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How Do Glass Break Sensors Work?
Glass breaks can be an important addition to your home security system.
Glass breaks are sensors that detect the sound frequency and percussion of glass breaking and send the signal to your home security system to activate the alarm.
So why would you need glass break sensors installed as a part of your security system if you already have door and window sensors?
Door and window sensors are only effective if the door or window is opened. If an intruder instead decides to break the glass of the window to enter your home, the window sensor won’t trigger the alarm. A glass break sensor will trigger the alarm when it detects the sound and vibration of the glass breaking.
So the question remains:
Should I add glass breaks to my security system?
It’s important to remember that glass break sensors are used to enhance the security system you already have in place to make it even more effective.
We would suggest glass break sensors for any home that features:
- Large windows
- Sliding glass doors
- Rooms with many windows, such as sun rooms
- Exterior doors with windows or decorative window panes
- Homes with windows that are painted shut
While homes with large windows provide extra sunlight and views, they’re also a potential target for would-be criminals. Glass break sensors can help protect you in the event a criminal tries to enter your home.
Learn more about security system components here.
Customer Newsletter – September 2020
EMC Security has enhanced the online payment portal.
Features:
- View Invoices Due
- View Paid Invoices
- View Receipts
- Add Users
- Save Payment Methods
- Coming Soon
- Request technical service
- Update your contact list
If you have used the previous online payment portal, simply login to the new portal with your email address and password.
If you are a new user, click here for instructions to register.
View the video above featuring EMC Security customers that are thankful they installed monitored smoke detectors in their home. A few months ago, their home was quickly overcome with smoke and fire while they were just a few yards away, in the backyard. If it wasn’t for EMC Security, the damage and loss would’ve been much greater.
Adding smoke or heat detectors to your home security system may very well be the best decision you make when it comes to the safety and security of your loved ones.
And, your monthly monitoring cost doesn’t change when you add fire monitoring to your security system.
Most Common Causes of Home Fires
In 2019, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an estimated 361,500 home fires. These fires caused roughly 2,870 deaths and 12,700 reported injuries. Property damage was estimated at $7.9 billion.
Cooking equipment – #1 cause of fire injuries.
If you leave the kitchen—even for a brief period of time—turn off the stove. Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Always keep children away from active cooking areas.
Smoking – #1 cause of deaths
Most smoking-related fires start inside the home, often originating from upholstered furniture, bedding, or mattresses. Always smoke outside, thoroughly extinguishing cigarettes in an ashtray when finished.
Portable space heaters
Portable space heaters, which cause more fires annually than central heating. Use space heaters only in well-ventilated spaces, and keep them at least three feet away from furniture, fabrics, draperies, and other combustible objects.
Fireplace
To prevent an accident, install a spark screen or glass door in front of the firebox to protect the surrounding area from stray sparks and rolled logs. Check chimneys annually to ensure that creosote hasn’t built up, and never leave a fire unattended.
Worn and damaged cords
Replace all worn or damaged cords right away, never overload extension cords or wall sockets, and don’t position cords under furniture or rugs.
Candles
Never position a lit candle near flammable items like bedsheets and books, which may become engulfed in flame if they come in contact with the tiny fire. As a safer alternative, homeowners can purchase flameless, battery-powered candles with LEDs.
Propane and gasoline
Gasoline, kerosene, and propane should be stored outside in their original containers. Kerosene and propane heaters, which have a constant open flame, should be kept in an isolated, well-ventilated area and used only with the proper type of fuel.
Grill
Position your grill or fire pit several feet from your house, safely away from trees, deck railings, and other structures. Routinely clean the grill, investigate signs of rust and corrosion, and check the gas connections.
Source: 2020 National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)
Why Your Security System Should Use Cellular Communication
Your home security system has three options to communicate with your monitoring service provider, such as EMC Security.
Those options are
landline , Wi-Fi, and cellular. While each connection type will provide you with reliable home security monitoring, there are a few things to consider when deciding which is right for you.In this post we’ll examine the reasons we believe a cellular connection is a great choice for most homes today, especially considering most households don’t have an operational landline as more and more people opt for cell phones.
But first, let’s discuss the differences between each connection:
Landline
Connecting your home security system through your phone line is the most cost-effective option as there’s no equipment to buy and no charge to transmit the alarm other than the monthly monitoring rate. However, if your phone line is cut, there’s no way for the alarm to communicate with the service provider’s central station. In addition, if you opt for the landline connection, there is no way to access the security system using a smartphone, which is a feature most customers are looking for.
Wi-Fi
This type of connection communicates with the monitoring service via an internet connection. The benefit of this type of connection is that there is no transmission cost — as long as you have an internet connection, the service provider will only need to put a module in to allow it to communicate over the internet. There is a cost for the module, but it will also give you the ability to control the security system through a smartphone. It’s important to note that this type of connection relies on your IP connection, so if your internet goes down, the system won’t be able to communicate.
