Your home is your haven—the place where your family lives, plays and sleeps. Make it safer than ever by installing a system that protects the things you love. Here’s what you need to know about home security systems.

SOUND THE ALARM An electronic alarm system is on duty every time you activate it. Whether you are home or not, if someone tries to enter your home when the system is on, an alarm sounds, which often will by itself scare off an intruder. Job done. For more complete protection, there are systems that feature a security monitoring backup. When an intruder is detected, your home’s system sends a report to a security company or to the police, who will then make a personal visit to assess the situation.

ALARM BASICS A basic alarm system consists of a low-voltage electrical circuit with sensors installed on doors and windows. When activated, here’s how it works: When a window or door is opened, the flow of electricity through a sensor is interrupted and an alarm sounds. Motion sensors, which detect movement inside your home, also trip the alarm. A security system is easy to use. A keypad, usually installed by the main entrance, is the system’s command central. By entering a secret keypad code, you arm the system when you leave the house and disarm it when you return home.

ALARM SYSTEM TYPES
Electronic alarm systems come in two basic types:

CUSTOMIZED OPTIONS For homes with cats and dogs, you can install a pet-tolerant motion detector. That means that Fluffy won’t inadvertently call the cops when she paws on the window at a passing sparrow. You also can create an outdoor sentry system with motion detectors that will alert you to movement in your yard. And for security at your fingertips, go for a system that can be accessed by phone. If your home alarm senses someone near, it calls your cell phone as well as alerting a monitoring company. And the police or fire department can be notified from optional keypad buttons.