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What Families Need to Look For in a Security System

Top10.com Staff
Secure yourself and your family
There are over 2,000,000 reported burglaries every year in the US, according to safeguardtheworld.com and a large portion of homes are occupied by families. Home security considerations for a family with children may be very different than those of people living alone or without kids. There are some security features, however, that everyone should require in their home.

The right home security system will provide protection from:

  • Intruders:

The danger of intrusion is the one thing that most people associate with a home alarm system; they picture a device that will alert the homeowner to a break-in and that tells the intruder that they have been detected. That is not all that a Home Security can protect you from; they can alert the authorities as well. Other important features include a keypad to make arming and disarming the system easy, and motion detectors so that the movement of an intruder can trigger the alarm. Some systems may also include closed circuit TV and panic buttons.

  • Carbon Monoxide:

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is often overlooked. There are advanced home security systems that include carbon monoxide detection among their features. According to the US Fire Administration, more than 150 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires. The gas is called a "silent killer" because it is odorless and virtually impossible to detect without the right technology.

  • Fires:

House fires kill seven people every day. It is a danger that all homeowners should take into account when planning for their family's security. Smoke detectors are one of the best tools for early fire detection; in fact, most fire deaths occur in homes that do not have devices for smoke detection.

Home Security Systems for Families:

A family home will have all of the above requirements plus a few more considerations. It is important to take into account the needs of each member of the household especially if there are children and pets in the residence. A security system should be both user-friendly and not prone to false alarms, which pets can set off.

The interface should be one that is easy to navigate regardless of the user's age or technological experience. The ideal home security system will also be one that can be customized to the family's lifestyle - such as considering whether or not to automate the alarm settings or make it manual. It is important that all members of the household be taught how to properly use the security system in order to prevent false alarms and set it properly. 

Overall, the best kind of home security system for a family is the kind that provides effective protection from predictable threats. In order to make the right choice, a homeowner should educate themselves on the various home security companies and their features and determine which system works best for their family and budget.

Top10.com Staff
Top10.com's editorial staff is a professional team of editors and writers with dozens of years of experience covering consumer, financial and business products and services.