A burglar alarm is still the backbone of home security. Cameras and smart doorbells are great for seeing what is happening, but an alarm system is what detects a break-in, makes noise, and gets a central station calling you and dispatching help.
Here is a plain-English guide to what goes into a home alarm system on Long Island today.
Wired, wireless or a mix
- Wired systems use sensors cabled back to the alarm panel. They are very reliable and there are no sensor batteries to replace. Many older Long Island homes already have wiring in the walls from a previous system.
- Wireless systems use battery-powered sensors that talk to the panel by radio. They install faster with no fishing wires through finished walls, and work well in newer construction and renovations.
- Hybrid systems keep existing wired sensors and add wireless ones where wiring is not practical. This is often the most cost-effective way to upgrade.
If your house already has an alarm from a previous owner or another company, you may not need to start over. See taking over an existing alarm system.
The sensors that matter
- Door contacts on every exterior door, including the garage entry and basement doors.
- Window contacts or glass-break sensors on ground-floor and easily reached windows.
- Motion detectors in main hallways and rooms an intruder has to cross. Pet-immune models are available.
- Keypads at the main entry and often the bedroom, plus a panic option.
- Life-safety add-ons: monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and water leak sensors that alert you before a burst pipe floods the basement.
Want to see where each device goes? Take our interactive Home Security Tour.
Why monitoring is the part that counts
A siren alone relies on a neighbor noticing and acting. With 24/7 monitoring, every alarm signal goes to a staffed central station. CWC monitors through Metrodial in Hicksville, a UL-listed, 5-Diamond central station. Operators verify the alarm with you and dispatch police or fire when needed, day or night, whether you are home, at work or away for the winter.
Monitoring can also:
- Alert you if the system is disarmed at an unusual time.
- Watch for low batteries, power loss and communication trouble.
- Reduce false dispatches through verification, which helps you avoid false alarm fines.
Upgrade your communicator
Many older Long Island alarms still send signals over a landline. If you have dropped your home phone service or switched to VoIP, your alarm may not be able to reach the central station at all. A cellular communicator fixes that. More here: Is your alarm still on a phone line?
Control it from your phone
Modern panels connect to apps like Alarm.com, so you can arm and disarm, get alerts, and see your cameras in one place.
Getting started
Not sure what your home needs? Try our Security System Estimator or read more about our burglar alarm systems and 24/7 alarm monitoring for Nassau and Suffolk County homes.
Ready to talk it through? Call CWC Security at 516-889-3600 or book a free on-site security assessment. We serve homes and businesses across Nassau and Suffolk County.