It’s important to have a secure home today. You want your possessions and loved ones to be protected from those wishing to harm them. There are a few things you can do to improve your home’s security. Whether you are running new security alarm cable or upgrading your equipment, there are steps you can take to make your security system even better. Here are some simple and easy tips for greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Check Your Door Locks
What kind of condition are your door locks in? Do they appear to be loose or worn? Do you have a good deadbolt system in place? If not, you should replace those locks soon. Your home security alarm should be a failsafe or last resort, not the first line of defense. After all, it only sounds after someone has breached your home security system.
Use Quality Security Alarm Cable
Many people buy excellent security alarms then fail to use the proper wiring. For example, when you need instrumentation cables, go with Belden style cables. They feature tinned copper conductors, PVC jackets, and aluminum foil shields. Also, make sure your cables are the right size and not too small for the job. In fact, it’s best to go with the next size up with security alarm cable to allow for future expansion and upgrades.
Check Your Front and Back Doors
If you don’t have solid doors your home is an easy target for thieves. Hollow doors are not hard to kick in and break. Even if you have quality door locks, they are of little value once the door is shattered. You can use solid wood doors, but a more secure option is a steel or metal door with a foam center for increased insulation.
Dogs
Do you have a dog in the home? A dog can be your perfect family member. He or she never complains and is always there to greet you when you come home. Most thieves will tell you that they avoid homes with dogs whenever possible because they make too much noise.
Improve Your Exterior Lighting
Criminals do not like entering well-lit yards. It’s not expensive to install outdoor motion lights when you run your security alarm cable. You also can check with your local utility company. Many companies will install pole lighting in your yard for an affordable monthly fee. This way you won’t have to worry about installation or maintenance. There is another advantage—you can leave the front light off at night and your outdoor pole light will draw insects away from the house in summer.