Technology’s presence in every aspect of life has given rise to enhancements in home security solutions as well. A home security system is a comprehensive term that provides preventive, detective, and responsive solutions. It comprises various components including motion sensors, indoor and outdoor cameras, glass break detectors, door and window sensors, yard signs and window stickers, smoke detectors, and even carbon monoxide detectors. A security system typically provides surveillance capabilities by detecting intrusions and other environmental threats like flood, hurricane, and fire.
Installation of home security systems is no longer requires the help of professionals or expensive contracts. These systems are now sold in DIY kits and are quite user-friendly. Most of these systems come with warranty periods and users should verify all features before choosing the right one for their home.
As you would not have to pay any installation charges, DIY home security kits help you save money as well. With these kits, you can monitor your home with the help of mobile apps; this gives you more control over the security of your home.
A DIY home security kit generally has the following components:
- Motion sensor: This helps detect movements within its field’s view and transfer signals to the hub. When the hub is set to “stay” or “home”, it will ignore the signals transmitted by the motion sensor. They also have a wide variety of uses such as turning on outdoor and indoor lights, setting off alarms, activating cameras, and more.
- Door and window sensors: These are small devices that are attached to the windows and doors with tapes or screws. These devices help detect when the door or window they are attached to opens. These devices use two sensors; one of which is fixed on the door or window and one on the frame. When the door is closed, these sensors form a closed circuit. However, when the door is opened, the circuit breaks, triggering an alarm or text alert. These tend to be inexpensive and, therefore, they make great investments in home security.
- Smoke detector: This is an add-on meant to detect smoke in the case of a fire outbreak. Most homes have smoke detectors installed; however, but if you need to install your own, it can be availed as a part of a comprehensive home security system. There are also smart smoke detectors available; these provide alerts out loud. It can even let you know what room the smoke is coming from.
- Outdoor and indoor cameras: Security cameras are a core part of a home security system. These cameras can be used to record areas of your home or yard; moreover, some can also send the feed directly to your smartphone or tablet. There have been many technological developments in the cameras being used in home security systems; from invisible doorbell cameras to smart cameras that record in crisp HD quality, you can increase the security in your home.
- Carbon monoxide detectors: Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are less commonly used than smoke detectors; however, they are just as important. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, and without a detector, it would be quite difficult to check the presence of this gas. This can be extremely dangerous as thousands get hospitalized each year from CO poisoning in their homes.
The market is flooded with DIY home security kits. Some of the best kits are provided by:
- SimpliSafe
- Nest Secure
- abode
- Ring Alarm
- Samsung SmartThings
