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    Surveillance for Your Business

    Posted on by Taylor

    CCTV Camera

    Many business owners are forced to walk a fine line between maintaining a high level of security for their facility and respecting the privacy of their customers and employees. However, companies that do nothing to protect themselves against internal and external theft, vandalism and other very real security threats could place the financial health of their operation and the personal safety of staff members and visitors at risk. These days, effective business surveillance is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.

    What Surveillance System Should I Buy?

    The backbone of any reliable business surveillance system is a set of high-quality video cameras. Depending on the type and layout of the establishment, you will need both internal and external cameras placed at strategic locations around your facility. Early versions of camera-based video systems relied on closed circuit television (CCTV).

    What is a CCTV surveillance system? This type of surveillance system made use of video tapes to record what was happening in a given area. The problem with CCTV technology is that it did not transmit live video feeds — thus, the viewer could only determine if a theft or other event occurred after the fact.

    Since the 1990s, surveillance camera technology has continued to evolve at a rapid pace. The latest innovation is the IP camera, which is a digital camera capable of providing clear HD-quality images in real time to a Web-enabled computer or even a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. An IP camera also records whatever comes into its viewing range. A wide range of software packages are available with these systems that make them easy to use and enable complete customization.

    What to Consider When Purchasing a Business Surveillance System

    When looking to buy video cameras for your business, an important question to ask is what are the surveillance systems’ strengths and weaknesses? For instance, if you need the camera to provide a clear view of a larger area like the sales floor of a grocery store, it should offer scanning capabilities. Image quality is also important.

    You’ll likely need a camera with a higher resolution if you are monitoring an area with harsh lighting conditions. And if you need to monitor an area where the lighting is poor, you should choose video cameras equipped with infrared LEDs.

    What Are the Benefits of Business Surveillance?

    While installing a surveillance system will require an additional expenditure as well as some careful planning, it can provide a number of critical long-term benefits including:

    • Increased employee productivity
    • Reduced occurrences of theft and shrink
    • Safer environment for workers and customers
    • Increased profitability

    Contact Titan Alarm, Inc. to Learn More About Your Video Surveillance Options

    If you operate a business in the Phoenix, AZ area, Titan Alarm can help you design and install a technologically advanced IP camera system that will provide reliable around-the-clock protection for your facility. We’re a full-service security company that can offer the best solution for companies in industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants and many others. Contact us to explore your business surveillance options today!

    Learn More About Commercial Video Surveillance

    Your Master Checklist for What to Remember When You Move

    Posted on by Taylor

    Congratulations! You’ve decided to make the move to Maricopa County, Arizona, one of the most beautiful and fastest-growing regions in the United States. Maricopa County cities such as Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Surprise have so much to offer in terms of career, lifestyle, recreation and more.

    However, moving to any brand-new city poses a number of challenges – there are so many details that are easy to overlook. In this post, we have provided a master checklist for what you need to do when you move to make the entire process go as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.

    Six Weeks Prior to Moving Day

    Advance planning is the key to a successful, stress-free move. You should begin process at a minimum of six weeks prior to moving day by taking the following steps:

    • Unless you are planning a do-it-yourself move, contact several moving companies for estimates
    • Starting packing items you want to take with you but aren’t planning to use over the next six weeks
    • Plan a garage sale for items you won’t be taking with you
    • Contact insurance agents about changing your home and auto coverage
    • Make a list of individuals/companies you need to notify regarding your change of address

    Four Weeks Prior to Moving Day

    • Contact the mover you’ve selected to obtain an itemized list of moving expenses
    • Schedule a packing day with your mover
    • Contact your current and new utility companies to make arrangements for connecting/disconnecting service
    • Make arrangements to move your pets and plants if applicable
    • Contact a security alarm system provider in your new city to discuss your home security needs

    Three Weeks Prior to Moving Day

    • Gather all essential financial documents, deeds, insurance policies, etc.
    • Make travel arrangements for you and your family
    • Close out your bank accounts and open new ones in Maricopa County

    Two Weeks Prior to Moving Day

    • Have vehicles serviced in preparation for the trip to your new home
    • Contact all current home delivery companies about terminating delivery
    • Schedule the disconnection of any appliances

