Built-in Dialer Delays Have No Place at American Alarm

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

American Alarm Central StationIn a recent blog post, we alerted readers to a weakness in many “all-in-one” (fire/burglar) home alarm systems.

The problem is that many major distributors and alarm monitoring companies have built-in dialer delays that prevent signals from being sent to the central station for up to four minutes after the alarm is tripped in the home.

Why? Because their systems are prone to false alarms and their distant monitoring centers can’t handle the volume. They delay transmission of an alarm signal to give the homeowner a chance to respond and correct the false alarm. This is not true security.

If there is a fire or someone is breaking into your home, seconds count when it comes to both the safety of your family and the protection of your belongings.

After that blog post, we received some great feedback from people who were unsure if American Alarm incorporated a dialer delay into its burglar alarm systems.

The fact is, we do not and will not use equipment with built-in dialer delays. The reason we posted this information was to inform our customers as well as others reading our blog that there are some companies that do this.

Our commitment to our customers has always been to provide the fastest possible response to alarm signals. We have the lowest documented response to priority signals, which is currently at 24 seconds or less. This is key in the event of a fire or intrusion at your home or business.

Please keep the questions and comments coming!

Is a Dialer Delay in your Home Security System Putting You at Risk?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

There is a weakness in many “all-in-one” (fire/burglar) home alarm systems. Some major distributors and alarm monitoring companies have built in dialer delays that prevent signals from being sent to the central station for up to four minutes after the alarm is tripped in the home. Four minutes may not sound like a lot of time, but in four minutes you can drive four miles, you can listen to a song, heat up your lunch, or dance the Four Minute Waltz. Read more →

Five Tips to Protect Your Home Security In The Social Media Age

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Social network sites are great because they make it easy for you stay in touch with family and friends. The problem is too many people don’t realize that they could be exposing themselves to any number of security risks. In this video, American Alarm Blogging Team’s Sunny Gault will give you some tips to ensure that your social networking activity doesn’t compromise the safety of your family or your home.

Does your social networking activity compromise your home security? Read more →

American Alarm Acquires Two Rhode Island Security Companies

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

home_business_security_coverage_areasAmerican Alarm & Communications today announced it has completed the acquisition of Electronic Alarm Systems (EAS) and Phoenix Fire Alarm & Communications, firms that provide life-safety and security services to homes and businesses across Rhode Island.

The Warwick based companies will continue to operate from their current location and pursue new opportunities to grow their residential and commercial life-safety and security services.

“We are looking forward to serving the customers of Electronic Alarm Systems and Phoenix Fire Alarm and Communications,” said Wells Sampson, President of American Alarm. “These companies have a long history of serving Rhode Island customers. We look forward to carrying on their tradition of passion for excellent, caring service. American Alarm’s strengths will help these companies grow.” Read more →

Top Three Home Security Tips for Recent Movers

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

home-security-tips-recent-moversMoving into a new home is a busy time for families and individuals who are suddenly faced with what seems like endless list of chores they need to accomplish in order to bring the house up to spec. One of the most important considerations when tackling the work that goes into transforming a house into a home is to make sure that your property is safe and secure for everyone who lives inside. Below are three home security tips for recent movers.

1) Check Locks and Latches

It seems like a relative no-brainer, but it’s easy enough to forget to re-key all of the locks in your new home as soon as possible. Most people will have the front doors done immediately, but it’s crucial to make sure that any side doors, back doors, and gates are also taken care of at the same time. This is especially important given that these entryways are often shielded from view, making them ideal access points for would-be burglars. A check of your house’s window latches and locks is also in order, as these can wear out with time and are frequently a low maintenance priority for sellers. Read more →

Home Security Options: Text Message Alerts When Child Arrives Home

/3 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

home security and latchkey kidsBusy schedules often mean that family members are not always able to arrive home from work or school at the same time. The “latch-key kid” phenomenon is hardly a new one – children and teenagers have been beating their parents back to the house after getting off the school bus for decades – but advances in home security systems mean increased peace of mind for moms and dads concerned about the safety of their offspring.

Some modern home alarm systems are capable of providing parents with remote alerts each time people come in the door – whether they’re welcome guests or unexpected intruders. This type of alert can be adapted so children can virtually “check-in” as soon as they arrive at their homes. By assigning individual access codes whenever the alarm system is deactivated, parents can receive text messages indicating the time of entry as well as the identity of the person who entered the house. Read more →

Top Five Ways to Protect Your Family From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Do you know that carbon monoxide is the most common cause of poisoning deaths in the United States? The fact is more carbon monoxide poisonings occur in the month of January than at any other time of the year. Did you also know, the best way to protect your family is with a carbon monoxide detector? Check out the video below to learn the top five ways to protect your family from this colorless, odorless, silent killer.

To learn more, read our November blog post on how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

7 Home Security System Tips to Minimize False Alarms

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

False Alarm Home SecurityEverybody is familiar with the boy who cried wolf, and what happens when someone raises a false alarm. However, in the real world of business and home security systems, false alarms aren’t child’s play. In fact, according to law enforcement officials, false alarms can significantly strain police resources, costing millions, if not, billions of dollars nationwide.

In addition to the strain placed on local law enforcement, false alarms have also been identified as the chief consumer complaint by insurance companies, and home security professionals.  According to the Department of Justice, one of the most common causes of false alarms is human error, which means steps can be taken to prevent or reduce them. Read more →

5 Holiday Traveler Tips for Home Security

/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Home Security During the HolidaysNow that the holidays are here, we should be thinking about spending time with family and friends not to mention getting our hands on all that delicious gourmet chocolate. The last thing we should be worried about is home security.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels the true spirit of giving during the holiday season. All across New England, people are traveling to visit family members either out of state or just a few towns over. That leaves many homes vulnerable to thieves as winter’s chill begins to descend on the region. In fact, the FBI reports that more than 400,000 burglaries occur across the country every November and December. So it’s more important than ever for homeowners and renters to stay security conscious and take the necessary steps to protect themselves before packing up and heading out for an extended trip. Read more →

Safety And Security Systems For Aging Parents, Not As Challenging As You may Think

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

aging-parents-home-securityThis year we’ve seen the first wave of what has been dubbed the “Silver Tsunami” as the first of 78 million “Baby Boomers” reached retirement age. The number of people over 65 in America will more than double over the next few decades, making up 20% of the total US population by 2050. According to the NPR News Series Aging at Home, a vast majority of those seniors will chose to remain in their own homes when they retire.

Current life expectancy in the US is 77.9 years. With people living longer on average, aging at home can present several challenges that can be worrisome to children whose elderly parents opt out of long-term care facilities. Are they taking all their medications properly? Are they safe and secure from accidents and crime? What if they need help in an emergency? A wealth of home security products has been developed that is answering those questions, allowing seniors to age at home, and bringing peace of mind to their families. Laurie Orlov, founder of Florida-based Aging in Place Technology Watch has said that, “Livability can be extended through the incorporation of telecare and other assistive technologies that are geared toward keeping seniors safe and easing the burden on their caregivers.” Read more →