Author: Taylor

For many homeowners, a garage is more than just a place to keep the family vehicles out of the rain. A garage also serves as an additional storage area for all types of household items. And attached garages often include interior doors that lead into the home.

These factors make a garage a prime target for thieves who are looking to steal your stored items or use the garage as an entry point to the interior of your home. If you haven’t made garage security a high priority, you could become the next victim of a neighborhood burglar.

How to Secure a Garage

 There are several ways to secure a garage and make it less attractive to thieves:

• Secure the door: Are you one of those homeowners who never lock their garage door or leave it open for hours at a time? This is like sending an open invitation to a burglar! Make your garage door is as secure as any other external door — and that means installing a high-quality lock (preferably a deadbolt model) and replacing an aging door with one made from sturdy materials such as metal, solid wood or fiberglass. Also, always keep the door closed when you’re not using the garage, especially when no one is home.

• Cover the windows: Garage doors with windows at the top or sides allow would-be burglars to see the valuables you’re storing inside. Covering the windows with blinds or curtains keeps your items out of sight and removes the temptation for thieves. Another option is to apply an opaque film on the window glass that lets sunlight in but keeps people from seeing inside.

• Install exterior lighting: Installing a spotlight above the garage will deter burglars during the nighttime hours. Another option is using motion-activated lights featuring infrared sensors that can detect body heat, which causes the light to go on when an intruder approaches the garage.

• Keep an eye on the remote: Do you have one of those remote garage door openers that clips to your car’s sun visor? If you park your car in the driveway instead of the garage, a thief could gain access to the remote and use it to open the door. A better way to secure your garage is to take the remote inside the house with you. You can also purchase a smaller keychain-style remote that eliminates the need to carry around a larger model.

• Install a comprehensive home security system: A home security system equipped with surveillance cameras, motion detectors and burglar alarms that also includes coverage for your garage will significantly reduce your risk of a burglary or home invasion. The best systems include professional monitoring that ensures the prompt dispatching of first responders when a break-in attempt occurs.

Contact Titan Alarm, Inc. for More Safety Tips for Garage Owners

Titan Alarm can design a fully integrated security system that will keep your garage safe — and protect the rest of your home as well. Contact us for more information and to schedule a free home security consultation today.

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Most people know that having faulty electrical wiring, leaving unattended food cooking on a stove or falling asleep while smoking in bed present serious fire hazards in a home. But you might not know about other less obvious risks.

Being aware of the following threats — and taking steps to eliminate them — can help to prevent a house fire that could destroy your property and endanger the lives of your family:

• Animals: Household pets and other “uninvited” critters can pose serious home fire hazards. Dogs and cats can knock over candles or ashtrays containing smoldering cigarettes. Pets such as mice and rats can chew through electrical wires, which can ultimately lead to a fire.

• Dust: Dust can accumulate in electrical sockets and near heat sources. Dust is flammable — one spark in a dusty area can quickly cause a fire. That’s just one more good reason to dust and vacuum on a regular basis.

• Glass: Certain types of glassware can cause allow concentrated rays of sunlight to pass through. If the rays focus on paper or other flammable materials for an extended period of time, it could cause the materials to ignite. A safe practice is to keep all glassware away from direct sunlight.

• Lint: Like dust, an accumulation of lint in dryer traps or behind the machine presents a significant home fire hazard. A good way to prevent a house fire is to clean out the lint traps after every dryer use. Also, have the dryer duct professionally cleaned as part of your regular ductwork cleaning and inspection service.

• Oily rags: Oily rags that are commonly stored in garages, basements or sheds can produce heat that can cause a fire. A safe practice is to submerge oily rags in water and place them in a secure storage cabinet or container that is not exposed to heat or sunlight.

• Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis is a type of decomposition resulting from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. A common example of pyrolysis in a household environment is a pile of firewood stored under direct sunlight or stack of lumber next to a furnace or woodstove. As the wood breaks down over time, it becomes combustible and can pose a home fire hazard.

• Discarded/stored batteries: One of the more uncommon fire hazards is the loose storage of unused household batteries, particularly 9-volt batteries that power home smoke detectors. When stored next to a metal object, it’s possible that a connection between the battery and the object could produce a fire. A safe practice is to keep unused batteries in their original package.

Smoke Alarms Provide Excellent Protection Against All Types of Home Fire Hazards

While it is virtually impossible to remove all fire hazards in a home, a state-of-the-art smoke and fire alarm system can provide the early detection that can save lives. If you reside in the Phoenix, AZ area, Titan Alarm, Inc. can design and install an effective, affordable alarm system that will minimize your risk. Contact us for more information and to schedule an in-home consultation today.