Cellular
A cellular connection communicates with the monitoring service provider via cellular towers and is considered the most secure because there are no lines that can be cut to prevent the system from communicating with the provider. There are equipment costs, however, as you’ll need to purchase a cellular communicator, and the cell carriers will charge a small monthly transmission cost for the cellular communicator. Because the technology will advance over time, you will need to upgrade your cellular communicator from time to time.
Now that you know the difference between each of the connections, let’s discuss three reasons a cellular connection is the best choice for most home:
It’s the Most Secure: Both landline and Wi-Fi communication are susceptible to disruption: landlines can be cut, and Wi-Fi relies on an active internet connection. A cellular connection communicates through cellular towers and is less vulnerable.
Convenient: A cellular connection can be controlled from anywhere using a smartphone, tablet or computer. Perks include real-time alerts and monitoring.
More Control: A cellular connection offers more interactive services, such as
virtual keypad, live video, door lock, lighting and thermostat controls. You can also arm and disarm from your phone and have access tolive-streaming video.If you’re ready to purchase home security but aren’t sure which system is best for you, download our Free Guide to Buying Home Security to learn more about the available options.
How to Prevent Being Locked Out
Have you ever been locked out of the house?
It’s not easy to do anymore since we have so many electronics to help, but sometimes it can’t be helped and it’s more than frustrating.
Below are some tips that might help prevent a lock out down the road:
Go Keyless. Install smart-locks so you don’t need a key to get in. These handy devices are controlled with a smartphone. You can easily provide guests with their own custom code and/or unlock the door from anywhere at any time. Better still, integrate a smart-lock with your security system and control everything with one app.
Give a Spare Away. Prevent the problem by giving a spare key to a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor. Someone with flexible availability is ideal for quickly fixing the problem in the future.
Hide a key outside. Hide-a-Keys and outdoor key holders come in many shapes and forms. They’re often disguised as rocks or yard decorations. These products are great for hiding a spare key to a house, safe, or drawers.
So what if you get locked out? Below are a few things to do:
Look for unlocked windows or doors. Check all the entrances to your home including windows. While it’s not a good idea to leave anything unlocked, you might get lucky (just this once).
Call for help. Call you spouse, roommate, anyone that might be able to get you in. If you live in an apartment complex, stop by the manager’s office to ask for access. It’ll probably cost you a fee but you might get inside quickly.
Call a locksmith. This will cost about $100 or so, but they are often available 24/7 to help.
Customer Newsletter – August 2020
1. Boost Your Monitoring Experience
Set-up your password hint today
In today’s world, we have passwords and IDs for almost every aspect of our lives. Experts say they should all be different. So it’s not unusual to forget a password or two from time to time – including your security alarm password.
This is why EMC Security has adopted a PASSWORD HINT option for any customers concerned that they may not remember their password in the event of a false alarm.
When asked for your password by the EMC Security operator, simply request the hint you’ve provided rather than guessing at the password.
2. Review New Dispatch Procedures
Take a few minutes to review our standard dispatch procedures, particularly the procedure if you cancel an alarm at the keypad.
EMC Security does not make phone calls to the emergency contact list on Burglar Alarms that are followed by a cancellation from the keypad. For example, you forgot the system was armed, opened a door triggering an alarm signal, then entered your disarm code correctly on the keypad to cancel the alarm.
As an extra layer of protection, a text message will be sent (to the first 2 phone numbers on the account) notifying you of the signal having been received and confirming no further action will be taken due to cancellation with the proper disarm code.
This message will read as follows: “EMC has received the disarm from your keypad indicating the proper disarm code was entered. If this is an emergency, reply “911” for immediate dispatch.”
This procedure can be customized for your needs. If you’d like your dispatch procedures handled differently, please call 770-963-0305.
3. Get Our FREE EMC Text-Alert Service
If your alarm goes off, you want to know as soon as possible right?
Opt-in to EMC Text-Alert and get an instant text notification on your mobile phone, that gives you the option to chat together with your emergency contacts, and dispatch or dismiss the alarm with just one click.
If no one from the group responds to the text, the EMC Security monitoring center will follow normal phone call procedures.
Watch the video below and click here to learn more.
EMC Text-Alert is completely FREE!
4. Test Your System
EMC Security encourages all customers to test their systems monthly to ensure it’s ready in the event of an emergency.
- Call the 24-hour EMC Security central monitoring center at 1-888-745-4733 and let them know you will be testing your system. Be prepared to provide them with your name, service address and password.
- Close all doors and protected windows, arm your system and allow the delay time to expire.
