When purchasing and installing a home security monitoring system, the alarm monitoring plan that you select is just as important, if not more so, than the type of system you choose.
Consequently, it’s essential to look for a monitoring service provider with a great response time.
Preferably one with a response time of under one minute; achieved only by the best companies.
Keep in mind, though, in the home security industry, response time refers to the time taken to receive alerts, process information, and contact authorities, not the actual time it takes for the police or fire department to arrive.
Nevertheless, choosing a monitoring service with a fast response time will ensure that when an alarm goes off in your home, the authorities will be contacted swiftly.
To accomplish this in an efficient and cost-effective manner, many cities have implemented Verified Response laws that require eyewitness verification through monitored conclusive audio or video of the incident before the authorities are dispatched to the location to minimize the preponderance of false alarms.
How Fast Are The Fastest Home Security Monitoring Systems?
As can be expected, an effective alarm monitoring plan is achieved by having a reliable and around the clock response plan in place. This is what sets professional and DIY home monitoring apart.
A professional home security monitoring service has dedicated, trained personnel working 24 hours a day 7 day a week.
When a sensor in your home is triggered, your control panel alerts the monitoring personnel at the central station.
They, in turn, contact you to confirm the emergency and proceed to contact the emergency personnel necessary.
The agency contacted will depend on the type of sensor triggered.
For example, if a smoke detector is activated, the fire department will be contacted, while a medical alert pendant event will be routed to paramedic services. Having a team of professionals monitoring your system ensures that each event is dealt with fast and gets the right response.
On the other hand, while DIY home security monitoring systems provide some benefits, they do have several disadvantages.
Old wireless systems can be affected by electromagnetic and structural interference.
Your home security monitoring system can fail if the batteries haven’t been replaced, or the notification can be delayed if the placement of the base stations is not ideal.
The response also depends solely on you, your location, and whether the device you are using to monitor your home is working correctly.
A self-monitoring system can be useful.
If you or a member of the family is home when an alarm goes off, the noise will alert you of the problem and allow you or your family member to take the necessary action.
But if you are not home and the alarm is activated, you depend on your neighbors to call the police.
And, while the noise might scare off a less-determined intruder, most will not be easily frightened and can disarm the control panel.
If you are monitoring the system and it alerts you of a home invasion or an environmental sensor goes off, you can contact the authorities.
But your response time depends on your location and ability to call for help.
In truth, systems that are monitored by homeowners cannot receive the same attention and response that a dedicated team can offer.
Other Benefits
Fast responses and greater system accuracy depend on several factors.
From the type, placement, and quantity of devices (sensors and surveillance cameras) installed throughout your home to the location of the base or receivers and the means of communication that your system uses to signal you or the home security monitoring center, all play a vital role.
And let us not to forget about the advantages of redundant monitoring and high-quality staffing employed by professionals.
- Adjustable delay is a feature in all security systems. The preset delays allow owners to enter an armed home and deactivate the system within a set period of time. The average is 30 seconds, but owners can shorten the delay.
- Tamper protection is typically known as smash and crash protection. In the event a control panel is tampered with or destroyed, it will send an emergency alert to the home monitoring center, and upon verification, the police are contacted.
- Cellular monitoring is often used to monitor homes. This type of connection is not affected by power outages, the cutting of landline cables, or internet failure. Cellular monitoring can be used as the standalone means of communication or as a backup.
- Redundant monitoring ensures rapid response times. Having multiple servers, more than one monitoring center, UPS or uninterrupted power supplies, and backup generators, among others, continue to make home security monitoring more efficient and reliable.
- High-quality staffing helps guarantee efficiency and fast response times. Emergency operators are trained to handle all types of events. Trained personnel are available 24/7.
- Glass break sensors detect the sound of glass breaking, a clear sign of home intrusion. These sensors give monitoring centers the evidence needed to comply with the Verified Response laws, resulting in quicker response time.
- Panic buttons strategically placed throughout the home are another way to get a fast response. When a panic button is activated, operators do not have to verify if help is needed. They immediately dispatch emergency help.
- Remote controls allow users to control their systems using a keychain-sized device. These small gadgets are mainly used to arm and disarm security systems. Some can also be programmed to include a panic function.
Mobile access is now very popular with many wireless security companies that develop free apps that give customers access to their home security monitoring cameras and systems that even allow home automation.
When discussing alarm monitoring services and their response times, the differences between professional home security monitoring and DIY monitoring are quite significant and will undoubtedly affect how quickly emergency personnel will respond to your call for help.
Home security monitoring providers and government agencies are working together to ensure that no one in the community is unprotected during an emergency.
With this in mind, ordinances such as the Verified Response Laws were adopted to ensure that resources are used efficiently and cost-effectively.
Using a home security system, be it monitored by a professional or by the owner can be an advantage.
It is up to you, the consumer, to select a monitoring service that will meet your expectations and needs.