Learn More About Fire Alarm Systems

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Most of us remember to lock all exterior doors when leaving home — but we sometimes neglect to secure the windows. Although doors are the preferred access point for most home invaders, approximately 30 percent of intruders gain entry via an unlocked window, and about one-fourth enter through a first-floor window. Even if you keep your windows locked, some burglars will think nothing of breaking the glass.

The following window burglar protection tips can significantly reduce the likelihood of a window-based home invasion:

• Install/change locks: A visible window lock can serve as an effective intruder deterrent, and the best locks will make it harder for burglars to break in. There are many good window lock options on the market, such as pin and deadbolt locks. It’s also a good idea to change the locks if you’ve recently moved into your home.

• Update window glass: “Professional” burglars will often carry a hammer or crowbar for shattering window glass. Updating from traditional to reinforced glass, especially on ground-level windows, will make it more difficult for intruders to break the window. Tempered glass provides an affordable burglarproof window solution. Another popular option is laminated glass, which consists of a layer of vinyl installed between two sheets of traditional glass.

• Window bars: Installing iron bars will protect your windows against burglars. Even if a thief breaks the window glass, the bars will prevent them from getting inside. Several companies manufacture and sell decorative iron bars that will afford protection and enhance the appearance of your home.

• Floodlights: Installing bright floodlights over windows is a reliable nighttime break-in deterrent. Burglars prefer darkened entry points that are less visible to neighbors and passersby. Floodlights also give the appearance that the residents are at home, another reason for a burglar to move on to another house.

• Surveillance cameras: While many homeowners rely on security cameras to monitor doors, it’s also advantageous to use them to watch the most vulnerable windows. They can serve as an effective deterrent — burglars often avoid homes with a highly visible security camera presence.

• Window alarms: As with locks, there are several types of window alarms from which to choose. Some are designed to trigger an audible alarm when someone breaks the glass or attempts to open the window. Another type acts as a motion detector that picks up outdoor movement around the window before the burglar tries to break in.

• Thorny bushes: What better way to “stick it” to a would-be burglar than by planting bushes or shrubs with sharp thorns underneath your windows? An unsuspecting intruder will be in for a rude awakening if they try to break in. The extra foliage could also brighten the exterior of your home.

Titan Alarm, Inc. Can Help You Protect Your Windows Against Burglars

If you live in the Phoenix area, Titan Alarm can install an advanced security system including the strategic use of surveillance cameras, motion sensors and alarms to create safe, burglarproof windows. Contact us to schedule a free in-home security consultation today.

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Residential burglars will always try to find the path of least resistance, and that often means breaking into a home via the front door. According to crime statistics, approximately one-third of break-ins occur at the front door, making it the most common point of entry for burglars and home invaders.

How to Secure a Front Door

 You can take several steps to protect your front door against burglars and reduce your vulnerability to a break-in. They include:

• Keep it locked. Surprisingly, about 30 percent of “break-ins” take place at unlocked doors or windows. Many homeowners think nothing of leaving the front door unlocked while they’re at home or when they go out to run a quick errand. But this only serves as an open invitation for burglars who often “case” a property to determine the ideal time to gain entry. The most prudent security measure is to keep the door locked at all times.

• Install deadbolt locks. Install a high-quality deadbolt lock on the front door and all exterior doors. Choose a deadbolt lock made from solid metal and with a bolt length of at least one inch.

• Use viewers to see who is at the door. Never let strangers or uninvited guests into your home. Installing a viewer, also known as a peep hole, is an inexpensive front door security solution that enables you to see who is at the door without having to open it first.

• Upgrade your door. Burglars can easily kick in an old, flimsy, improperly fitted front door, even if it has a secure lock. Replace a fragile front door with a newer model made from a sturdy material such as reinforced steel, solid wood, fiberglass or metal. Also avoid doors with small windows at the top or side, as this allows burglars to see inside.

• Bolster the door frame. A weak or improperly installed door frame also makes it easier for an invader to kick in or pry open the door. You can secure the frame by installing three-inch screws along the frame and doorjamb.

A State-of-the-Art Security System Can Enhance Your Front Door Burglar Protection Efforts

Installing a modern, technologically advanced security system will protect your front door — and the rest of your home — against intruders. The best security systems include home automation that allows you to lock and unlock doors with your smartphone or tablet even when you’re away.