    One Week Prior to Moving Day

    • Transfer/withdraw bank funds
    • Set aside any cartons containing clothing and other items you will need during the move
    • Make sure all medical prescriptions are refilled
    • Make arrangements for child/pet care during the move
    • Prepare a package of items you will need immediately upon arrival at your new home

    Moving Day

    • Walk through your old home prior to leaving to make sure nothing has been missed
    • Record all utility meter readings
    • Make sure the moving van driver has directions to your new home, as well as your cellphone number
    • Review and sign the bill of lading
    • Lock all doors and windows and drop off the house keys at the prearranged location – real estate agent’s office, neighbor, etc.

    Who Should I Contact if I Need a Security System Installed for My New Home?

    Titan Alarm Inc. can help you with your home security needs in Maricopa County. Give us a call about four to six weeks prior to your move to discuss your home security system options!

    Learn More About Home Security

    20 Ways to Fireproof a New Home

    Posted on by Taylor

    How to fireproof my house — that’s a common consideration for builders of new homes in the Phoenix area. The following tips can prove invaluable for learning how to fireproof your house and prevent a disaster from occurring:

    1. Instead of installing carpeting made of wool or synthetic materials, consider carpeting made from fire-resistant materials that can prevent a fire from spreading as quickly.
    1. When installing your appliances or other electronic devices, take care to avoid overloading the electrical wiring, as this can lead to short circuiting and subsequent fires.
    1. One of the best ways to fireproof a room used for storage such as a basement or attic is to avoid filling it with flammable “junk” such as newspapers, old clothes and boxes after you move in.
    1. Another question that homeowners sometime ask is “How do I fireproof my doors?” While many newer homes feature doors made from metal or other fire-resistant materials, you can also coat doors with fire-resistant paint.
    1. If you are buying brand-new furniture for your home, ask the store to coat it with fireproof chemicals. If you are bringing existing furniture, purchase and apply a fireproof spray.
    1. Don’t forget to fireproof your outdoor furniture as well, especially patio furniture in close proximity to barbecue grills or fire pits.
    1. Place fire extinguishers in as many rooms as possible, particularly “high-risk” rooms such as the kitchen, attic and basement.
    1. If you are installing a tile roof, choose interlocking materials free of cracks or openings that can allow burning embers to enter your home.
    1. Instead of building your home with wood, consider less combustible materials such as face brick, adobe, metal siding or concrete block.
    1. Avoid installing windows with single glazing. Double glazing with tempered glass offers a much more effective defense against fire.
    1. Ensure all bathroom, clothes dryer and kitchen vents include fire-rated assemblies and automatic backdraft dampers.
    1. Once you’ve moved into your new home, be sure to properly maintain your furnace. The simple act of replacing a clogged filter can significantly reduce your fire risk.
    1. A surprising number of fires are caused by accumulated lint in clothes dryers, so be sure to clean the lint trap after each load.
    1. Keep all indoor and outdoor candles within plain sight while burning. It is also a good idea to extinguish interior candles when leaving a room.
    1. Keep all recycling bins outside, especially during the hot summer months.
    1. Turn off any unused appliances prior to leaving your home, even for a short period of time.
    1. When setting up a barbecue grill, choose a flat spot located as far away as possible from trees and foliage.
    1. Never leave food cooking on the stove or in the oven unattended for any length of time.
    1. If you have children, be sure matches and cigarette lighters are kept out of reach.
    1. Last, but certainly not least, install an effective, reliable smoke detection and monitoring system.

    If your home is located in the Phoenix, AZ area, contact the experts at Titan Alarm to learn more about your fire system options.

    Learn More About Fire Alarm Systems

    Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Maricopa County, Arizona

    Posted on by Taylor

    moving-to-maricopa-county

    For many years, people have been flocking to sunny Maricopa County, Arizona, to enjoy the favorable desert climate, as well as the abundance of economic and lifestyle opportunities. With an estimated population of 4.1 million residents, Maricopa is easily the most populous county in Arizona, as well as the fourth most populous in the entire nation. While the county seat of Phoenix is the largest and most well-known city in Maricopa, it also includes thriving communities such as Chandler, Buckeye, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale and Glendale, to name a few.

