Installing an intruder alarm system is one of the best ways to improve the security of your home. You might be tempted to try and reduce your costs by selecting the DIY route and trying to install your own wireless burglar alarm, but doing so could really cost you and cause more problems in the long run.
While it won't be difficult to purchase an DIY alarm on the internet or in a home improvement store, it’s likely that you will struggle to effectively install the system to provide proper security that's tailor made for your property. There are many different DIY systems available on the market, from popular well known brands that have moved from locks into the electronic security market, to cheap imported products available on eBay.
On top of this, DIY alarms lack many of the benefits of a professionally-installed alarm system. For home security you can trust, it is essential to enlist specialist installers that carry out a security survey of your property. Furthermore most insurance companies will require the system to be installed and maintained regularly by an NSI or SSAIB accredited company and that the system is installed to the relevant British Standards that intruder alarms should be installed to.
The burglar alarm installation process is skilled and technical. Each part of the system has to be installed with attention, or the entire system could be ineffective. No matter how confident you feel with a DIY alarm, it’s not worth risking your home security if you are not a security professional. A professionally installed system will be designed and manufactured to stringent British and European standards, to ensure that the products are fit for purpose and can't be tampered or interfered with, a DIY system doesn't have to comply with these standards and this could leave your property vulnerable.
Installing an efficiently and properly operating home alarm system requires expertise for what may seem like basic steps, for example, you might not install the detectors in areas that are suitable which could result in false activation's, or worse, no activation in the event of a real incident. Instructing a professional will remove these concerns and ensure that detector location is the most suitable for your property. A security consultant will conduct a thorough survey of your property prior to the installation. They will make informed decisions on how and where your control panel and alarm detectors are installed, and provide information on how to spot weaknesses to your property security.
Professional home alarms will have anti-tamper features to ensure that components such as the outside siren can't be attacked or disabled without activating the system elsewhere. Many wireless DIY alarms can be easily deactivated without causing the alarm siren outside to trigger, and popular DIY systems also do not have additional back up batteries to power the system in event of a power cut which can leave the property vulnerable, a professionally installed system will have a minimum 8 hour back up battery to power the system in the event of a power-cut. Professionally installed alarms with external sirens, will show potential burglars that the system has been installed to a professional standard, and that the system could be connected through to a security company, or to the police. There are currently no DIY alarm systems that connect through to a monitoring centre that are able to provide police response - and burglars know this.
A DIY siren shouts to a burglar that you might have something to protect, but you haven't considered a professional security system effective enough to protect your valuables, burglars will know that the system will be an audible only system, or communicate to the homeowner by a smartphone but that's as far as a response or notification will go, no security team will attend and police response can't be given on a DIY system.
Effectively placed detectors within the home will provide a comprehensive home alarm. It is not advised to simply put one sensor in each room, or to point them only at the key entry doors such as the front and back door. Finding the ideal spots to place these sensors takes the skill of a professional security experts. An alarm installer will be able to review your home and assess where is the best to place sensors for maximum effectiveness and to reduce false alarms.
The final stage of the installation process will involve a walk test of the system to ensure that every sensor is correctly positioned and working effectively. If a single detector isn't positioned correctly, you could be leaving your home vulnerable.
Once your new professionally installed alarm system has been tested and is functioning, you want to be able to enjoy complete peace of mind knowing that your home is well protected at all times.
While buying A DIY home alarm system may look viable as a quick fix, purchasing a DIY wireless burglar alarm and setting it up yourself is not only a security risk but also a financial liability. Security is something that you should take time and careful consideration about. Your possessions and your personal safety are far too important to protect on the cheap, especially without the required expertise and professional experience.
Even if you do manage to install an alarm yourself, most DIY alarm systems do not come with the benefits that a professionally installed alarms come with, these include
24 hour response in case of fault of malfunction, police response, fire monitoring, comprehensive cover should the system parts require replacement and annual servicing.
If your self-installed wireless system breaks down, it’s your own responsibility to fix it. Even worse, without professional maintenance, you might not even realise that your system isn't operating correctly.
As well as being safer, opting for a monitored or professionally installed alarm system could save you money. Some insurers offer reduced premiums for properties that have monitored or annually maintained security, which means even though a DIY alarm system might look like the cheaper option on the surface, a professionally installed and serviced intruder alarm system will provide the highest level of security for your property and family.
