j3marketing, Author at Titan Alarm

How to Prevent Fire at Home

Posted on November 16, 2019November 16, 2019 by j3marketing

Losing your home to a fire can be a scary thought, but there are a lot of preventive measures you can do to prevent home fire or fire accidents.

Most people know the basics of fire safety at home such as not leaving burning candles or cooking unattended, and keeping a fire extinguisher on hand. But there are more things you can do to prevent home fire or home accidents. Here are some of important home fire safety tips.

1. Check electrical cords throughout the house

Faulty wiring and outlets are some of the top causes of house fires. Check the electrical cords throughout your home for signs of fraying, and replace all frayed wires.

Be aware of the capacity of your home’s electrical system. Do not overload your circuits. If you have questions about your home’s electrical system, you may want to consult a licensed electrician.

2. Check dryer

If you have a gas-powered clothes dryer, have it inspected once a year to make sure all connections are secure. No matter what type of dryer you have, always clean out the lint filter after a load is finished. Regularly check behind and around the dryer for pockets of lint or items of laundry that have fallen under or behind. Use a shop vacuum or hire a professional to thoroughly remove all lint and debris from the lint trap area and all external dryer vents at least once a year.

3. Inspect heating sources

Regardless of what kind of primary heating you have in your home, an annual inspection will reduce your risk of fire.

Change furnace filters regularly to avoid a buildup of dust and lint that can easily catch fire. If you use space heaters, carefully inspect them before and after each use, and place them at least three feet away from anything combustible, such as fabric or paper. Check water heaters as well, especially those that run off gas and have a pilot light. Make sure nothing is close to the heating element.

4. Keep firewood, piles of leaves and garbage away from the home

If a grass fire starts nearby, these items next to your home could easily become kindling. Never dump hot ashes inside or near your home; keep them in a metal container well away from your house and garage.

5. Know your shutoffs

Know the locations of your power shutoffs for all utilities, including gas lines, circuit breakers, appliances, and fuses. Post clear shutoff directions next to each one. Keep a non-sparking tool handy for turning off gas.

6. Install fire alarm system

Many people do not have fire alarm systems installed in their homes. Many assume that they are able to smell smoke when they are asleep and wake up in time to escape in case of a fire emergency. Well, this is not true at all. Studies have been conducted and it has been proven that people’s sleep are disrupted when there is sound or noise, but it is NOT the case with smell. Our sense of smell is lost when we are asleep, and we will not wake up no matter how strong the smell of smoke is.

The only thing that can alert you and your family 24/7 from a fire is the sound of a well installed and maintained fire alarm system. Fire alarms are important because they can give you an early signal to something that could be tragic – basically saving your lives.

Titan Alarm is a full-service security system provider offering a complete range of services to protect your home in the event of a fire emergency. They utilize the latest technology to take your home fire security to the next level with detection and monitoring systems, advanced fire alarms, IP/cellular communications, preventative maintenance, and a variety of other services.

First-time Home Buyers Security Tips

Posted on November 15, 2019November 15, 2019 by j3marketing

Buying a house involves a long-term planning. Most people dream of buying a house for years or even decades before the actual process begins. Some of the things usually considered are the number of bedrooms, what the neighborhood is like, and how big the garden is, among others. But one important aspect that’s sometimes overlooked is security.

New homeowners are especially vulnerable to security risks, as they are just beginning to learn about their new home and neighbourhood. You can have peace of mind by optimizing your home’s security. Here are some of the best home security tips to consider when buying your first home:

1. Check out the location before making the decision to buy

Before you make that buying decision, you need to consider the safety of the neighbourhood.

Buyers should keep an eye out for key indicators of a good neighbourhood, such as an active neighbourhood watch group, regular security patrol of the area, well-lit streets and pathways, as well as little to no signs of vandalism.

No neighbourhood will ever be completely crime free, but you certainly do not want to buy a home in an area that has a high crime rate.

For this reason, it is essential to conduct sufficient research into the neighbourhood’s crime statistics and overall safety.

This can be done by liaising with local authorities like the local police station, who will be able to provide you with the latest crime statistics for the area.

Enlisting the help of a knowledgeable local agent can also provide you with information on the safety in the area.

2. Meet the neighbors

There are many other forms of security measures worth considering, once you’ve found your ideal neighbourhood and have settled into your new home.

One of them is getting out and introducing yourself to your neighbors. They don’t have to become your new best friends, but neighbors who are familiar with one another tend to look out for each other, notice when things are “off” or suspicious at the neighbor’s home, and report it to authorities.

