. A University of North Carolina study found that 60% of burglars will pass up homes with security systems. Only 13% would still break in, despite discovering the security system.

Home Security Systems Detect Fires

Many home security systems connect with heat and smoke detectors. This can literally save your life and your home. When a fire starts in an empty house, it can spread quickly, and do great damage before anyone sees it. This is especially true in quiet neighborhoods where most people are away during the day. And, if a fire starts when people are home, early warning is critical. It allows people to get out safely before they are overcome by the smoke or the fire blocks the doors.

Fires develop in different ways, so it is important to have both heat detectors and smoke detectors. Some fires produce a lot of smoke that will trigger a smoke detector before there is enough heat to set off the heat detectors. Others quickly produce intense flames that set off heat detectors before there is a lot of smoke. So, for added protection, use smoke detectors that combine both ionization and photoelectric technologies, because ionization works better in high-energy fires, and photoelectric sensors work better in smoldering fires.

Security Systems Detect Carbon Monoxide

Some home security systems include carbon monoxide detectors. There are several compelling reasons to have these in your home. This is especially important in homes with HVAC systems and appliances that use natural gas, oil, wood, or coal, because carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion.

They call carbon monoxide the silent killer, because it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas it takes special equipment to detect it. Even small amounts in the air can cause damage to the body, or death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that 15,000 people each year go to emergency rooms with carbon monoxide poisoning, and 480 people die each year from this. This means that carbon monoxide causes more accidental poisoning deaths in the United States than any other substance. Doesn’t it make sense to have these in your home if they will prevent a tragedy?

There are other convenient features you can get in a home security system, thanks to our rapidly-expanding technology footprint, but these three are the most likely to save your life. Hopefully, you will consider installing a new system, or upgrading an existing system to include the features we have discussed.

Take All Measures to Protect Your Home

As we said, security systems prevent a lot of burglaries, but not all. So, while you are looking into increasing security, why not take the time to review your home’s door and window locks? This is the perfect time to look into lock replacement using high-security locks. Keyless door locks cannot be picked, and there are no random keys to get misplaced. For a less expensive fix, think about rekeying your locks. This way, anyone who has old keys will no longer be able to use them to enter your home. Whether you are looking for lock installation or lock rekeying, your local locksmith has a wealth of knowledge to share about the best locks on the market and what will work in your home.

Remember, burglaries do still occur, and a whopping 46% of burglars enter through the front and back doors. Another 25% enter through first and second floor windows, and 9% choose the garage. What does this mean? It takes a multi-faceted approach to fully protect your home!