Tips from Security Pros

A good security system is more than the sum of its parts. But have you ever wondered what, exactly, are those parts? Even a rudimentary understanding can help prevent false alarms, increase confidence in your system, and ease communication with security providers. Here’s a breakdown of the four basic components you’ll find in most business or residential security systems.

• Keypad. The command center of your system, this is where you arm and disarm the system or silence a sounding alarm by typing in your code. Though alarm panels vary by make and model, many offer a bypass button to circumvent specific sensors and/or an emergency or panic button. A home or office can have multiple keypads but only one alarm panel.

• Alarm or Control Panel. The brains of the operation, the alarm panel’s circuit board or processing unit receives information from the alarm panel and sensors. Depending on the info it receives, the panel will decide whether or not to turn off the alarm, sound the sirens and report to the Central Station. Alarm systems are usually monitored by telephone, internet or cellular.

• Sensors or Detectors. The third component in your system, sensors and detectors tell the alarm panel when someone enters into or is moving around your property. (Such as opening a window or walking upstairs.) The most common sensors are door, window, and motion. More exotic (and expensive) ones include glass break sensors and heat detectors.

• Sirens or Bells. Mounted either inside or outside your home or facility, your system’s sirens or bells are meant to make noise in order to alert you or an intruder that the alarm has been triggered. If your system is monitored, a silent signal will also be sent to your security provider so they can dispatch a police car to your property.

For more information on our system components and how they work, give us a call at (925) 932-2211 or (800) 273-2680.

Denalect Alarm proudly serves the home and business security needs of Contra Costa County in Northern California: Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

False alarms can have a serious impact. Not only a noisy nuisance, false alarms can take police away from other emergencies and other life-threatening situations. They can also cost you hundreds of dollars in fees, create dissatisfaction with your system and your security provider, and make you reluctant to use your system, exposing your property to theft. Here’s how you can help reduce your chances of a false alarm.

• Change any system batteries every three years.

• Older systems are more prone to false alarms, so try to upgrade aging or outdated equipment.

• Check to make sure all protected doors and windows close and latch securely.

• Regularly test your alarm system to make sure it’s functioning properly and that you’re arming it correctly. If you decide to test your system yourself, be sure to let your security provider know before getting started.

• Let your security provider know if you’re planning any remodeling projects or changing phone companies.

• Pets may accidentally trigger sensitive motion sensors, so try to choose a security system that uses another form of protection.

• Have everyone who uses the system practice canceling an accidental alarm. If your alarm is monitored, you should call ahead to your security provider and let them know you are testing the system.

• Human error is the number one cause of false alarms. Examples include incorrectly entering the alarm code on the keypad and failing to secure all doors and windows before turning on the alarm. The best way to reduce this is to ensure that everyone who uses your system (kids, babysitters, relatives, visitors, etc.) is properly trained

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home alarm and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

Help protect your family, home and property this season with these holiday safety tips. With shoppers out in droves and many people traveling out of town, it’s little wonder that crime rates increase in winter. The holidays should be filled with good cheer but even the most wonderful time of the year can be ruined by crime, weather or disaster.

Home Safety

• Be extra careful to lock doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
• Unless your home during the week day, have any holiday gifts shipped to your office. Packages left out on your porch can easily be stolen when no one is home.
• Never burn wrapping paper in your fireplace.
• Make sure holiday gifts aren’t visible through the windows or doors of your home.

Shopping Savvy

• If you carry a purse, never leave it in the shopping cart or hanging on the back of your chair in a restaurant. Also, if you keep your keys, driver’s license and cell phone in an interior jacket or sweater pocket, you’re not stranded without a way to call or get home if your purse is stolen.
• Keep a record of your driver’s license number and credit card numbers in a safe place at home. That way, if they do get stolen, you have the information you need to cancel them ASAP.

On the Road

• If you’re heading out of town, have a trusted neighbor or friend watch your house and pick up your mail and/or newspaper. For more tips on protecting your home while on vacation, go here.
• If you’re road tripping to visit family or friends this winter, be sure to carry food, beverages and blankets, just in case bad traffic or inclement weather.

If you have a Christmas Tree

• Make sure your tree stands at least three feet way from any heat source, including fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents and lights.
• While Christmas tree fires aren’t common, when they do occur, they tend to be serious. One out of three tree fires are caused by electrical failure.
• Only use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Replace any broken or worn strings of lights and don’t connect more than three strands of mini string lights together. For LED lights, read the manufacturer’s instructions for how many strands to connect.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.