- Activate your alarm like an actual emergency by opening a protected door.
- Allow the siren to sound for approximately 15 seconds to one minute and then turn off your system.
- Call the monitoring center and announce that you are calling to check test results. The central station operator will describe the signals received.
If for any reason, the system did not communicate to our central monitoring center, please call our service department at 770-963-0305, Monday through Friday between 8am and 6pm for a technician to check your system.
5. Update Your Emergency Contact List
EMC Security is your safety partner. If you change any phone numbers or email addresses, notify us at 770-963-0305 to ensure we have the most current information in the event of an emergency (you will need your password to make changes).
Say “No” to Auto-Renewals
Have you ever sign up for a subscription or on-going service and then get surprised by a renewal charge that shows up on your credit card bill weeks later? Have you gotten discouraged when you can’t figure out how to cancel? Or it’s too late to prevent the charges?
It’s called automatic renewal, and the practice is showing up more frequently in consumer contracts for all sorts of services and products. It’s happening everywhere from entertainment subscriptions to gym memberships to home security.
Some people even refer to auto-renewals as “zombie contracts” because they seem to never die. Despite seeing the charges and trying to cancel, you’re always too late and the fees keep repeating themselves.
So, if you’re unwittingly auto-renewed into a new contract with a home security company and want to challenge the agreement — you’re not alone.
Georgia law requires every customer to be notified between 30 and 60 days of the original expiration date of the contract. The notification must clearly state that the contract is renewing. It must also provide clear instructions on how to cancel service if they do not want the contract to automatically renew for any term more than month to month.
Most companies are following state regulations on notification of a contract term in the original agreement. However, fewer are properly following the requirement of notifying customers that their contract is automatically renewing for more than a one-month term.
If you find yourself in this situation, check to see if you’ve received this type of written notification within the required time period. If not, you can dispute the auto-renewal and get out of the renewal without penalty.
Once you’re free from the binds of the agreement, you can resecure your home protection with EMC Security’s no-contract required policy.
Click here to download a full copy of the Georgia Auto-Renewal Law.
What to do if your package is stolen
Many of us have felt the frustration of expecting a package delivery and it not arriving on time. Worse yet, an increasing number of people have received a notice of delivery but the package isn’t there. Below are tips on what to do if this happens to you.
Check again. Check every entrance of your home and spots the delivery driver could have left it, like the bushes around the front porch, the back porch, the garage, or between the screen door and front door. We’ve even seen packages sitting in the bushes adjacent to the mailbox.
Contact the delivery company. Have your tracking number and order details handy. If they can validate that the package was indeed delivered, ask if they can verify the location. UPS will often upload an image of the package (and location) as proof of delivery. Ask about the company policy on stolen packages. If the theft was due to their mistake, they might be able to help you.
Contact the retailer. Get in touch with customer service and have your order and tracking number ready. The customer service rep can tell you the store or company policy on stolen items.
File a report. Report your missing package to the police and the Postal Inspection Service if it was shipped via the USPS. The more agencies helping you track down your stolen package, the better.
Make it Easier:
There’s a reason why doorbell cameras are the most popular home security cameras. They work. A doorbell camera records all activity from your front door – to an optional range of your choice. Some can view road traffic and others choose to only see what happens within a few feet of the camera. The best cameras have an intercom feature that lets you talk to anyone on your doorstep. EMC Security’s doorbell camera is just $149.
For extra security, outdoor cameras can be placed around the perimeter of your home starting at $99 each.
Georgia School Bus Law – Reminder
Many school systems have opted for online learning this fall. But there are also many districts that have offered in-school learning – so buses will be on the roads once again.
It’s important for people to realize how dangerous it can be at bus stops, which is why drivers have a responsibility to make sure students can leave those bus stops safely.
According to law, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus is stopped on a road with its lights on and sign out. This applies to two-lane roads, four-lane roads, and roads with a turning lane. The only time you do not have to stop is if there is a median in the road, separating you and the bus. These sections of roadway are usually divided by a grassy area, a paved area, or a concrete wall.
Penalties for Breaking the Law
If you are caught passing a school bus that is stopped, you could be fined up to $1,000 and risk getting six points on your driver’s license. As such, remember, if you see a school bus stopping and the red lights are on, you need to stop unless it’s a road with a median.
According to a school official, bus drivers try to avoid bus stops where students have to cross the street, but it does still happen and sometimes students cross when they aren’t supposed to.
Sometimes, it’s possible that a child might get confused, and not having traffic stopped in all directions could be catastrophic, which is why it’s important that drivers educate themselves on the new law and the cautions that come with driving on the roadways during the school season.