A neighbour who you have built a good relationship with is more likely to keep watch over your home than a neighbour you have barely had any interaction with.

3. Perform an audit of your home’s security

Once you’ve moved into your new home, inspecting each of the home’s entry points is crucial, as online statistics reveal that criminals generally look to target homes with multiple entry and exit points, as well as homes that have easy access to main roads.

For this reason, it is essential to conduct a walkthrough of your house to identify any security flaws and areas that need special attention.

Test the functioning of the windows and doors around your house in order to assess how easy or difficult it may be for an intruder to gain access into your home.

4. Install a security system

Trying to pick up the pieces after a house break in is a lot more traumatic than preventing one in the first place.

It is essential to focus on prevention and consider the options for securing your home.

The installation of a security system is a popular option among many homeowners, as it is considered an effective way to secure a home.

An active security system can help to notify you immediately if an intruder has gained entry to your property and is especially helpful in the event of you being out of town.

Most home security systems, once triggered, provides an instant notification by transmitting a signal to the relevant 24-hour monitoring centre. By doing so, security dispatchers can immediately inform you of the alarm and head out to your home to inspect the property, as well as alert the local emergency or police services.

Contact https://titanalarm.net/ for more information on home security.

5. Get a dog

Despite all the advances in technology, dogs still make excellent security systems. Dogs are great at drawing attention to unusual activities and will warn you when someone unfamiliar is too close to the house or if they hear unusual noises outside. A pet can add a sense of security to any home, too. The simple idea of having another living, breathing thing in your house has a way of doing that

Home Security

Posted on October 28, 2019November 15, 2019 by j3marketing

Do I Need Home Security in Phoenix?

Like many people you may be thinking, is a home security system really necessary? Well, the simple answer to this is, yes!

No matter where you live nowadays, there will always be a necessity for home security. Today we are going to be looking at some of the top reasons that you need a security system to keep your home and loved ones safe.

If you live in Phoenix and you are in search of a security solution that can protect your home or business, Titan Alarm is here for you.

To Protect and Secure

The FBI has recently said that 1 in 3 homes that are not armed with a security system will fall victim to a burglary. Comparing these statistics to 1 in 250, that alone should be enough to convince you.

It may be an unbelievable statistic, but every 13 seconds, a home burglary takes place. That equates to almost 6,000 burglaries per day.

Simply installing a home security system can offer added protection and dramatically reduce the chances of you falling victim to a burglary.

Great For Protection Against Fires

While most people think of home security as a way to protect their homes from burglaries, what many people do not realize is the capability of the security system when it comes to protecting against fires too.

A lot of people are often guilty of thinking a house fire will never happen to them. Unfortunately, when we look at the 2017/2018 statistics from the Phoenix Fire Department, we can see a total of 21,730 call-outs to domestic fires.

This is where an internal motion-sensing camera system can be highly beneficial. These cameras are generally quite inexpensive and can report directly to your handheld devices when motion is captured.

Having this available when smoke is spotted can give you the vital time required to call the local fire department and have any fire tackled before it goes out of control.

Having the addition of heat sensors and smoke detectors is also a great way to alert anybody that’s in the local area that your house may be in danger.

Monitor Your Carbon Footprint

Having an internal camera system can also be highly beneficial when it comes to ensuring we have done our bit for the planet.

We are all guilty of leaving a light or two on when we head out for work; the trouble is, this is neither efficient for the planet nor our wallets. While at one time, it would have been the case that we would have to travel home to rectify these issues, this is no longer the case.

We now live in a beautiful age of technology, and this enables us to deal with small issues like this wherever we may be in the world. Pairing your security system with smart technology in your home can be highly beneficial.

Save You Some Money

When you own your own home, you know that having homeowners insurance is an absolute necessity. This is loosely related to why you need to have a security system in your home.

While homeowners insurance is below the national average in Phoenix, it is still quite a sum yearly. Having a security system will always lower the cost of your premium. When you take into account the saving you will make over a year, the savings you make on your insurance will pay for your security system before long.

It is important to note that the better and more reliable your home security, the more significant the discount that will be offered by the insurance company.

Remotely Monitor Your Kingdom With Cameras

While people love to get away and travel, more often than not, there is still a little sunken worry that while you’re away, something will happen to your property.

Having an internal and external camera system is one of the best ways to give you peace of mind. No matter where you may be in the world, providing you have an internet connection, you will be able to view all aspects of your home.

Another advantage of security cameras is their ability to act as a deterrent. Pairing a camera system with a good alarm system is one of the finest ways you can protect your home.

