Your Ultimate Guide to Home Security Systems

The control panel can be a singular device or it can work with a separate keypad. More home security companies are doing away with the separate keypad and offering tablet-like control panels with touchscreens. If you opt for a smart security system, you may get a touchscreen hub that incorporates video and two-way talk so you can see what's going on around your property and interact directly with people through your security cameras and the monitoring center. 

All security companies have a control panel but not all have a keypad. Most allow you to control the system from an app or key fob. So depending on the system you have, you may or may not need one.

For some systems, the keypad may be included with the panel. This is where you can enter your passcode to arm and disarm your system. You will most likely use the keypad on a daily basis since you’ll need to arm and disarm your system when you leave.

If your system has a landline connection and someone cuts your wires, you’ll lose connection to your system. In the case of a power outage, you could lose connection for your system if you have broadband. However, with a cellular panel, you are almost always covered, even if the power goes out or someone cuts your wires.

Standard door locks work by the use of a latch or bolt crossing the opening between the doorframe and door. There are two different types of bolts: spring bolt and deadbolt.

• Spring bolt: These locks are held in place by springs and allows the doors to close (not reopen) when locked.
• Deadbolt: This type of lock is more secure and stays in place until it is manually unlocked.

With both a spring bolt and a deadbolt, you lock and unlock the door by rotating the knob or key in a lock cylinder, which then moves the latch or bolt.

There are various types of door locks, including electronic locks, smart locks, and traditional locks. Electronic door locks include a part called an actuator. The actuator connects the bolt or cylinder to a small motor, which allows the bolt to lock and unlock. A smart door lock is a great way to automate your home and eliminate lost keys forever. Instead of using a key, you can use a card, keypad, or your phone as a remote to lock or unlock your door.

A smart doorbell is an optional component to your home security system. If you prefer having this smart feature, we say go for it. A doorbell camera can be the only security cam you need if you have a smaller home, apartment, or condo. 

Most home security systems now come with the option to add a doorbell camera, or you can buy a standalone doorbell cam to guard your entrance. You can also take a look at our list of the best doorbell cameras currently on the market.

Outdoor cameras are most often wired but sometimes are wireless. Some features you’ll want to take into consideration when choosing an outdoor camera are night vision, field of view, weather resistance, color vs. black and white, audio capabilities, pan/zoom features, and video resolution.

One of the benefits of using an outdoor camera is that you can usually access the footage remotely on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. They’re great for when you’re out of town and want to check in on things or when you’re at work and want to watch for a delivery or a service person.

Outdoor cameras are often used near garages and other outbuildings, entrances to a home, and backyards.

Indoor cameras are meant to be used inside to record any activity in your home. They typically are not weatherproof, so if you place it outside, the camera may get damaged. They're also not designed to operate through windows, so be sure to test out the performance if you want to use an indoor camera to capture activity by pointing it out the window.

Some features you’ll want to take into consideration are night vision, field of view, audio capabilities, pan/zoom/tilt, and video resolution. If your camera doesn’t have night vision it will be useless in the dark, so night vision is a must.

If you have a large room but the field of view is only 45 degrees and there are no pan/zoom/tilt capabilities, you’ll probably need another camera or two to monitor the entire room.

Common places for indoor cameras include living rooms, offices, and garages. They typically don’t record footage 24/7, only when motion is detected.

Many home security companies have the ability to let you view your camera’s footage through their app so you can check on your home while you're away.

Indoor cameras give you valuable insight into your home. If someone breaks in, a camera can capture footage that you can turn over to the authorities to help catch the culprit. They can also let you check on loved ones or pets at home while you're away, or to just see if everything's fine while you're on vacation. An indoor camera is certainly useful, but it's not necessarily an integral part of the home security system.

For the most part, door and window sensors are pretty much the same from company to company. The only difference is sometimes companies offer door sensors and window sensors individually, or contact sensors which can be used for both doors and windows. If they are sold individually as door and window sensors, then the door sensors are most likely a little larger than the window sensors, but they work the same way.

For the most proactive home security, we recommend that all first-level doors and windows have a entry sensor. Depending on the size of your home, you may want to use a motion sensor instead, to save on buying multiple contact sensors for the same room or area of your home. 

You can also use door and window sensors without a complete home security system, which can be a good option for smaller apartments, condos, or roommate situations.

A recessed door sensor is like a regular door sensor, but it’s less noticeable.

Recessed door sensors are inconspicuous and typically have good battery lives. Although this does require some drilling, they still tend to be better than regular door sensors.

A motion detector does exactly that—it detects motion. It’s one of the basic components to a home security system so most security systems have motion sensors in their equipment lists.

The degree angle and distance can vary with each motion detector/sensor, so it’s important that you check yours specifically so you know what area your sensor can monitor. Most companies that have motion sensors allow them to be placed on a flat surface or mounted on the wall (either by screws or a heavy-duty sticker). The sensors are typically wireless.

You should have at least one motion sensor in your home. When you’re placing your motion sensor you’ll want to be careful. Some pets trigger motion detectors so check with your company to see if there is a size limit.