Surveillance cameras enable you to monitor the front door and other vulnerable areas around your home and property. A visible camera can also serve as an effective deterrent to home invaders. A security system backed by a professional monitoring service ensures around-the-clock surveillance and prompt notification of law enforcement if a break-in occurs.

Titan Alarm Can Help You Burglarproof Your Front Door

If you’re a resident of the Phoenix, AZ area, Titan Alarm, Inc. can provide you with a customized home security system that will protect your front door against burglars — and provide a reliable defense against fire and other common security threats. Contact us to schedule a free security consultation today.

Learn More About Burglar Alarms for Your Home

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Mike Proudfit, CEO of Titan Alarm, Phoenix’s best Home and Commercial Security System provider, discusses how technology helps homeowners protect their property from burglars, even when they aren’t at home. Check out the recent interview on Titan Alarm’s home security capabilities and find out how you can protect your home today!

 

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Security can be a major issue when renting a house or apartment. In fact, renters are 85 percent more likely to experience a break-in than individuals who own their dwelling. In many cases, property owners do not make security a high priority — they choose not to install a home security system at their rental properties due to the cost or concerns over tenants damaging or failing to operate it properly. This leaves security-conscious renters in a position where they must fend for themselves.

How to Secure Your Rental Home

If you’re a renter concerned about security, there are several steps you can take to make your home safer. For instance, it’s important to know the front door is the most popular entry point for break ins — 34 percent of burglars use the front door to gain entrance to the home. Because of this, you will need a dependable door lock. Ask your property owner if they will install a deadbolt on the front door –— you could even volunteer to handle the project yourself. Even a chain lock will provide extra security at this vulnerable location.

Windows are another favorite point of entry for burglars, especially first-floor windows. If your windows do not have locks or if the locks are worn, you can install inexpensive alarms that detect strong vibrations such as when someone is attempting to break in. These devices contain an adhesive backing that makes them fast and easy to install — no drilling or wiring is required. If your apartment has sliding windows, placing a wooden or metal rod in the track will prevent a burglar from opening them from the outside.

Installing a Security System for a Rental Property

While upgrading door and window locks will make a rental property safer, installing an advanced home security system will provide extra protection and give renters peace of mind. Proprietors may object to the installation of a hardwired security system and many security companies won’t sell them to renters.

However, affordable wireless options are now available that are targeted toward tenants. These systems require no drilling or the laying of cables or wiring. They’re also easy to install and offer the advantage of portability, enabling renters to take the system with them when they move to a new apartment.

Another important benefit of wireless home security for renters is the utilization of cellular technology. This facilitates remote system monitoring, which is perfect for single people who frequently travel for work. Renters can use their smartphones or tablets to manage the system while they’re away from home. Cellular technology also enables a professional monitoring service to receive signals transmitted by the system without the need for a landline telephone.

Contact Titan Alarm, Inc. to Learn More About Home Security for Renters

Whether you own or rent, you have the right to feel safe in your home. Titan Alarm offers reliable, inexpensive security systems for renters in the Phoenix, AZ area that will provide around-the-clock protection for your residence. Contact us to learn more about your home security options and to schedule a no-obligation consultation today.

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 2, 2018.

You depend on your home security system to protect you and your family against intruders. But have you ever considered the need to protect your home security system from hackers? Home automation hackers can exploit your system’s vulnerabilities, enabling them to remotely view your surveillance camera feeds, unlock doors, disable alarms or even capture private or intimate situations and post them online. Instead of having a secure home, you’re only left with a false sense of security that all is well — when just the opposite is true.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Security System From Hackers

 The good news is that there are many ways to keep hackers at bay and ensure your security system is fully protecting your property as it should. Tips for protecting your home security system include:

• Choose a high-quality system – Not all home security systems are created equal. Selecting a product from a reputable manufacturer that includes high encryption levels will minimize your susceptibility to hacking. A professional security system installer can help you make an informed decision.

• Change your passwords regularly – Your system will come with a default password — which you should change as soon as the installation is complete. Refrain from using birthdays, your kids’ names or other obvious terms for passwords that even a novice hacker could easily decipher. Instead, make it a complex combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Also, when it comes to passwords, longer is always better. Update your password frequently — at least once per month.

• Don’t use public Wi-Fi Connections – When possible, access your security system via a secure Wi-Fi connection. Avoid using public Wi-Fi, as this makes it much easier for hackers to detect your login information and get access to your personal data.

• Use a secure router – If you have a wireless router at home, make sure to properly secure it. This will not only protect your home security system from hackers, but also your computers, smartphones, tablets and other connected devices.