Protects Your Car

One of the finest reasons to get a security system if you live in Phoenix is to protect your car. It may shock some of you, but Arizona is ranked 8th in the entire nation when it comes to car theft.

If there is one thing we love just as much as our home, it’s generally our car (and possibly our children too). There is no worse feeling than waking up to find your vehicle has gone.

Car theft nowadays has come a long way. Car thieves often attempt to gain entrance to the house; this is because they want to get hold of their keys. The best way to deter this, apart from a complex laser-based system, is an excellent house alarm system and of course, home video surveillance.

Cameras on the outside of the home act as a significant deterrent when it comes to keeping car thieves at bay. It is also a great idea to keep your keys in a safe location too.

Conclusion

As you can see, there has never been a better time to get home security, and it does way more than protect you from intruders.

If you live in Phoenix and you need a complete security solution that can take care of everything from Burglar alarms to access control systems, and everything in between, Titan Alarm should be your first choice.

At Titan Alarm, we don’t believe in using contractors like most other companies; we have a dedicated and multi-skilled team of employees that will treat you like a member of the family.

Locked Out

Posted on July 19, 2019October 28, 2019 by j3marketing

What to do when you’re outside… but your keys are inside

It’s 8:25am, your wife is already at work, the kids are at school and you’re running late. The note on the fridge reminds you that it’s trash day… and the garbage truck will be there any minute. You make a mad dash to grab the can and get it to the curb, only to discover that… you’ve locked yourself out of the house. NOOOOOOOO!!!

There are a few things you can do before throwing a rock through a window… or worse… go all Chuck Norris and try kicking in the front door, possibly fracturing your tibia.

So, follow these tips to get back inside and save yourself a trip to the Emergency Room.

1 – Take a deep breath

Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax. You’ll be in a much better state of mind for solving the “key” problem at hand. Breathing exercises are a great way to reduce stress daily… but maybe today isn’t the day to start. Just a few slow breaths ought to do it.

2 – Look for an unlocked entry point

I know, I know… you always keep your doors and windows shut and locked; however, it’s worth taking a look to see if someone left a door out back unlocked or a bathroom window open. Always start with this plan of action since it’s the easiest and fastest way to get back into the house. Only check the access points on the first floor. Avoid climbing trees and trellises to check windows on the upper levels. Again, we’re trying to avoid a broken leg.

3 – Text/Call someone who has a key

Your spouse or kids should have a key, so I’d start there. Unless of course, your phone is inside the house… on the kitchen counter… keeping your keys company. If that’s the case, start thinking of anyone else… anyone close… who might have a spare; a babysitter or pet sitter from the neighborhood perhaps. If you’re in an apartment, go have the landlord/maintenance staff open the door for you. At this point you’re probably second guessing your decision to not buy the hide-a-key rock in the Skymall magazine because you didn’t think it looked real enough.

4 – MacGyver it

Since you’re not an accomplished burglar, or ex CIA, picking the lock probably isn’t an option. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some other acts of ingenuity you can try. Some people might suggest a credit card… but unless you’re trying to break into your master bathroom, you’ll need something a little sturdier. Run over to the neighbors and borrow a butter knife (less creepy than showing up on their doorstep asking for a boning knife or cleaver). Slide the blade of the knife between the door and the strike plate until you hit the door’s plunger or bolt. Then, you can try to force the bolt away from the doorjamb and push the door open. The thought then occurs to you, if you went over to your neighbors, why didn’t you just call your wife from their phone.

5 – Call a locksmith

This is the most expensive way to get back into your house… unless you didn’t take my advice and threw a rock through the window. It also requires a long wait, and reliance on a phone. The upside is that a locksmith will get you into your house for sure, and do it without damaging any of your property.

6 – Stop it from ever happening again

Now that you’ve made it back in safely… don’t let it happen again. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Not sure how to compare a pound of cure to not getting locked out or keeping your family safe, but you get what I mean. The Smart Home solution:

No more keys – Unlock your door with a unique code that you came up with, instead of a key

Lock/Unlock door remotely – This time you’re on your way to work and you realize you didn’t lock the door. No problem. You can use your phone app to lock or unlock the front door from anywhere.

Multiple access codes – You can create multiple access codes so that you don’t have to give out your own personal code to the babysitter… or even the in-laws. Give them their own code, and then just disable it later. That way you’re not resetting it all the time, like your work email password.

What does all of that mean? It means your Smart Home system does just as much to keep you stress and worry free as your new breathing exercises. It gives you the peace of mind that asleep or awake, home or away, you and your family are safe.

