Security Alarm Systems

If you are reading this article, you are probably thinking about installing a Security System in your apartment.  Much like traditional homes, you should first evaluate your apartment’s vulnerabilities.   Is the building always locked to visitors?  Are there entry and exit doors in more than one part of the building?  Are the entrance/exit doors clearly visible to other tenants in the complex?  Are the doors to your apartment solid wood doors or hollow construction doors?  Are your windows accessible to entry from the outside?  Are you on the first floor and are is there landscaping obstructing your windows from the view of your neighbors? Do your neighbors know you and do they know your work schedule?

These are the types of questions you should be asking when deciding how to best protect yourself from crimes at or in your apartment.  Although some of your areas of vulnerability need to be handled by your landlord, (such as unlocked entry doors), a Security System will provide you with a layer of protection designed to protect you once an intruder has gained entry or attempts to gain entry into your building and then your apartment unit.

In the best case scenario, your Security System should include protection for every door and window that can be entered by an intruder.  This can easily be accomplished with the installation of a “contact” on each door and each window that can be used as an entry point into your unit.  These contacts are simple and small sensors that send a signal to the control panel once the door or window is opened.

All systems allow you the option to program your system to trigger “instantly” or allow a variable “delay” in order to give you sufficient time within which to reach the panel to “disarm” it.  Once the control panel receives the entry signal, it constantly triggers your sirens or strobe lights and if you have central monitoring, (which is strongly recommended), the system will simultaneously send a signal to the monitoring station to contact the emergency number(s) you have selected for notification such as the local Police Department 

If you choose not to equip each door and window with a contact, or if you want extra protection, you can use “motion detectors” to protect your property.  These are also small sensors that trigger a signal to the control panel when an intruder starts moving through a room where the sensor is located.  The primary advantage of a door or window contact is the fact that they trigger the alarm the instant the intruder breaches the entry point whereas a motion detector is only triggered “after” the intruder has entered into the protected room.

Although there are additional types of sensors that can be used, most apartments are suitably armed with the sensors described above.

Apartment dwellers concerned about lease terms prohibiting alterations or damage to the apartment.  In most cases these prohibitions will not prevent the installation of a “wireless” system because wireless systems do not require running wires to the various detectors.  The only wire a wireless system needs is a single wire from the control panel to a power source such as a standard wall plug. 

This single power wire can either be left exposed like a wire running to a lamp or it can be “fished” through a small hole large enough to drop a 1/4 inch wire into the wall and a second hole the same size through which the wire exits the wall to be plugged into the power outlet.  These holes are far too small to be considered “damage” under a lease and are easily patched with spackle when you vacate the apartment.  Most landlords will not object to these small holes much the same as the holes left after removing pictures and other hanging decorations.

If you are one of those people who are overwhelmed by the thought of programming a control panel, don’t fret, wireless systems are easily programmed with the “talking” keypads built into the control panel.  These keypads also provide step by step programming instructions and there are also video programming instructions offered on some of the websites selling alarm systems.   If you are concerned about installing the various sensors, again don’t fret.  These sensors are simply attached to your doors, windows or walls by the use of two small screws or double sided tape which are included in your security system.

One of the additional advantages of a wireless system is that it is portable and can be taken with you when you move into your next apartment or house.

For more information on what type of system to use, you should do your home work by counting the entry points you wish to protect and contact an online home security store and speak to their design technicians who are usually very helpful.  Don’t be afraid to purchase and install a security system on your own.  It will save you hundreds of dollars compared to the money you will have to spend by hiring a major alarm company to install a security system for you.  These companies “always” require a long term central monitoring contract at exorbitant rates, (usually $35.00 to $40.00 per month), whereas these same monitoring services can be purchased for as little as $8.95 per month without a long term contract.

Installing a security system in your apartment will give you the peace of mind you desire, knowing that your family and property are properly protected.  You can purchase a complete Honeywell/Ademco “kit” for less than $200.00. and these systems are generally considered the best on the market, easy to install and easy to program. 