    In this post we will take a look at some of the things you should know if you are considering moving to Maricopa County.

    Geography/Climate

    Many people from the Northeast and other colder regions will find the Maricopa County climate to be a most welcome change. While the region is known for its extreme heat in the summer – the average high temperature in July is a scorching 108 F – the winters are mild. You won’t have to worry about shoveling snow! Plus, the breathtaking desert landscapes that can be found throughout much of the county are a sight to behold.

    Job Outlook

    If you are thinking of moving to Phoenix, Mesa or virtually any other Maricopa County city for the economic opportunity, you likely will not be disappointed. The county and pretty much all of Arizona has been experiencing an economic boom in recent years, which makes gainful employment relatively easy to find. Wages are also high in the area – as an example, according to Career Bliss, software developers working at the General Motors facility in Chandler earn about 16 percent more than their counterparts at other GM plants in the U.S. The continued influx of retirees also creates job opportunities in the health care and food service sectors.

    Housing

    If you are hoping to purchase a home in Maricopa County, Zillow.com reports that the median home value in the county as of August 2016 was $227,200, compared to $187,000 for the rest of the U.S. Zillow also indicates that home values have increased by about 8 percent in the past year, while predicting an increase of approximately 3.9 percent over the coming year.

    Will You Need a Security System for Home Protection?

    While Maricopa County crime rates have been declining in recent years, the region is not immune from property crime. Installing an effective home security system is your best defense against the constant threat of burglary, theft, fire and vandalism. Titan Alarm Inc., widely regarded as the best security system provider in Arizona, is also the most reliable Maricopa County resource for a state-of-the-art home security system that will keep you and your family safe. We feature revolutionary home automation systems with advanced smart technology for simplified remote monitoring, video surveillance, energy management, access control and more.

    Contact Titan Alarm Inc. to Learn More About Moving to Maricopa County

    Contact us for more useful tips concerning moving to Maricopa County, Arizona – including the selection of the right security system for your home.

    Learn More About Home Security

    Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

    Temperature Sensors

    Posted on by Mike Proudfit

    smart-thermostat-remote-temp-sensors

    Titan Alarm is taking the Smart Home Energy Management System to a new level, we are now rolling out the Alarm.com Smart Home Thermostat Temperature Sensors. With these sensors your Smart Thermostat will now be enabled to take smarter steps to maximize energy savings and the comfortability of your home.

    With out new wireless Temperature Sensors, you can deliver precision comfort to all of the rooms that you spend most of your time, not just the hallway that your thermostat happens to live.

    Follow these steps to really utilize the Temperature Sensors:

    1: Install Sensors in High Traffic Rooms. 

    Chances are that the room your thermostat lives in, isn’t the room that you spend the most time in. Even if you have your current thermostat installed in your living room, that doesn’t mean the thermostat knows the temperature in your bedroom.

    The answer to this problem is to install a Temperature Sensor on the wall of each room that has a high area of traffic, like your kitchen, bedrooms, living room and dining room.

    2: Adjust comfort to the room you’re in

    Now that you have temperature sensors around the house, you can specify which sensor commands the thermostat.

    For example, let’s say that it’s bedtime. Downstairs, where the thermostat sits, the temperature is a comfortable 72 degrees. Upstairs, though, it’s 76 degrees—too warm for a comfortable night.

    Simply open your Alarm.com app and tell your smart thermostat to optimize the home’s temperature for the bedroom until your bedroom sensor registers 72.

    3: Create a Schedule

    Creating a schedule is actually pretty easy, and the nice thing is, you can have it follow your daily routine and make your house that much more comfortable as you go about your day.

    In this example, the user is assigning different sensors to each of the thermostat modes in the Alarm.com application.