Ready to keep your family safe? Call 800-973-9001 (or just fill out the form below) to get a free quote today and see how Titan Alarm can help bring you that peace of mind.

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!! … the quotes are free?

You bet they are… and not just for the front door, for all of your doors, windows, thermostat, lights, etc…

Get my Freedom

Posted on July 19, 2019October 28, 2019 by j3marketing

FREEDOM

I didn’t feel free at all. I felt like a prisoner to my own business

I was going to fail… until I found this

I was at a basketball game a few years ago, rooting on a professional team from the next town over. The playoffs were just around the corner and this was a pivotal game, a must-win as they call it, and it was close… too close. As the halftime buzzer loudly rang, I let out a big sigh of air… apparently, I had been holding my breath down the stretch. As I contemplated taking the arduous journey up the arena’s steps, through the throngs of people, eventually overpaying for a subpar hotdog – a diminutive figure made its way out to center court. As I squinted my eyes to better focus on what was taking place, I noticed a little woman in a brightly-colored, silk costume. I took notice as she began to spin plates on top of thin poles that were a few feet taller than she was. Before I could blink, she had 10 plates spinning all at once.

As she finished with the tenth plate, the first one she had put up started to wobble a bit as it lost speed. She quickly moved to it, and with a flick of her wrist and the deft touch of her fingers, got the plate spinning optimally once again. But… just as she got the first plate back where it needed to be, the second and third plates started to waiver. I thought for sure one of them was going to fall and shatter on the court’s wood floor below. Minutes past, and not one plate fell. The lady frantically ran from plate to plate preventing a crash through the gyroscopic motion of the spin. I don’t know what her anxiety was like… but mine was through the roof just watching. Eventually it ended, but not before I had this thought, “how long could she honestly keep this up for… at some point, she had to fail.”

Years later, I started my first company… and I became the plate spinner. I proudly named myself CEO, and quickly learned that it stood for Chief Everything Officer. There were so many things that had to be handled every day, and I was the only one there to do it. Frantically running around keeping everything moving; marketing, sales, business development, programming, customer service, HR, packing and shipping, etc. And then the startling flashback to the basketball game… “how long could I honestly keep this up for… at some point, I had to fail! And my anxiety… through the roof.

The solution was to quickly surround myself with help. As I brought people on to take over different tasks/departments, it was hard to let go. I was so used to touching all the facets of the company, that I worried about how things were being handled… especially when I wasn’t there. I assumed that there would be a sense of freedom as a business owner… isn’t that why I started it in the first place? But I didn’t feel free at all.

I felt like a prisoner to my own business. Like an anxious, over-the-top, first-time parent who wakes up for every little sound they hear throughout the night… checking the monitor ad nauseam to make sure everything is ok; knowing that they can never leave the house because of the guilt of leaving their child with someone else.

And then things changed… for the better. I finally started to settle down as I surrounded myself with amazing… very capable… employees, who I trusted to do a good job. I knew they loved the company as much as I did, and worked their guts out to break through limits and hit ever growing goals.

That wasn’t all though. There was one more piece to the puzzle. One more solution that had eluded me over the years that I finally was able to adopt and run with. A new brand of technology.

I installed a new commercial security system… and it’s the greatest choice I ever made. It’s my Zen.

PEACE OF MIND

Did someone access the inventory room after hours? Was that a false alarm or a real one? Was the alarm turned on tonight? With real-time notifications, remote control and auto-arming, I now know what’s happening at my business, and know it’s secure, no matter where I am or what time it is.

KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS

I can see all the important activity at my business, even when I’m on the road. With single and multi-site viewing, live-streaming, recorded video and real-time notifications, it’s easy to see what’s happening when I can’t be there.

NO WORRYING THAT OTHERS WILL FORGET

I set up your system to arm automatically at a certain time each day or on a schedule that works with your business hours… and it was easy to do.

ENERGY SAVINGS

I even save energy. Using on-site thermostat lock-out, employees can’t crank up the air conditioning or blast the heat outside of a temperature range that I define. I connected all my lights, locks and thermostats to the security system to ensure that my business is at a comfortable temperature when it’s open and energy efficient when it’s closed.

SECURITY

Whether you have a small team or hundreds of employees like I now do, you can easily manage multiple access plans, remotely lock or unlock doors and monitor activity at your business.

Did I stop worrying about my business? No!

Is it constantly on my mind? Yes.

But… knowing that I can check in when I want to, or get alerts when things aren’t right… I can actually step away and enjoy a vacation from time to time. Or enjoy my son’s baseball game or my daughter’s dance recital. I mean, that’s why I got into this in the first place right? Freedom.

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