Try to avoid placing motion sensors by windows. Light from the sun’s movement throughout the day could trigger your sensor causing a false alarm (this has happened to me before!).

Glass break sensors are typically installed on the opposite/adjacent wall from windows or on the ceiling. Be sure to check the range for your sensor so you install it close enough to the windows.

Glass break sensors are an important component of your security system. If a burglar breaks through a window (instead of opening it) a contact window sensor most likely won’t trigger an alarm because the sensor wasn’t pulled apart. However, a glass break sensor would detect the broken glass and immediately alert you and the monitoring center. So if you’re trying to choose between a window sensor or a glass break sensor, consider a glass break sensor.

Flood sensors are also called water leak sensors. If water is detected, the sensor sends an alert to the monitoring station (or you) that there may be a leak or potential flood.

For the most part, flood sensors are all the same. They alert you in the case of excess water in your home where that sensor is located.

A freeze sensor, or climate sensor, detects when temperatures approach freezing. This can help keep your pipes or other parts of your home from freezing and can alert you to an improperly functioning furnace.

Freeze sensors are great for vacation homes and can save you thousands of dollars in damages. They can also be used in climate-controlled rooms that have important objects in them. So if you have a home you are away from frequently or a room with valuables that need to be temperature controlled, you should get a freeze sensor.

When an image sensor detects motion it takes a snapshot of the view and alerts the monitoring center or sets off the alarm.

An image sensor is a motion sensor with a camera built into it. If a subject passes the image sensor within range, the image sensor takes a photo of the view.

The tilt sensor monitors an object and makes sure it is kept stationary.

Tilt sensors are commonly used on overhead garage doors. They can also be used on windows that tilt, hatches, sheds, or other objects that shouldn’t be moved. When the object is moved the sensor moves as well, which then sends a distress signal to you or the monitoring station.

Most tilt sensors are the same. When an object with a tilt sensor is moved, that movement alarms the sensor.

Tilt sensors are important to put on garages and sheds with roll-up doors. These are two areas that people often forget to secure. If a burglar breaks in through your garage door they’ll get into your home in no time. However, if you have a tilt sensor you’ll be notified immediately and will be able to send authorities to your home for help.

There are three types of fire alarms: ionization, photoelectric, and dual sensor. You can learn more about all of these in this best smoke detector article.

• Ionization fire alarms create an electric current between two metal plates. When smoke enters the chamber, an alarm sounds.
• Photoelectric fire sensors have a light source in an electric sensor positioned at 90-degree angles. When light enters, it normally misses the sensor. However, when smoke enters the chamber, the light scatters and triggers the alarm.
• Dual sensor fire detectors include elements from both ionization and photoelectric sensors.

A CO detector sounds an alarm if it detects a dangerous level of carbon monoxide. If you have a professionally monitored home security system connected to your CO detector, a monitoring center agent will be notified if your detector is ever triggered. This means you'll still be taken care of if you don’t hear the beeping from the detector because you’re not in the room or you’re asleep.

If your CO detector sounds an alarm, you should evacuate your family immediately. Check each person for any flu-like symptoms. (This suggests poisoning.) If you notice these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Open as many doors and windows as possible as you and your family head outside.

Call the fire department or gas company so they can check all your fuel-burning appliances and other items that may emit CO.

Do not reenter your home until your home has been cleared for entry by first responders or the gas company. 

A smart garage door opener allows you to open and close your garage door from your security company’s app.

All you have to do is log in to your app and press the open or close button. It works similarly to a smart door lock because they both use a phone to lock or unlock, or in this case, open or close the garage door.

The equipment is similar to a normal garage opener where you have the remote clipped onto your car's visor. Install the device onto your garage door and that’s it.

These aren’t absolutely necessary, but they can be very handy.

These are commonly called smart switches, which allow you to turn small appliances or lights on and off remotely through an app.

A smart plug is not a necessity, but if you travel often, we recommend them. The controller will allow you to connect a light to the switch and turn it on and off remotely so it looks like someone is inside your house. You can also connect them to a smart home or security system hub to set up routines that will run automatically when you're out of town. That means no need to put down your tropical drink to put the lights on—they'll turn on automatically.

Smart thermostats help you cut your electric bill and help you be more energy efficient. Depending on the thermostat you purchase, it can learn your routine and automatically change the temperature to your preference. Most allow you to change the thermostat from a smartphone app so you can adjust the temperature before you leave work or when you’re on your way back from vacation.

Thermostats allow you to regulate the temperature in your home. Some also include climate sensors that will detect and adjust humidity and temperature levels that are outside the normal range.

Thermostats turn your heating or air conditioning on and off to keep your home warm or cool.

You most likely already have a thermostat, but if you want to save on your energy bill, purchasing a smart thermostat is a good decision.

A key fob (also called a keychain remote) is like the remote control you use to lock and unlock your car except it’s used to arm and disarm your system.

We recommend having a key fob because it helps you alarm and disarm your system. Many home security systems come with two key fobs and oftentimes you can add another key fob to your system so multiple family members can each have one.

We recommend medical alert buttons for people who are at risk of falling. If you think this would make you or a loved one feel more comfortable, a panic pendent is definitely or you.