Category: General

When your home alarm goes off, it can be a frightening and sometimes confusing experience.

Your first instinct might be to immediately disable the alarm siren. But, if you do this, how do you know you didn’t just disable an alarm for a burglar that might have just broken in? The fact is, most of us are not sure what we’d do in this case. The key is to be prepared.

Below are 5 things you should do if your home security alarm goes off:

1. Stay Calm

It is natural for us to panic in emergency situations. As a result, we tend to react rather than think. However, when your home alarm goes off, you should take a moment to calm your senses before doing something rash. It’s easier to think about your options when you’re calm.

A home security system is designed with an extremely loud alarm siren to scare off an intruder. And depending on your system and neighborhood, it could also alert a neighbor. Keeping this in mind could help your anxiety level.

2. Verify It’s Not a False Alarm

The next thing to do is to verify whether the alarm is false. Read any notifications or messages appearing on the keypad display (if it’s nearby) and then investigate, however don’t put yourself in danger to do so. If you suspect that there is an actual threat in the house, find a safe place to wait for the authorities.

3. Keep Your Phone Nearby

This is a must, for a couple of reasons. First, your home security company is instantly notified when the alarm is triggered and will immediately be contacting you to assess the situation. They will also notify the authorities.

Second, you can call someone outside of your home in order to get help. Contact a friend or relative as soon as you get the chance and let them know what’s going on.

4. Know Your Password

When your home security company calls your home, they will ask for your password. If you know it’s a false alarm and don’t want to notify the police, you must have your password.

If you don’t know your password, the authorities will be dispatched. This is because the security company has no way of knowing that you are who you say you are, or if you might be speaking under duress.

5. Have a Plan

An effective plan can help you remain calm and could potentially save lives. The best plan is to designate a safe area to wait for authorities to clear your home of danger. The safe area (or room) should ideally be as far away as possible from any potential break-in areas (such as windows and doors). It’s also a good idea to have a dead bolt installed on the door.

Although security systems can help make your home and family more secure and safe, you will still need to practice vigilance and awareness in case of an emergency. Never put yourself or your family members in danger. The best option is to let your security system do what it is designed to do – and that’s to help you.

Don’t have a home security system? Contact EMC Security to protect your home and family today.

Choosing the right home security system can be extremely difficult and time consuming.

The number of questions involved in giving proper consideration are simply mind-blowing.

Which brand is more reliable?

Should I pay for professional installation?

Does the company offer a security app?

Should I go with a local or national provider?

At the end of the day, there’s a lot to consider. In order save you time, and to help you get the most protection, ease of use and value, we’ve compiled a list of five questions you need to ask prior to making a decision on which company to choose for home security.

Ask the following inquiries to help ensure that you are making a well-informed decision.

1. Is the system professionally monitored?

Professional monitorization is the golden bench-mark of home security. If there’s a home intrusion or emergency at home, it’s comforting to know that your home security system can send an emergency signal to alert emergency response officials that you’re in need of help.

EMC Security recognizes that there is no substitute for having a system that is professionally monitored, which is why all of our systems come standard with around-the-clock monitoring coverage.

2. Will it withstand the home criminal toolkit?

Unfortunately, not all security products are designed the same. Avoid having thieves circumvent your system by ensuring that it comes with these following features:

• Crash and Smash Warranty. It’s common practice for burglars to smash a home’s security panel to disable it from communicating with the security monitoring station. EMC Security’s technology can detect a crash and smash attack and signal your monitoring station regardless such an occurrence.
• Cellular Communicator. Sometimes mother nature or human interference can disrupt traditional phone communications, in which case, having our ‘cellular communicator’ feature would come in handy. This type of signaling technology is not dependent on your home’s broadband or phone line, and so it’s not vulnerable to outside attacks.

3. What else will this system protect you from?

With the emergence of new technologies, the best home security systems are now equipped to protect your home from far more than home intrusions.

