Top 7 Blunders in Home Security That Homeowners Often Commit and Ways to Evade Them
In the quest for a safer home, it's essential to make informed decisions about home security systems. Here's a guide to common mistakes to avoid and best practices to follow during installation and renovation.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
When it comes to home security, small oversights can lead to significant vulnerabilities. Some common mistakes include poor camera placement, relying on a single floodlight, and depending on single-point locks. Neglecting regular maintenance, such as software updates and equipment checks, can also compromise the system's effectiveness.
Best Practices for Home Security Planning
To ensure optimal security, homeowners should follow a strategic approach. A comprehensive risk assessment is crucial, identifying all potential entry points, including doors, windows, garage entry, side paths, and less-used access areas.
Strategic camera placement is key. Cameras should be installed at angles that clearly capture faces and entry points, neither too high nor blocked. A professional security consultant can help optimize placement.
Effective lighting design is another essential element. Use multiple motion-activated floodlights around vulnerable areas (front, back doors, pathways, garage) rather than a single light.
Integrating security components is also important. Combine locks, alarms, sensors, cameras, and smart locks rather than relying on single technical measures. Consider wired, wireless, or smart systems based on your renovation scope.
Using tamper-proof and secure hardware protects small and overlooked entry points. Lockable dog flaps, reinforced window locks, and secure mounting of sensors and cameras are examples of such hardware.
Professional installation and monitoring offer advantages. While DIY can save money, professional installation reduces errors and ensures warranties. Professional monitoring adds the immediate response advantage, ensuring emergency response even when you're away.
Key management is another crucial aspect. Avoid hiding keys in standard places; instead, use secure key safes or smart locks that allow remote access control.
Regular maintenance and updates are essential to maintain system reliability and camera recording.
Planning Security During Renovation
Planning security into the home layout and wiring phase allows better integration of cameras and sensors and easier installation of wired systems, if chosen. Wireless and smart systems offer flexibility but should be robustly planned to cover all vulnerable areas comprehensively.
Additional Considerations
Remember to be aware of home CCTV laws and garden lighting laws to avoid unintentional invasion of neighbours' privacy.
The Yale Linus smart lock L2 offers secure, keyless entry, while the Chrome Conexis L2 smart lock can be unlocked with a key tag, phone tag, or smartphone. Upgrading to a multi-point locking system can provide increased home security, and gravel driveways and paths can serve as a simple, low-cost deterrent for intruders.
Anti-snap cylinders, such as the Thumbturn Euro Cylinder Lock from Amazon, offer added protection, and Simpled Smart locks are a quick and easy solution for digital access control. A well-placed video doorbell can make a difference in home security and potentially help bring criminals to justice, but consider the potential vulnerability of a doorbell camera to hacking before purchasing.
By avoiding the common pitfalls listed and following these best practices, homeowners can significantly enhance the effectiveness and reliability of their home security systems during installation and renovation.
- A strategic approach is crucial when planning home security, caring for potential entry points like doors, windows, and less-used access areas.
- When installing cameras, focus on angles that clearly capture faces and entry points without being too high or blocked.
- Utilizing multiple motion-activated floodlights, rather than a single light, around vulnerable areas like front and back doors, pathways, and garages is important for effective lighting design.
- Integrating various security components, such as locks, alarms, sensors, cameras, and smart locks, is beneficial for a comprehensive home security system.
- Security planning during renovation includes integrating cameras and sensors into the home layout and wiring phase for easier installation, especially when opting for wired systems.
- Paying attention to home CCTV laws and garden lighting laws is necessary to avoid unintentional privacy issues with neighbors.
- Upgrading to a multi-point locking system, installing anti-snap cylinders, and incorporating video doorbells can provide added security.
- To further enhance home security, consider upgrading to a smart lock like the Yale Linus L2 or the Chrome Conexis L2, and implementing digital access control solutions like Simpled Smart locks.
