DIY: Installing a Home Security System

In many cities across the United States, the rise of automobile thefts, and break ins are on the rise. One way to protect yourself and your family, would be to install a home security system. You do not have to hire a company to install the system, they are quite easy to install, saving you money on monthly monitoring fees, and installation. If you are ready to install your home security system, you need to figure out how much you are willing to spend, and how many cameras you will need. You can purchase extra cameras for systems, as well as motion sensors, as your need for more security grows. Home Security Systems can range in price from as low as $99 on up to $800, depending on how much, and how elaborate, of a system you want. They can be as simple as a one camera, or multi cameras, and or, with a motion sensor system. You can have wireless cameras, or cameras with cable. On our budget, the wireless was not an option.

My spouse and I had installed a home security system, after there was some vandalism and thefts in our neighborhood. We wanted to protect ourselves, and our property, and to have evidence to prosecute, if anything happened to our property. We shopped around, and purchased a home security system which included a monitor , and two cameras with sound. The monitor was VCR ready, and we were able to record on a 8 hour tape while we slept. We placed the monitor in our closet, on the shelf above the VCR, this kept the monitor out of sight from visitors. My spouse ran the cables under the house to the front camera, and through the attic to the side camera.

With the placement of the cameras, you want to ensure you are not invading your neighbors privacy, or breaking any laws. You may want to check with your local Police Department about the rules and regulations, on the placement of your cameras. Our cameras were placed in strategic locations, where they were not visible to the eye, or overlooking into our neighbors yard. The locations are going to vary according to your style house, and property lay out. For the front door, you want to place the camera in a position that shows the person and their face, We had secured our camera up high above the door, looking down, giving us the view of their face as they approached the door. The second camera was angled at the garage, mounted under the ease drop, not noticeable to anyone. This camera gave us the view of the entire driveway up to the garage. We were able to see both vehicles, large garage door, side door, and the gate.

If you have wireless cameras, the locations on where to mount them are endless. A tree off to the side giving a view of the rear or front door, is a good location. Some are small enough that they can be placed into a bird house, hidden in a bookcase, or on the fireplace mantle hidden in a flower arrangement. If your looking to keep an eye on your babysitter, place hidden cameras in the child's bedroom, and the living room, or the room in which the child spends their time playing. You can hide these various locations, such as a dogs toy basket, a fake hanging plant, on a shelf hidden behind books, or they even sell ones to place into a stuffed animal. All these would work, but you have to ensure you are getting the right angle of picture you wish to see and record.

If you are concerned about windows, you can purchase the battery operated alarms, which will sound off with an loud audio alarm, when the contacts are broken. This loud alarm will alert you, and scare off the perpetrator. These alarms can be found at hardware stores, and home improvement centers. At local electronic shops, you can purchase window decals which state you have a Home Security System. These decals are real enough looking, to make someone think twice, basically because, they do not know if you installed a home security system yourself or not. Another good idea, is to place in your window, a Beware of Dog sticker. Many people are afraid of dogs, and probably do not want to be bitten or attacked.

Motion sensors are good for inside the home, the main reason we did not install them, is due to the fact we have a large dog. Any movement from an animal may set off an false alarm, or if you forget about the sensors yourself, and get up to get a late night snack or drink, you may step into the beam and set off the audio alarm. But they would work well if you were away from your home, on a vacation or at work. Placed in corners across from each other, when someone walks through the beam, it will sound off the alarm. These can also be placed on either side of the driveway to let you know if someone has pulled onto your property.

Floodlights or security lights, with motion sensors are good to install as well. They remain off, until someone walks into the path of the motion sensor, then your yard will light up, scaring off any intruder looking to vandalize, or break into your home. The good news is, there are energy efficient bulbs, which you can purchase to use with these units, to ensure your electric bill does not sky rocket each time an animal walks in front of it. Also noting these lights are adjustable for sensitivity, and time length, the light will remain on. These are good to place in your backyard, on the front of your garage, or on each side of the rear of your house. With the placement of the security light on the front of the garage, it will turn on when someone walks up your driveway, and approaches your vehicle. The lights on the rear of the house will turn on, if someone was to hop the fence and enter your yard, again scaring them off, and keeping you and your family safe.

After we had installed our home security system, we had no worries of anyone breaking in, or vandalizing our property. But with strong winds one night, one camera had re-angled and caught a car being broken into on the street. We had the whole crime on tape, sound and all, and the person was prosecuted. The total amount we paid for our system was $225, and this system gives us a sense of security and a piece of mind to sleep soundly at night. Its your safety, and your property, keeping it safe is easy to do yourself, with a security system purchased at your local home improvement store. A few hours of planning, and little installation work, you will feel better knowing your family is safe.