Keeping your Home Safe – when you are there or away!

Home security is something that most of us are increasingly concerned about, particularly when many of us will be leaving our homes empty at some point over the holiday season.

Our homes are full of valuables from computer equipment to audio visual systems, treasured furnishings and ornaments – it can be surprising how much of great value we pack into even the smallest of homes. Alarm systems have been the main focus for security to date, but there are other ways of improving the security of your home.

Here are some of the best ways to use technology to improve home security.

There’s a huge range of security systems available to people these days. home alarms are helpful , but suppliers are increasingly installing more CCTV systems which range from the very simple to the extremely sophisticated, accurately monitoring internal and external spaces.

CCTV combined geo-fencing means you can accurately protect your home and surrounding gardens, distinguishing effectively from intruders and animals in the garden. Door/ gate entry systems can be controlled using a smart phone or tablet – so you can answer your door and no one will know if you are at home or food shopping at the local supermarket; avoid missing deliveries – when you get that call, advise them where to leave your parcel safely!

The ideal security set up are those systems that are integrated into the heart of a ‘smart home’, and can work alongside the lighting, smoke alarms, water, gas, blinds and heating control. This sort of system can keep you and your family safe in many ways, with simple control from a smart phone, tablet or the internet and, critically, from wherever you are in the world.”

At this time of year, many of us are particularly conscious that we are going away on holiday and leaving our homes empty. ‘Holiday’ settings on the security systems which can give your home a convincingly lived-in appearance. Lights can turn on and off, curtains and blinds can open and close all to your usual schedule, rather than programmed to specific times, so that they show a flexible pattern and give a real ‘lived in’ look.  For some people, they want that added security when they are at home and like having a switch next to their bed that can turn on all the external lights if they hear a noise at night.

Other features mean that as you leave the house you can set your alarm and for example all internal lights could turn off while external lights come on to guide you to your car. Lighting can be integrated into the alarm system, so if triggered the external lighting would detract any would be burglar.  You can check, activate and deactivate your security system – locks and alarms for example, whilst you are away. You can easily monitor your CCTV cameras from a smart phone or tablet to give you extra reassurance and check on your pets whilst you’re out!

For additional safety, if a sensor detects a gas or water leak then the supply can be set to automatically shut-off. Carbon monoxide detectors can actually ‘talk’ to you advising you on the level of risk and if there’s an immediate risk the boiler will automatically shut down.

This Blog was provided by Karen Chugg from Intelligent Abodes