How to Test Your Alarm System

As the owner of a security system, it’s important that you periodically check your system to make sure that it is working properly. Because your security system is responsible for monitoring the safety of your home and family, you should make sure that your alarm system is communicating with the monitoring station. There are a few simple guidelines that you can follow to perform a successful check of your alarm system.

1. Call your home security system provider. Let them know that you will be performing a test on your system. They will make sure that the authorities are not dispatched to your home during the test.
2. Make sure that your alarm system is armed.
3. Open several doors and/or windows to trigger the alarm system.
4. Your system will trigger the alarm and send a signal to your alarm’s monitoring station.
5. Disarm your system as you normally would.
6. Contact your alarm system provider and let them know that you have concluded your test. Make sure to ask them to reactivate your monitoring.

It couldn’t be easier to test your alarm system. This step is important in making sure that your alarm system is fully functional. You should perform this test monthly and contact your home burglar security alarm systems provider if you experience any abnormal operation.

A GPS Could Lead a Thief to Your Home

Father’s Day is coming up and you may be purchasing a brand new GPS for Dad for the special day. GPS systems make great gifts but, when you don’t follow certain safety tips, they can also be a great gift for thieves! To help you and your dad get the most out of his new GPS, we’ve put together a few things to watch for when using a GPS to keep your car and home safe.

1. Don’t leave your GPS in your car – Not only are they tempting to steal in and of themselves, they also serve as a treasure map of sorts. A thief can use your GPS to find and access your home – and any valuables inside. Once inside your vehicle, a thief can use your GPS to find your home if you have it saved in your GPS. Once there, he can access your home with your garage door opener.  It’s better to be safe than sorry so take your GPS with you when you leave your vehicle parked somewhere.
2. Wipe suction cup marks off of your windshield glass – Those little suction cup marks on your windshield seem so innocuous but they can tip off a thief that you have a GPS and it may be hidden in your car. If you followed step one, it’s not in there but if you have it hidden, the thief could find it and use it to access your home. And, even if you didn’t hide it in your car, you may still suffer damage due to a break in. So, keep some wipes in your car and take care of those telling suction cup marks.
3. Don’t name your home preset “home” – There’s no place like Starbucks! Well, maybe there is but, in this case, you should name your home preset something other than home, like the name of a nearby business. That way, should a thief access your GPS, he won’t know where home is so, unless he just borrowed your GPS to find a cup of coffee, he won’t be able to gain access to your house.
4. Lock the door from your garage to your house – We hope that a thief never gets this far but, just in case everything else goes wrong and a crafty thief manages to use your GPS and car to get into your garage, he won’t be able to access your house.
5. Arm your alarm system – When all else fails, if a thief manages to access your home, your home alarm system going off should definitely deter an invader. Make sure that your alarm system is set whenever you are away.

With a little care, a GPS can be a great tool for Dad and not a tool for a thief.

Freeze Alerts and your Security System

Winter weather brings freezing temperatures and the possibility of frozen water pipes. When frozen pipes burst the damage can be extensive. The damage goes far beyond the repair of the frozen pipes. If you did not keep your pipes from freezing and they burst the damage can be all of the following:

• Discoloration
• Warping
• Splitting
• Delaminating
• Musty Odors
• Mold Growth

This damage can happen to wood floors, drapes, carpets, furniture, antiques, walls and ceilings. There are a number of preventative measures that you can take to prevent freezing:

• Seal leaks that allow cold air inside. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in.
• Ensure that vulnerable pipes are insulated to prevent freezing. Pay close attention to pipes in outside walls or ceilings that may be exposed to low temperature. Leave cupboard or cabinet doors open to warm plumbing fixtures.
• When freezing (below 20ºF/-7ºC) is predicted, shut off water, disconnect hoses and drain outside faucets. If you don’t have an inside shut-off valve, wrap pipes or faucets in UL-approved insulation.
• Allow faucets to drip a little to keep water moving through them and to relieve pressure buildup.
• If you plan to be away from home, set the heating system no lower than 55ºF (13ºC). Have neighbors check your home periodically.

But what if you are not home? How do you protect your property?
How do you know that your preventative measures were enough?

A temperature alarm is the answer. A freeze alarm installed in your home can warn you when pipes are getting to an unsafe temperature. If you already have a Security System installed in your home or business then a freeze alarm can easily be added so that you gain peace of mind when the thermometer starts to dip. Hue and Cry Security Systems can easily upgrade your alarm system to include a freeze alert. When your system is setup to report to our U.L. Certified Central Station we will notify you before the temperatures are critical enough to cause damage.

If your current system is compatible we can even install a wireless system freeze alert. Wireless home security allows for the easy addition to your existing alarm system without the necessity of running new wire.

Your home security system can be much more than just the prevention of a burglary. Home security systems protect life and property and provide peace of mind at an affordable cost.

Contact us today for a free quote on the addition of a freeze alert for your home or business.

1-800-762-3196

Going on Vacation? Hue & Cry wants to know!

It’s that time of year when the beach is calling our names.  Make sure if you are leaving on vacation you call our central station at 800-762-3196 and let them know.  The dispatchers will be able to identify that you are away and handle your account accordingly.  Extra attention will be paid to your home even when you are not there.

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