The typical entry-level home security system comes with sensors for first-floor windows and doors along with a central control panel and perhaps a motion sensor. Some entry-level systems also include a camera. Consumers can then add more components as they see fit. Among those components are what the industry refers to as ‘safety alarms’.
Although safety alarms do contribute to personal security, they are not designed to alert of burglary or home invasion. They have other purposes. Below is a description of the three primary types of safety alarms now available on the home security market.
1. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
First on the list are smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. I have combined them into a single category for the simple fact that consumers no longer need to purchase separate devices. Take Vivint Home Security customers. They can add all-in-one smoke and CO devices to their systems.
Nearly all local building codes require that all new homes come equipped with the two devices. The same goes for rentals. As for homes built before local ordinances went into effect, rules differ from one community to the next. Some communities mandate smoke and CO detectors and every occupied home. Others allow older homes occupied by their owners to go without.
Here is the big question: should a homeowner go without? I would say no. I am sure most first responders would agree. Smoke and CO are deadly. Both can kill victims before the victims even know what is happening to them. And even when victims of fire and CO poisoning survive, their injuries can still be substantial. I would never install a home security system without an all-in-one unit or two separate devices.
2. Water Sensor
The second safety alarm on our list is the water sensor. It does exactly as its name implies: it alerts the homeowner to water intrusion. This would be a must-have home security device for any homeowner whose property is located in a flood-prone area.
Installing a water sensor or two in the basement could alert a homeowner to water intrusion at the earliest possible moment, thereby giving him an opportunity to limit the damage. In homes without a basement, installing the sensor at the lowest level makes sense.
Water sensors can alert to water heater leaks, problems with a dishwasher or washing machine, and even burst pipes. When one considers how much damage water can do, a water sensor suddenly becomes a pretty valuable device.
3. Emergency Pendant
The last item on the list is the emergency pendant. If you are old enough to remember the Carter administration, you may remember the TV commercials advertising a medical alert system utilizing actors who had fallen down. Today’s emergency pendant is based on the very same principle.
An emergency pendant is a device a homeowner carries with them around the house. It could be fastened to the wrist or worn around the neck on a lanyard. The idea is simple: if the homeowner has any sort of emergency and can’t get to a phone or the security systems key pad, they can still get help by pressing the button on the pendant.
An emergency pendant is ideal for seniors whether living alone or with adult children. It is also a good tool for families caring for a disabled family member.
Home security systems have come a long way in the last 50 years. In addition to things like motion sensors and cameras, homeowners can also invest in a variety of safety alerts designed to take security even further.