Did you know that EMC Security protects more kids and staff at school in Georgia than any other company? That’s over 358,000 students and staff! Learn how we can keep you and your family safe at home too.
Home Burglary Prevention Checklist
The following checklist was designed to help you improve the overall security and safety of your home.
The main purpose of any home security inspection is to help you familiarize yourself with the features in your home or daily routines of your family, which might make it vulnerable to burglary.While we believe everyone should have a security system in their home, there are things you can do to deter intruders and keep your home as safe as it can be.Your security inspection should begin at your front
door, and cover all of your home’s doors, windows, locks, lightsand landscaping. If there are any questions on the checklist, to each you’ve answered “No”, you should correct the current condition to help ensure the safety and protection of your family and home.Doors
- Are the doors of the home metal or solid wood construction?
- Do your entry doors provide a wide-angle view?
- Are all door locks sturdy and in good condition?
- Are there any windows within 40 inches of the door locks?
- Can the locking mechanism be reached through a mail
slot, or pet entrance? - Are door hinges protected from removal from the outside?
- Can all your doors be securely locked?
- Are entry points unobstructed by shrubbery or
other decor for maximum visibility? - Do your sliding glass doors lift out of the track?
- Are door frames strong enough and tight enough to prevent forcing or spreading?
- Is there a screen or storm door with an adequate lock?
- Are all entrances lighted with at least a 40-watt light?
Windows
- Are all windows equipped with auxiliary key locks or are they pinned?
- Are your window locks properly and securely mounted?
- Do you keep your windows locked when shut?
- Do you use locks that will allow you to lock partially opened windows?
- Are you as careful to secure your
second floor windows, as you are to secure those on the first floor? - Do windows have screens or storm windows that lock from the inside?
- Do windows that open into hazardous areas have security screens or grills?
- Are exterior areas of windows free from concealing structure or landscaping
- Is the exterior adequately lighted at all window areas?
- Are ladders kept where they are not accessible?
Entrances from Garage and Basement
- Are all entrances to the living quarters from a garage or basement of metal or solid wood construction?
- Does the door from the garage to the living quarters have locks adequate for exterior entrances?
- Does the door from the basement to the living quarters have an adequate lock operated from the living quarter’s side?
Basement Doors and Windows
- Is there a door from the outside to the basement?
- If so, is that door adequately secure for an exterior door?
- Is the outside basement entrance lighted by an exterior light of at least 40 watts?
- Is the outside basement door concealed from the street or neighbors?
- Are all basement windows adequately secured against entrance?
Garage Doors and Windows
- Are garage doors equipped with a working locking device?
- Is the garage door closed and secured at all times?
- Are the garage windows secured adequately for ground floor windows?
- Is the entrance to the garage as secure as other entries to the house?
- Are tools and ladders stored in the garage?Are all garage doors lit on the outside by a 40-watt light or greater?
Tips For Outdoor Camera Placement
A home without a security system is 3 times as likely to get broken into than one with a security system.
Video cameras add even more protection because they often deter criminals before attempting to get into a home.
According to the survey, “Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective,” conducted by the University of North Carolina, 60% of burglars would consider the presence of security cameras when selecting a target, and more than 40% said that cameras are a factor in choosing another target.
Law abiding people don’t tend to consider the mind of a burglar. But the fact is, most thieves know more about home security than the average
home owner . So it’s important to know the best place to put a security camera so they skip your home and move on, away from your property.Where To Place Your Security Cameras
We’ve uncovered the best places to install security cameras around the outside of your home to help deter burglars.
Front Door
- Because most burglars try the front door first, installing a video doorbell or security camera here is a great way to deter them before they try to get in. You can order your online now for just $149.
Side and Back Doors
- If the front door isn’t an option, the burglar will most likely try a side or back door. Reports show that 22% of burglars enter through the back door because they know that in most homes the back door is not as secure as the front.
- If there is a window at the door, position the camera so that it covers them both.
- It’s also a good idea to position a camera to cover your entire backyard and any out-building you may have.
Windows
- Approximately 23% of burglars will break into a home from a
first floor window if they can’t get in through a door. Windows at the back or side of the house are the most vulnerable. - This is also a good place for an indoor camera placed on a table focusing on the window and anything that might crawl through.
Garage
- Approximately 9% of burglars get in the house through the garage so consider pointing a security camera at your garage doors.
Below are more stats that may help you decide where to place your outdoor security cameras:
- 81% of break-ins occur on the first floor
- 4% of burglars will enter a residence via a basement
- 12% walk in casually through unlocked entrances
Check out EMC Security’s selection of video cameras including our indoor camera priced at just $79. Security system not required.
Smoking – #1 cause of deaths
Portable space heaters
Fireplace
Worn and damaged cords
Candles
Propane and gasoline
Grill