EMC Security offers a line of devices that can sense and respond to hazards, such as fire, carbon monoxide and water leaks. They can also save you time and money, solving problems like energy waste, and lost keys.

With the ability to respond to more dangers and challenges, EMC Security systems offer you more value than the traditional home security system.

4. What happens if something malfunctions or stops working?

Regardless of how many cool features a security system may have, they’re virtually useless if the security system does not work when you need it. When you purchase a stand-alone security system, you are left to fend for yourself when a device or component of the system needs professional attention.

However, with EMC Security, help is always a phone call away. Our technicians can be quickly dispatched to troubleshoot your system, and in some cases, issues may be fixed remotely.

5. Does it include smart home devices?

Smart home technology is more than just a home improvement trend, and it almost goes without saying that it’s here to stay. The right security system will set you up with everything you need for a smart home. In fact, it’s the easiest way to own one.

EMC Security carries a wide range of essential smart devices, from smart locks, smart thermostats, connected video cameras, smart lights, video doorbells, and more.

Controlling an EMC Security-powered smart home is easy. Our smartphone app controls everything, or you can use your voice with Amazon Echo. Yes — when it comes to automation, EMC Security makes smart homes smarter.

Still have questions? Give us a call at 770.963.0305 to find out how we can help today.

A home security system provides you and your family with additional protection in the event of an emergency.

Ideally, adults should be the only people operating a home security system; however, what better way is there for children to learn how to keep safe than by learning how to work the home security system by themselves?

How to Teach Your Kids about Your Security System

• Review your home’s access points, such as doors and windows, discussing how the alarm system is triggered and the process that follows.

• Provide instruction on how to turn the system on and off. Review the password with them and express the importance of keeping it secure by not telling others. This is particularly important if your child has friends over while you’re not at home. To be on the safe side, consider changing the password periodically.

• Practice! Set up times to perform practice drills and review security measures. This is a great time to teach children what to do in the event of a false alarm.

• Consider a mobile security app for additional peace of mind and convenience. With the mobile app, you’re able to view, arm, and disarm the security system from anywhere.

• Establish a family safety plan, such as a fire escape plan and what to do if your alarm goes off. Review the plans often to ensure your children know how to stay safe.

Contact EMC Security at 770.963.0305 to learn more about the mobile app and other smart-security services.

Depending on the provider, the cost of a security systems can vary widely with a wide assortment of monthly fees. Below, we’ll go over some facts and let you decide if a security system is the right choice for protecting your home and family.

Facts About Break-ins

Data from the FBI 2012 crime report shows that one in every thirty-six homes in the United States will be burglarized this year, resulting in an average loss of $2,230 per break in (totaling $4.7 billion in property losses). Even more shocking is that a burglary takes place every 15 seconds in the U.S. By the time you finish reading this blog, another home will be broken into.

While monthly fees certainly can vary, a basic security system will cost you far less than what the average burglary will cost you. EMC Security in particular has a popular self-install system for just $299 and offers financing on all systems with just $99 down. Additionally, most homeowners insurance companies reduce premiums by up to 20% with proof of having a security system installed in the home.

Potential Savings

While monthly alarm monitoring varies by provider, a security system may ultimately be less of an expense when you include all of the potential savings. As compared to the yearly $2,230 average loss of a burglary, you could potentially have years of home security before reaching how much you could lose from just one burglary without a security system.

The main deterrent for people thinking about getting a home security system is most often the cost. Studies show that a home without a security system is 3 times as likely to get broken into so you might decide that the cost is worth covering the potential risks – a decision that only you can make for yourself.

If you’re interested in learning more about EMC Security’s systems and costs, contact us at 770-963-0305 or visit our website.

Have you wondered what happens behind the scenes when a home alarm is triggered?

Every alarm will set normal home security alarm procedures into action: When EMC Security’s monitoring center receives an alarm notification, it will immediately call to verify the alarm. If we can not reach anyone by phone (or by our new EMC Text-Alert response system), then the police and/or fire department will be dispatched to the home – whether it is an actual emergency or not.