    For energy savings during the day (Away), they use the thermostat. For evenings (Home), they use the living room sensor. At night (Sleep) the bedroom sensor takes over.

    remote-temp-sensor-scheduling-1

    remote-temp-sensor-scheduling-21

     

    4: Be sure to use your other thermostat features

    Temperature Sensors are just one of the many ways of using your smart thermostat! Make sure you learn more about the system by contacting Titan Alarm today! Give us a call 602-680-4567

    Learn More About Energy Management

    Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

    Beat The Heat

    Posted on by Mike Proudfit

    When you think “Smart Thermostat” do you think of saving money on your energy bill? Or do you think of a more comfortable house?

    If you’re one of the people who think of both, well then congrats! You aren’t alone in your thinking! In fact, according to a recent Home Owners Survey, 93 percent of homeowners all think the way you do, and want both money savings and a more comfortable house!

    So, why do most smart thermostats fail to deliver?

    Most thermostats still monitor and control a house’s comfort and climate the old way, based on the temperature only in the room that the thermostat is installed in.

    That technique works great if you want to have a comfortable living room or hall way, but not that well if your bedroom is upstairs where heat rises to.

    Thermostat

    Luckily, with Titan Alarm, there is a thermostat that gives you the options of having comfort around your whole house 24/7. A nice and even balance of a great temperature that is customised to each area of your house!

    The Alarm.com Smart Thermostat is one of the most cutting edge thermostats on the market. With it’s smarter build and technology put into it, the thermostat has access to monitor every room in your house that has remote temperature sensors!

    To utilize this feature, simply install remote sensors in every room you want to be able to monitor and control, assign it in the application to your thermostat and enjoy the precision comfort that has been assigned and targeted to that room. You can now easily create schedules for the temperatures in the rooms throughout the day and it’s all thanks to your smart home with temperature sensors.

    If you want to learn more about saving money or having a more comfortable house, give Titan Alarm a call today! 602-680-4567.

    Learn More About Energy Management

    Saving Money with Energy Management

    Posted on by Mike Proudfit

    smart-thermostat-remote-temp-sensors

    In Arizona, we all know that July and August can be some of the hottest times of year in this hot hot desert state. Which means expensive energy bills to keep your house cool and in a comfortable environment to live in.

    Inside houses, the top floors of the house get extremely hot, which is caused by heat rising. When this happens it creates hot zones, which aren’t necessarily where your thermostat is positioned.

    This then will make it harder to keep your house comfortable and cool throughout the day and in the summer heat.

    Unfortunately most homeowners simply put their air conditioning units on full blast until the whole house feels cool, but that actually racks up the energy bills quite a bit and is extremely inefficient.

    Titan Alarm powered by alarm.com delivers a new way to keep your house at a comfortable and cool temperature, and we can help provide precision comfortability to your whole house.

     

    remote-temperature-sensor-1

    1: Place Sensors in Main Rooms.

    Temperature sensors that sync with your Titan Alarm system can and should be placed on the wall of high traffic and main use rooms in your house, that way it will give accurate readings sent back to your panel and thermostat to control the comfortability of the house.

    For example: if you want your kitchen cooled down to 69 degrees, you can set the thermostat to target the kitchen and cool down your house until the sensor you have installed in the kitchen reads that the temperature is 69 degrees.

    It’s worth the investment to have a temperature sensor in each other rooms in your house, that way you can have accurate readings of the temperature of the house as a whole.

    Pro Tip: If you have young children and you make sure to put one in their bedroom or nursery, put it out of their reach.

     

     

    remote-temperature-sensor-2

    2: Create a Schedule

    With the temperature sensors, you can now target individual rooms and their climate all from your smartphone and the Alarm.com app! You can now manually control targeted rooms but the easiest way to do it is all with a schedule!

    Based off of your family’s routine, you can make a schedule that will target all of the different rooms in your house as your family uses them and changes their routine around the house as the day goes on.

    A great example of how scheduling works can be something as perfect as follows: you can set your house’s schedule to change the climate of the house at around 9am when you take the kids to school and you head to work, and then around 5pm when you’re heading home you can have the house change climate again to fit what you want to come home to.

    Pro Tip: Schedule your house to change when you’re going to be gone for most of the day.

     3: Balance Your Smart House  

     

    With precision comfort it can help save money on your energy bill by delivering just the right amount of energy needed to keep your house at a comfortable temperature rather than blasting the air conditioning all summer long.