Lighting Candles

• Candles can produce a lot of heat so be sure to leave a 2 foot gap above any lit candle.
• Using a metal candle holder? place it on a heat-resistant surface to prevent burning. With glass holders and containers, only use ones specially made for candles. Other glass holders can overheat and explode, which can cause a fire.

Party Smarts

• If hosting a party, always have a non-alcoholic beverage available for your guests. Find alternate transportation for intoxicated guests or arrange an official designated driver for your party.
• If attending a party and plan to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two, try to eat something high in protein beforehand to help slow the absorption of alcohol into your system.
• Know your safe limit. Only time will eliminate the alcohol in your system.
• Never drink and drive.

Beware Holiday Scams

• Sometimes criminals take advantage of holiday generosity by masquerading as solicitors for door-to-door for charitable causes. Ask for identification and what the donations are being used for. If you’re suspicious, do not donate or ask for a brochure so you can research the charity.
• Or donate to a charitable organization you recognize or can verify.

 

Denalect Alarm proudly serves the home security and business alarm system needs of Contra Costa County in Northern California: Anitoch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

Thieves and burglars aren’t the only thing you need to protect against in the Bay Area this winter. Help safeguard your home and your family from cold weather with these simple money-saving tips.

• Clean your gutters. When the leaves start falling, protect your home’s exterior and foundation walls by cleaning your gutters and downspouts. When your gutters are clogged, rain and melting snow can back up, allowing water to seep into the house, causing flood or water damage.

• Seal air leaks. Another great way to weatherize your home is to find and seal any drafts. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air leaks can account for 5%-30% of your energy bill. Most common areas include recessed lighting, door and window frames, chimney flashing and furnace flues. Go here to learn how to detect leaks. Seal any gaps with caulk or weather-stripping.

• Inspect heating ducts. Studies show that a home with poorly connected and insulated ductworks can lose up to 60% of its heated air before it reaches the vents. Every couple of years, hire a professional to inspect and clean your ducts. This will remove any dust, animal hair and other junk that can collect and cause respiratory issues.

• Clean that chimney. If your home has a chimney and/or a fireplace, have a certified chimney sweep inspect them each year in case of damage or hazards.

• Maintain your furnace. Before the coldest weather hits, turn on your furnace to make sure it’s working properly. A brief, strong odor is natural when you first fire it up. If the smell continues, turn off the furnace and call a professional. And be sure to change or clean the filter regularly throughout winter. A dirty filter obstructs air flow, reducing your furnace’s efficiency and, in extreme cases, can even cause a fire.

• Check your alarms. With the furnaces and other heating systems running in winter, the season usually sees an increase in the number of house fires and CO poisoning. Now’s an excellent time to test your smoke and CO detectors, changing any batteries over a year old. It’s also a good idea to test your fire extinguisher to ensure it still works too.

 

 

Denalect Alarm proudly serves the home security and business alarm system needs of Contra Costa County in Northern California: Anitoch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

If you’re a homeowner in California, you should be aware of a new law protecting you, your family and your property from the dangers of Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

A poisonous gas that is odorless and colorless, Carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal are burned. Idling vehicles, heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and fuel-burning appliances – all can produce CO in your home.

When used and maintained properly, fuel-burning appliances produce a non-hazardous amount of Carbon monoxide. It’s when these appliances are malfunctioning or used incorrectly that they can turn deadly. Each year, hundreds of people die from accidental CO poisoning, even more from CO produced by a car or truck idling in the garage. For more info on CO and the symptoms of CO poisoning, click here.

With the passage of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010, all residential properties with an attached garage or fuel-burning appliances must be equipped with a California State Fire Marshal-approved Carbon monoxide alarm or detector.

What’s the difference between a CO alarm and a CO detector? A carbon monoxide alarm is a stand-alone unit which has its own built-in power supply and audible device. A carbon monoxide detector is designed to be used along with your fire alarm system, drawing its power from the alarm panel. For a list of approved CO devices, click here.    

If you wish to learn more about protecting your home from CO, feel free to contact us. You can also click here to read FAQs provided by CAL Fire and the office of the state fire marshal.

Denalect customers can save money by coordinating their annual alarm inspection with a CO detection assessment.

Note: CO alarms aren’t intended or suitable for fire and smoke detection. If your CO detector is battery-operated, it should be tested regularly (once a month is best) and have the battery replaced once a year. If installing a CO detector yourself and unsure where to place it, consult the manufacturer’s recommendations in the installation guide.

Denalect Alarm proudly serves the home security and business alarm system needs of Contra Costa County in Northern California: Anitoch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.