• Monitor your camera logs – Many security camera systems feature logs that indicate the IP addresses that have attempted to access the cameras. Regularly check the logs to identify any suspicious entries. If something seems amiss, immediately change the access codes and contact law enforcement officials.

• Disable the remote online monitoring feature when not in use – The ability to monitor surveillance camera feeds remotely is a valuable security system feature. However, it also gives hackers additional opportunities to break into your system. A safe practice is to keep this feature disabled when you are not using it.

Contact Titan Alarm, Inc. for Additional Ways to Protect Your Home Security System

For more than a decade, homeowners throughout the Phoenix, AZ area have put their trust in Titan Alarm, Inc. to keep their family and property safe. We sell and install brand-name home security systems equipped with the most advanced encryption and other effective security features that will prevent hackers from gaining access.

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

If you have an older security system protecting your home, it probably uses a traditional telephone line to transmit signals to a central monitoring station. However, the advent of wireless technology has made a telephone an even more integral component of a modern security system. Specifically, you can now connect a phone and alarm system without relying on a landline.

Smart Alarm Systems

Recent technological developments have caused security systems to evolve. Smart security systems are very different from systems of the past. Basically, a smart security system puts more control in your hand. With older systems, you would always have to go through the security company to make changes to your system. Now, you have the most control when it comes to your system and your protection.

You can access and control your security system directly through devices at your home. You can get into the system directly in your home, wherever it is installed. Even when you’re not at home, you can still use the system through any device that is connected to the internet, like a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Another feature of smart alarm systems is that they are highly interactive. You have the ability to access and edit your security settings and preferences at any time and from anywhere. When you’re on vacation, you can switch on the lights every evening to deter burglars. If you leave home for an evening out but realize you forgot to lock the front door, you can lock it.

The biggest perk of a smart security system is that you can use it from anywhere. As long as you are connected to Wi-Fi or have data roaming on, you can access your system. Unless you are in an area with no Wi-Fi and very limited satellite towers providing internet access, you can use your system whenever you need to.

Smart alarm systems give you even more benefits than older models. It gives you the power to choose exactly how you want to use your system and lets you use it wherever you are.

The Benefits of Cellular Technology for Security System Monitoring

If you’re like most people these days, you probably have a smartphone within easy reach as you read this post. The same cellular technology that transmits signals to and from your smartphone can also deliver signals to a security system’s monitoring station. Connecting your phone to an alarm system via wireless technology for monitoring purposes offers advantages over a hardwired connection

With a wireless connection to your home or commercial security system, you don’t have to worry about cut wires. With a landline phone connection, an enterprising burglar can disable a security system’s monitoring capabilities simply by cutting the phone line outside your home. This can’t happen with wireless technology. When you’ve taken the time and made the decision to install a video security system and spent the money on the system, you don’t want it to be compromised so easily. A security system is supposed to give you a greater peace of mind — and if you are constantly worrying about the integrity of your landline-connected security system, it is not doing what it should be doing. A wireless connection through your mobile phone takes away the worry that you may feel with a wired system.

Many homeowners have already ditched their landline phones, as the use of smartphones often makes them redundant. Wireless monitoring prevents the need to take on the expense of reinstalling and maintaining a landline phone. It would be unfair to require someone to use a landline for their security system. You would not only be taking on the new cost of installing and maintaining your security system, but also that of a landline that would never be used.

Abandoning landlines is common amongst many different demographics. With younger generations, it is increasingly common that a person has never had a landline in their home. When your security system is adapting to advances in technology, you know that it will continue to do so in the future.

Security alarm monitoring is helpful to both homeowners and business owners. Everyone wants their loved ones and belongings to be safe at all times. But you can’t always be there to keep an eye on your home yourself. That’s where your security system comes into play. It can help you do all of the things when you’re away that you would want to do from home.

For a business owner, your business is your livelihood. No matter what type of business you have, you probably have things on your property that are key for your business. Retail store owners keep their inventory on-site, and many businesses have expensive tools and equipment. A burglary could be devastating to a business owner. Installing a security system could help prevent something bad from occurring at your business. Even if an incident were to occur, a video monitor could help catch the criminal and get back whatever was taken.

The ease of use and convenience you get from using cellular technology is unbeatable. When you’re relying on a security system to help keep your home and family safe, you want it to be able to work as well as possible. This type of system will give you the peace of mind you’re looking for.