    Some of the amazing features and add ons you can get for your Titan Alarm Smart Home Thermostat are as follows:

    Auto-Setback: This feature monitors your doors and windows to make sure none of them are accidentally left open and you accidentally start heating or cooling the outside world. If anything is left open, your thermostat will alert you and it will automatically set your houses temperatures back as to minimize energy waste until the door or window left open is closed.

    Geo-Services: Using your smartphone’s location, your thermostat and smart home panel will use your phone’s location to control the climate and comfortability of your house. By using your phone’s location your house will go into “savings” mode once you leave a certain radius. To learn more about Geo-Services CLICK HERE.

    Extreme Temps: This feature gives you the possibility and options of setting your thermostat to change temperatures when the outside temperature gets too hot, so that your house won’t fry while you’re away on a hot Phoenix day.

    If you want to learn more about using Energy Management and how it can integrate with your Titan Alarm Home Security System, give Titan a call today! 602-680-4567

    Learn More About Energy Management

    Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

    4 Ways to Control Your Home

    Posted on by Mike Proudfit

    Have you ever been away from home and need to have a package delivered or have someone check in on your house? Explore 4 smart and convenient ways to control your home with Titan Alarm, enhancing security, comfort, and efficiency.

    Now there’s an easier solution. With a Titan Alarm system we offer so many different smart home automation options for different problems. Every home and every situation is always going to be different, that’s why Titan Alarm offers customized solutions for you and your needs.

    Here are some of the easiest ways to be able to interact and use the smart home automation system for your house.

    Smartphone and Tablet

    Titan Alarm is powered by Alarm.com and we utilize every aspect of this application, which syncs to your home security and home automation center in your home. The application is available for iOS and Android and turns your phone into a mobile command center for your house.

    With the Alarm.com application it enables you to have instant notifications sent to your phone concerning your house and it’s home security and automation system. Titan Alarm enables you to completely control all spectrums of your home security and home automation system.

    Monitoring

    Amazon Echo

    This is one of the coolest releases in the past few years. Now with Amazon Echo and Alexa, your whole house can be controlled by your voice!

    Want to turn on the lights while your arms are full of groceries? Just ask Alexa to turn on the lights!

    You can use only your voice to control so many new and different aspects of your smart home automation and security system!

    Amazon Echo

    Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV

    If you’re watching TV when the door bell rings you can use your remote for either device to navigate quickly to the native Alarm.com application and see who’s at the door and check your other cameras around the house as well.

    Both of these applications have been designed by Alarm.com to make viewing all your live feeds from your house painless. That way you have a larger screen to view more detail from the cameras rather than using a smaller smart phone screen to see everything. The tv applications allow up to four live feeds simultaneously to stream to your tv.

    Smartwatch Apps

    With the Alarm.com application for the Apple Watch, it allows awareness, control and visibility all at a quick glance of your wrist, which makes it an amazing part to integrate into your smart home system. With the haptic feedback responses programmed into the watch, it can let you know when something is happening with your smart home automation system.

    Alarm smart watch

    Learn More About Smart Home Technology

    Smarter Home Security

    Posted on by Mike Proudfit

    What is it that truly makes a home security system from Titan Alarm a “smarter” home security system?

    There’s quite a few answers for that question, but one of the easiest answer, is because Titan Alarm is powered by Alarm.com.

    Alarm.com has it’s own app, so it helps you manage and control your whole home in one easy to use application, but why should you opt for choosing Titan Alarm as your home security provider?

    We are Built Smarter.

    When a security system is triggered, it has to signal for help in emergency situations. This is where we are steps ahead of the competition, traditional systems use your cable and phone connection, but Titan Alarm uses reliable and dedicated cellular connections for their signals to transmit. That way it counters thieves who try to use wire cutters to cut your phone line, or if the power is out because of a storm. Titan Alarm has the best solution for your home, to keep it safe when you’re home or away and we always have cutting edge technology to boot.

