Control panel
A touchscreen or keypad that arms the system and holds the communicator. Ask where it will be mounted; out of sight from the front door is better.
Choosing a system
No one-size-fits-all system
A family with young children, a frequent traveler and someone caring for an elderly parent need different things from the same technology. Start with your household, then fit the equipment to it.
Start with the worry, not the brochure
Before any quote, write down what you are actually worried about. A break-in while you are at work? Someone getting in while you sleep? A fire while the house is empty? A child arriving home to an empty house? Each answer points at different sensors, different alerts and different monitoring features.
Think about the places you want to know about even when the system is off: a medicine or liquor cabinet, a gun safe, a home office, a jewelry drawer. A small sensor on each can send a quiet alert whenever it opens. And think about the night: if someone came in while you were asleep, would the system wake you?
The usual starting kit
What a typical starter system includes
Packages vary, but most begin with the same core. Use this list to see what a quote does and does not include.
Entry sensors
Contacts on the doors and accessible windows. Count your ground-floor openings before you accept the number in the package.
Motion detector
Covers a hallway or open area. Pet-tolerant models ignore animals up to a stated weight; check it against your dog.
Smoke and CO
Monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors summon help when nobody is home to hear them.
Cellular and battery
A cellular communicator and battery backup keep the system reporting through outages. Treat both as essential.
Phone control
The app for alerts and remote arming. Check what it costs and what it can do with the package you are buying.
Think ahead
Room to grow
The system you buy this year should still be useful in five. Ask whether you can add cameras, locks and thermostats later on the same panel, and whether software updates are included or whether new devices will eventually need new hardware.
Ask too who owns the equipment once it is installed. Owned equipment stays yours if you change provider; leased equipment may have to be returned or paid off. Those details belong in the contract, and our contract guide lists what to look for. If cameras are on the list, read video monitoring first.
Good signs in a quote
- Sensor count matches your doors and windows
- Life-safety detection included or priced clearly
- Cellular communication with battery backup
- An install and training visit at a time that suits you
- Follow-up checks after installation
Questions
Choosing questions
How long do sensor batteries last?
Typically two to five years. Replacements are standard cells sold in hardware stores. The panel should warn you when one runs low.
Will my pets set it off?
Not with pet-tolerant motion detectors set up properly. Tell the installer about every animal in the house, including how high the cat climbs.
Should I install it myself?
Self-installed systems have improved and suit many homes. A professional install is worth more for larger houses, hard-wired existing systems or when you want automation set up properly from day one.
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