You Can Also Manage an Alarm System Through a Phone

A smartphone can also serve a convenient, user-friendly remote management tool for your security system. If your system includes security cameras to monitor your property, you can use your phone to view live and recorded camera feeds while you’re at work, running errands or traveling. You will be able to keep a close watch on your kids or pets or simply check on the status of your property even if you are many miles away.

In the past, you needed a landline to set up and access your security system. However, with new technology, that is no longer the case. With the increasing popularity of smartphones, security systems adapted along with the new technology. These technological advances make using your security system much easier. So if you’re asking yourself, “Do I need a landline for a home security system?” the answer is “no.”

Other ways you can manage your alarm system through your phone include remotely locking and unlocking doors if you need to let people inside your home while you’re away, as well as turning interior and exterior lights on and off. You’ll even have the power to control thermostat settings and the operation of home appliances, which can make your home more energy efficient. Most of these “smart” security systems provide immediate text, email or phone call alerts whenever someone or something trips a sensor or activates an alarm.

A simple way to control the security features of your home is through an app on your mobile phone. However, you need a smartphone to be able to use this tool. The app you use will depend on the security system you have in place. The company that made your system may have developed their own app for your phone or made the system compatible with an already established app, such as Alarm.com.

Mobile applications make security for your home and business simple. Everything you need is all in one place and they have a simple interface and may even give you a tutorial on how to use them. With other types of security systems, like a landline-connected system, you would have to phone in, wait for someone in the call center to answer and then finally make your request. You can do the same thing in seconds when you use a mobile app. Depending on your system, you can do the following things all through your phone:

• Close garage doors

• Lock doors and windows

• Turn lights on and off

• Watch live video from cameras set up inside and outside your home

• Communicate with your security company

Using your cell phone to access your security system makes it simple. If there is even the potential for an emergency, you want to be able to access your system as quickly as possible. Mobile technology allows you to use your home or business security system whenever you need to, whether it is an emergency or you just want a quick check.

How to Connect a Phone to an Alarm System

The best way to connect a phone to an alarm system is to enlist the services of a professional home security company. If you live in the Phoenix, Tucson, or Mesa, AZ area, Titan Alarm, Inc. has the experience and expertise to design and install a state-of-the-art system featuring wireless phone connectivity. Contact us for more information and to schedule a no-obligation home security consultation today.

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

 

If you’ve installed a security system to protect your home, you might not have given much thought to how it actually works. Today’s systems consist of a series of integrated devices that work together seamlessly to deter and detect intruders and trigger alarms. They also offer monitoring capabilities to ensure the prompt dispatching of first responders when an emergency occurs.

The main components of home security systems include:

• Control panel: The control panel of a home control security system serves as its main hub or “nerve center.” It’s where you can arm and disarm the system, control its various functions and communicate with the monitoring service.

• Motion sensors: Motion sensors detect movement — such as when an intruder attempts to gain access to your home — and notifies the control panel.

• Window and door sensors: Many security systems feature sensors on the windows and doors that notify the control panel if someone tries to break in.

• Cameras: Surveillance cameras provide views of your property so that you and the monitoring service can spot potential signs of trouble.

• Alarms/detectors: Fire and burglar alarms, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors send a notification to the control panel and deliver audible alerts to make residents aware of an emergency.

• Monitoring service: The best security systems include monitoring by a professional monitoring service that receives signals from the control panel and assesses the extent of the emergency.

How Security Systems Are Powered

Of course, it takes a lot of “juice” to run the various security system devices. The system operates via low-voltage electrical power supplied by a transformer installed in a wall of your home — it’s not wired directly into your home’s electrical system. The security system also includes backup batteries located inside the control panel that ensure continuous operation in the event of a power outage.

What Is the Delivery Method for the Electrical Power?

Traditional security systems are hardwired, meaning that the sensors, cameras and other devices are connected to the transformer and control panel with electrical cabling. However, technological advancements have led to the development of wireless devices that operate via self-contained batteries. These devices are programmed to send a signal to the monitoring service when the batteries run low.

Communication between the control panel and the central monitoring service can occur via landline telephone, wireless cellular or Internet technology. The problem with the former method is that as severe storm could knock down the power lines or a burglar could cut the phone line running into your home, which will prevent timely notification of the monitoring service. That’s why many homeowners are opting for a wireless security system set-up.

Contact Titan Alarm, Inc. for Reliable Home Security System Installation in Phoenix

 Titan Alarm has been providing effective, affordable home security solutions for residents in the Phoenix, AZ area for more than a decade. We can design and install a state-of-the-art security system you can count on to keep your family and property safe. Contact us to schedule a free in-home security consultation today!

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.