    Smarter Home Security App.jpg

    Smart, User Friendly Controls

    Your traditional, wired, security systems are all controlled at the panel on your wall, with a security system from Titan Alarm, you have access to control your system with your phone, with a selection of smartwatches and now, with your own voice! You can now interact with your system no matter where you are, like checking who is at the door while your kids are home alone, or receiving notifications when your front door opens or closes.

    Four Ways to Control Your Smart Home

    Proactive Steps

    Titan Alarm is constantly taking proactive steps to make sure you are protected in case of an emergency. If the Titan Alarm system is in use and installed properly, it can detect smoke, flooding and even carbon monoxide. For example, if there is a fire and the system senses smoke, it will be able to sound the alarms, contact the local authorities, turn off all the lights and shuts off your HVAC system, to prevent the fire from spreading even more. If the sensors detect a water leak or flooding, it can turn off your entire water system in your house to prevent even more flooding. These are just a few amazing steps that Titan Alarm takes in preventing emergencies and stopping the emergencies from spreading and getting worse.

    Tucson smart home

    It makes your Whole House Smart

    Everywhere you go, all you hear about is people having “smart homes” with Titan Alarm, it then turns your whole house into a smart home and gives you unlimited options and ways to control your house. We can make so many different aspects of your house automated, a doorbell, video cameras, smart locks, lighting and even garage door openers! There are so many different options you can add to your Titan Alarm system.

    Every option and device that we add to your home security system, is all controlled through the Alarm.com app!

    Smart home technology

    A smarter way to own it

    Luckily this home automation system, doesn’t have to be installed by yourself! With Titan Alarm we have professional technicians that can come in and install your system to make sure it’s properly installed and working, that way you know it’s working when a crisis hits.

    Want to learn more about a home automation system or pull the trigger and have it installed? Contact Titan Alarm today and give us a call! 602-680-4567.

    Learn More About Smart Home Technology.

    Home Automation with Voice Control

    Posted on by Mike Proudfit

    Imagine controlling your whole house, with the power of your voice. Things like the air conditioning or the kitchen lights, all controlled with a mere voice command. It’s now easily accessible for you and your house! With the pairing of alarm.com and Amazon Echo’s voice control Alexa, you can now control your smart home with voice commands!

    Amazon Echo 1

    Here is how this amazing technology works:

    Naming and Grouping Devices

    When it comes time to start configuring all of your devices with the Amazon Echo, make sure to use this pro tip and try to group together similar items into one name, that way it’s even easier to control with your voice. For example, if you have multiple smart lights that are configured in your living room, group them all together, then name them something like “Living Room Lights” that way when you want to control the whole living room, you just tell Alexa, “Living Room Lights off” and your whole living room with turn off. Make sure to try and apply this in multiple rooms that way you have an easier time controlling your smart home.

    When you have to name your group Amazon has a few times for truly utilizing Alexa’s full capabilities.

    • Make sure you use a different name for each group in your house.
    • Names that only have two or three syllables are the easiest for Alexa to recognize.
    • Use names that will be easy for you to remember and not take too long to say.
    • Set groups that will work together and not be effected by one another turning on or off.

    Be sure to really think about how you will use your house’s lights and thermostats on the everyday basis, and then build the groups in your Alexa app to match your lifestyle and house.

    Amazon Echo 2

    Say the Commands

    Once you have set up and configured your smart devices in with Alexa and Amazon Echo, turning on or off your groups are as easy as saying the command out loud. The Amazon Echo and Alexa are command specific and not voice specific, so if anyone in the house says the correct phrasing then Alexa will follow through and either turn on or off the grouping paired with that command.

    This set up obviously makes it extremely convenient to go and change out the settings without having to actually use a light switch or have to pull out your smartphone. Imagine how awesome that can be if you’re walking into a dark house with arms full of groceries and all you have to do is say out loud, “Alexa Kitchen Lights On” and your lights in your kitchen turn on, making it that much easier for you to bring your groceries in and see where you’re going in your house. We all know that walking into a dark house and stepping on Legos is the absolute worst.

    If this home automation sounds like something you could use in your life, or you’ve just stepped on far too many legos, then give Titan Alarm a call today, we can get you set up with a custom solution just for your house and your needs and really make the smart home your best friend.

    Learn More About Home Automation

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