Keep your home safe from electrical hazards

Your home is a safe haven from the world, a place to relax and unwind with family and friends. Unfortunately, hidden dangers may be lurking behind the walls that threaten your safety and that of your loved ones. That's why it's a good time to find out just how safe your home is from electrical hazards. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there's plenty of reason for concern: Nearly 32,000 fires in the home were caused by faulty house wiring or damaged wiring devices each year between 1999 and 2002. However, there is something you can do to safeguard your home from dangerous electrical hazards. The Leviton Institute recommends that with May being National Electrical Safety Month, homeowners conduct an inspection of their home and outdoor areas as part of their regular spring-cleaning projects. First, make sure pool pumps, hot tubs and outdoor appliances that require electricity are plugged into GFCI-protected outlets with weatherproof covers. Ground fault circuit interruptors safeguard you and your loved ones from dangerous electrical shock. GFCIs detect when current is leaking from an electrical circuit to ground and automatically shut off the power at the receptacle. They have saved thousands of lives since their introduction in 1972. When choosing a GFCI, it's important to ensure the device is stamped with the UL logo. In addition, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or any other place around the house that has a water source within six feet of the receptacle needs GFCI protection. Check all outlets and switches for cracks, broken parts or loose-fitting plugs. Replace defective devices immediately, as well as those that feel hot to the touch. You should also inspect all power cords and extension cords: Those showing signs of cracking, fraying or obvious wear should be replaced immediately. Never run extensions under rugs, carpets or furniture where damage can hide. Make sure outlets are not overloaded. Most household outlets are typically rated around 15-20 amps. Plugging too many appliances into one outlet can exceed that rating and create a fire or shock hazard. When you use an extension cord, always plug the appliance into the extension cord first before plugging the extension cord into the outlet.

The cons of home intruder alarms

The Cons Of Home Intruder Alarms Although home intruder alarms are thought of being an integral aspect of home security, research has shown that these alarms aren’t difficult at all for professional burglars. The reason for this is due to the fact that most homeowners tend to forget to set the alarm or fails to lock up the windows and doors like they should. Although the technology behind home intruder alarms is great, the technology can’t really do anything for you unless you use it properly. Even though you may set your alarms when you leave, there is always that one chance that you may forget. On that very day that you forget a burglar can easily cash in on your mistake and break into your home. Most professional burglars are very familiar with home intruder alarms and know exactly how to deal with them. Even though you may have the most expensive alarm on the market today, it won’t be able to do anything if you forget to program it. Almost all home intruder alarms need to have the windows and doors properly shut before they are activated. When you enter or leave your home, you’ll need to enter a password into the control panel to activate or deactivate the alarm. If you arrive home and forget to deactivate the system, it could go off on you. This can be very embarrassing, especially if the alarm sounds and the police show up – only to find that you are trying to “break in” to your own home! Most burglars out there can rob a home in as little as 15 minutes. Although some burglars choose to work with others, most prefer to work along. The experienced burglars almost always do their research first, and go from there. A professional burglar will never enter a home he isn’t familiar with, for the simple fact that he could get caught. Instead, he will spend a lot of time studying the home and the family. If there is a home intruder alarm present, the burglar will watch from the shadows until he has learned how the system works. Once he sees that you have failed to input your password or activate the system, he will make his move. Once the burglar is inside the house and the alarm is off – he can be nearly impossible to catch. If the alarm is set and the burglar happens to trip it, he will immediately flee from the area and move on to a different home. Home intruder alarms can be very loud, with most contacting the police or other law enforcement agency the second they notice a break in. Even though they may have their faults – home intruder alarms are still great to use with home security as long as you remember to activate them before you leave your house. (word count 469)

Home security a thorough approach for protecting your home

A thorough approach to protect your home is to identify the types of protection equipment you will need and how this equipment can provide you with the most effective home protection at a cost that is most affordable without compromising you and your family’s safety. A multi layer of protection equipment is the best way to accomplish your protection goals. The first line of protection should be wireless security cameras for your home. With the technology available today, wireless security cameras are not only affordable but easy to install thus giving you control of your budget but also of your time. Depending on your personal needs and goals for protection, wireless security cameras are available to you in a variety of models; Black and White wireless security cameras, night vision cameras, network ip cameras, infra-red cameras and many more. The point is that what ever your needs are for home security, wireless security cameras should be your first line of protection for the home. As your first line of defense, visible wireless security cameras will give the overt protection that tells a would be burglar/intruder that he should go down the street to an easier mark and leave your house alone. The second line of protection should be motion sensors, like wireless security cameras, motion sensors are affordable and easy to install. What a wireless security camera might see a motion detector will feel. Now you have both sight and feel protection for your home. Motion sensors are portable and mobile so you can place them in all the unique areas in and around you home, giving you the ultimate in home protection and detection. As the wireless security cameras give you sight and overt protection, the motion sensors will add the layer of covert protection when needed. The third line of protection should be alarm monitors. Alarm monitors like wireless security cameras and motion sensors are also quite affordable and easy to install. Alarm monitors can give you both overt and covet protection. By alerting you to a would be burglar/intruder and creating fear when the unpleasant alarm sound is activated. The alarm monitors available today have many of features to meet your individual protection needs. In addition to the above protection equipment one needs for there home protection and security, please always make sure of the following: •You always should have appropriate lighting both in the front, back and sides of your home •Your home should always have solid and sturdy doors •Always have you windows locked and secured •Take careful measures that your home is secure when vacationing and always stop you paper delivery and have some one pick up your mail or have the Post Office hold until you return

Home security low cost alarms that work

For most people their home is their biggest investment. In 2006 the median price for a home is expected to be $231,000. And of course everyone has insurance on their house. Everyone has insurance on their car as well. But more people have alarms for their car than their home. How does that make any sense? Most people associate home security alarms with high ticket home security systems, home security alarm systems or home security monitoring that can cost $70 a month or more. I recently heard of a new home security company in New Mexico that is hiring ex police officers only to respond to alarm calls from members because quite frankly the response time from the police department was way to slow. Monitored security systems are effective no question about that. The question is-is there an effective way to protect your house without sending you to the poor house. Obviously there is a point where cost becomes prohibitive. Each situation is different for sure. Depending on the risk level of the area in which you live many low cost home security devices will do the job just as well as the high priced toys. Remember the objective is to prevent a burglary-keep the intruder from intruding. Recently in Colorado Springs a woman was saved from an uncertain fate by an intruder trying to get into her house. She was awakened in the middle of the night by her barking dogs. Now I am not suggesting that everyone get a dog because quite frankly a lot of dogs are not suited for this anyhow. But let's look at some inexpensive alternatives that do work. The simplest and least expensive are security alarms activated by opening a window or door. When the alarm is activated a 110 decibel alarm goes off. Other systems using infrared technology detect motion in a room and set off an alarm. Yet another device sets of a realistic barking dog sound when movement is sensed from 30 feet away thru doors and walls. The barking gets louder and more frequent as the intruder approaches. One more system that has a broader appeal is a motion activated annunciator system that can detect movement from 1000 feet away and "lets you know" if someone is approaching in your driveway, back yard or patio. This system can trigger a floodlight if it senses movement in a designated area. It can monitor up to six zones. There are many home security alarms available that will do the job effectively without breaking the bank. Why take a chance with such a valuable investment. There are many choices available-one has to be right for your home.