If you are reading this article, you are probably thinking about installing a Security System in your apartment.  Much like traditional homes, you should first evaluate your apartment’s vulnerabilities.   Is the building always locked to visitors?  Are there entry and exit doors in more than one part of the building?  Are the entrance/exit doors clearly visible to other tenants in the complex?  Are the doors to your apartment solid wood doors or hollow construction doors?  Are your windows accessible to entry from the outside?  Are you on the first floor and are is there landscaping obstructing your windows from the view of your neighbors? Do your neighbors know you and do they know your work schedule?

These are the types of questions you should be asking when deciding how to best protect yourself from crimes at or in your apartment.  Although some of your areas of vulnerability need to be handled by your landlord, (such as unlocked entry doors), a Security System will provide you with a layer of protection designed to protect you once an intruder has gained entry or attempts to gain entry into your building and then your apartment unit.

In the best case scenario, your Security System should include protection for every door and window that can be entered by an intruder.  This can easily be accomplished with the installation of a “contact” on each door and each window that can be used as an entry point into your unit.  These contacts are simple and small sensors that send a signal to the control panel once the door or window is opened.

All systems allow you the option to program your system to trigger “instantly” or allow a variable “delay” in order to give you sufficient time within which to reach the panel to “disarm” it.  Once the control panel receives the entry signal, it constantly triggers your sirens or strobe lights and if you have central monitoring, (which is strongly recommended), the system will simultaneously send a signal to the monitoring station to contact the emergency number(s) you have selected for notification such as the local Police Department 

If you choose not to equip each door and window with a contact, or if you want extra protection, you can use “motion detectors” to protect your property.  These are also small sensors that trigger a signal to the control panel when an intruder starts moving through a room where the sensor is located.  The primary advantage of a door or window contact is the fact that they trigger the alarm the instant the intruder breaches the entry point whereas a motion detector is only triggered “after” the intruder has entered into the protected room.

Although there are additional types of sensors that can be used, most apartments are suitably armed with the sensors described above.

Apartment dwellers concerned about lease terms prohibiting alterations or damage to the apartment.  In most cases these prohibitions will not prevent the installation of a “wireless” system because wireless systems do not require running wires to the various detectors.  The only wire a wireless system needs is a single wire from the control panel to a power source such as a standard wall plug. 

This single power wire can either be left exposed like a wire running to a lamp or it can be “fished” through a small hole large enough to drop a 1/4 inch wire into the wall and a second hole the same size through which the wire exits the wall to be plugged into the power outlet.  These holes are far too small to be considered “damage” under a lease and are easily patched with spackle when you vacate the apartment.  Most landlords will not object to these small holes much the same as the holes left after removing pictures and other hanging decorations.

If you are one of those people who are overwhelmed by the thought of programming a control panel, don’t fret, wireless systems are easily programmed with the “talking” keypads built into the control panel.  These keypads also provide step by step programming instructions and there are also video programming instructions offered on some of the websites selling alarm systems.   If you are concerned about installing the various sensors, again don’t fret.  These sensors are simply attached to your doors, windows or walls by the use of two small screws or double sided tape which are included in your security system.

One of the additional advantages of a wireless system is that it is portable and can be taken with you when you move into your next apartment or house.

For more information on what type of system to use, you should do your home work by counting the entry points you wish to protect and contact an online home security store and speak to their design technicians who are usually very helpful.  Don’t be afraid to purchase and install a security system on your own.  It will save you hundreds of dollars compared to the money you will have to spend by hiring a major alarm company to install a security system for you.  These companies “always” require a long term central monitoring contract at exorbitant rates, (usually $35.00 to $40.00 per month), whereas these same monitoring services can be purchased for as little as $8.95 per month without a long term contract.

Installing a security system in your apartment will give you the peace of mind you desire, knowing that your family and property are properly protected.  You can purchase a complete Honeywell/Ademco “kit” for less than $200.00. and these systems are generally considered the best on the market, easy to install and easy to program.