False alarms can be quite costly to homeowners, depending on where you live. Many cities in Georgia require that homeowners register their alarms, and may charge homeowners false alarm fees ranging from $25 to $500 per incident. And while false alarms can happen, it’s important to take proactive measures to help reduce their occurrence.We’ve outlined five ways homeowners can prevent false alarms.

1. Make sure all users know how to arm and disarm the system.

It’s been reported that 32% of false alarms are due to lack of end-user training, so everyone in your household, including frequent visitors such as babysitters, needs to know how the alarm system operates, which doors and windows are connected, and the correct codes associated with the alarm system.

2. Stay connected with security cameras.

Know what’s happening at home at any time, from anywhere. Security cameras send clips to your phone so you can verify an alarm signal before authorities are dispatched.

3. Watch for stray objects near motion detectors.

If you have motion detectors, make sure there are no drapes or other objects that may move in front of them and cause a false alarm. Be especially aware of forced air heating/cooling vents and ceiling fans.

4. Plan for pets.

If you have a pet, you will need to install a pet immune motion sensor. This type of sensor can ignore movements caused by pets weighing 40 to 80 lbs. You can adjust the sensitivity based on how big or small your pet is.

5. Regularly check your security system and batteries

It’s recommended that you test your system monthly to be sure it’s operating correctly. EMC Security customers can visit our office for a free battery and can call us at 770.963.0305 to have us walk you through testing your security system. It’s also recommended to replace old alarm systems with more up-to-date equipment every 10 years.

So what should you do in case of a false alarm?

When your alarm is activated, a notification is sent to the central monitoring station for immediate action. This includes contacting you at a predetermined phone number. If you have EMC Security’s Text Alert, you and everyone on your emergency contact list will receive a text notification. If someone knows what’s going on, he or she can respond appropriately.

If you’ve triggered the alarm yourself, immediately contact your monitoring station to report the false alarm. Declaring a false alarm quickly can stop police from being dispatched unnecessarily — and save you from being hit with a fine by your city.

Contact EMC Security today to learn more about our home security options.

There are many home security system options on the market. Depending on the size of your home and options added, prices can range from $250 up. These costs include equipment, installation, and activation fees.

Below is a break-down of costs you can expect:

Equipment Costs

The equipment costs make up the bulk of your upfront charges. Depending on the system and the equipment you choose, the price can vary drastically. Some companies will advertise “new-customer equipment pricing” where you can get up to $1,500 worth of “free” equipment upfront. It sounds like a great deal, but make sure to read the fine print on these types of offers, because “free” is almost never free.

Monitoring Costs

Monthly monitoring costs vary widely as well. This monthly charge is for the service of having your home monitored 24/7 by an external monitoring center. Most companies start at a base price and adjust it as you add features or services, such as remote controls or cameras. According to the SDM Rankings, the national average monthly cost is $50.30. EMC Security has one of the lowest monitoring cost starting at $16.95 per month.

Companies, like the above example, hide equipment costs in the monthly fee so the consumer has no idea how much their system actually costs. Typically, the monthly rate is based on a package price and that is what you pay for the remainder of your patronage with that company. Other companies are up-front about their costs – like EMC Security. EMC Security offers a 24-month commitment option where the customer can pay for the equipment in 24 monthly installments. Once the equipment is paid for, that debt is satisfied and the monthly rate decreases to include just the monitoring costs. There is no other company in Atlanta that offers this type of agreement. This is great for people who want an affordable home security option but can’t afford the heavy upfront costs of equipment.

Options

Self-install options have entered the market and are a great alternative to professional installation. With this type of system, you can install it when it’s most convenient for you – without taking off work or scheduling appointments. It’s also typically more cost-effective since you are not paying for installation. It’s important to note that not all DIY security systems are the same. EMC Security cautions against systems from the “big box” stores. We believe no one should trust their home and family’s safety to anyone other than a professional security company. Check out our systems from just $179.