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The fact that smart devices are now compatible with home security systems gives homeowners an added advantage they did not have two decades ago. Here’s a closer look at some of the smart ways you can protect your home through the use of modern technology integrated with a security system.

Make Your Home Look Alive

Your smart system can incorporate timers that activate the lights when you are not home. In the event that you go away on a vacation, a darkened home will make for an easy target. But with a smart system, you can activate your lights so that they stay on during certain times of the night. This will give the impression that somebody is inside and serve as a deterrent to burglars.

Answer Your Door From Afar

Home security systems now have the capability of incorporating a smart doorbell. When someone rings your doorbell, a notification is sent to your smartphone. You can actually answer the door if and speak directly to the person through your device. There is no way to open the door, but you will be able to talk to the person and see their identity.

Smart Locks

Gone are the days when a key was all you need to enter a home. Smart locks permit the use of a passcode to open doors. This passcode can be changed at any given moment. And in case you left the home and forgot to lock the door, it can be done quite simply from your handheld device.

Notifications for Leaks

Defending a home does not always mean finding a way to deter burglars. It can also apply to protecting your home from damage. Installing emergency sensors will let you know what’s going on in your home and all times. If there is a water leak or busted pipe, an emergency sensor will be activated and send you a notification. In instances where leaking water is a problem, getting back and resolving the issue as soon as possible could be key to mitigating the damage.

Professional Monitoring

A professionally monitored home security system will bring you less stress because someone is always monitoring your home. It will also help when it’s time to pay the bills. Many homeowner insurance policies offer discounts when one of these systems is installed. This could equate to a significant amount of savings and defend you from monthly bill collectors.

The decision to install a business security system is a wise one. What better way to secure your business premises? However, not all systems are created equal. It’s imperative that you consider the finer points about choosing a business security system.

Once you get the details right, you’ll be able to sleep well knowing your premises are safe. The process is not complicated. All you need to do is answer a few questions and plot your plan of defense.

What’s Going On in the Area?

You need to know what types of crimes happen in the vicinity. If your business has been dealing with similar incidents, you’ll want to address them with your choice of a security system directly. If you have problems with people entering the business, you’ll want to choose surveillance equipment. It’s up to you to handle the primary concerns. Even if you’re going through a sales professional, collect as much information as possible. That way, you’ll be able to purchase a system that’s designed to handle all of your needs.

Pay Careful Attention to All Entrances

Securing the various entrances to your facility should be a high priority. Each one of your doors and windows is vulnerable to intrusion. It’s possible that power lines and air vents may also compromise your security. Mapping these potential threat vectors helps you implement a robust security system that prevents crime.

The planning stage is a way to make sure you don’t miss any obvious things during implementation. You won’t need to seal the openings off completely. Instead, a security system that surveils the areas will reduce problems almost instantly.

What Kind of Lighting Is Available?

Take a few moments to properly evaluate your property’s lighting. Vandals and criminals hate well-lit areas. The lights make it easy to identify the culprits. If you have particularly dark areas, consider the benefits you’d receive from installing floodlights and motion-sensing lights.

Experts recommend that you take day and night pictures to get a feel for the dramatic differences. If you don’t plan on paying for new lighting, consider the advantages of infrared security cameras. These devices work very well where light is not abundant.

Internal Security Deserves Your Attention, Too

You’ll need to consider your internal security policies as well. If you feel that it’s lacking, fingerprint door locks or combination door locks provide a welcome addition.

You’ll also want to put security cameras in any area where your business maintains valuable merchandise or equipment. Always restrict access to those areas and make sure you have detailed records of who comes and goes. These straightforward tactics reduce the impact of crimes significantly. With a thorough enough system in place, you can expect to mitigate the damage from everyday incidents.

You’ll want to run through and handle a whole range of other issues before installing your security system. Get rid of plants that have grown too large, and add lights to areas that are too dark. Put security cameras in all sensitive areas of your property. Use digital video recording to keep records of your surveillance. Alarms, locks, and cameras tend to drive down people’s desires to steal or cause mayhem. They represent a small investment in comparison to the huge cost of criminal acts.

Make It Clear That You Are Actively Securing Your Property
Let the world know that your take security seriously! Criminals are always looking for the easiest mark. If they sense that your business is a fortress, they won’t hang around for long. There’s no reason to ignore the psychological elements of security.

Bright lights, camera, and signs that all signal the reality of your commitment to safety are enough to make many criminals keep looking. They won’t stay and try to bypass a bunch of measures when they can find an unprotected target easier. Put in the effort necessary to clearly tell the world that attempting crime at your business is not a good idea!

You have a unique opportunity to get all the details right. Choose the business security system that handles all of your individual requirements. Safety is always a unique situation; your business is not a clone of others. Don’t be afraid to contact a security system professional to discuss the intricacies of your case. Your desire to safeguard your employees and valuables is rational. There are many threats around that should be dealt with as fast as possible. Choosing the ideal business security system is the first step toward liberating yourself from worry.

In the Charleston area and throughout South Carolina, flooding is a common occurrence. And while many of us have grown accustomed to dealing with floods, do we really know how to stay safe during a flood?

Here are some tips on how to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe when a flood strikes.

Park Your Car
If you know that there is potential for flooding, go park your car on high ground or in a storied garage. The last thing you want is for your car to get flooded, or worse, float away.

You also want to avoid driving in the even of a flood. Even if the water is just halfway above your tires, it’s best not to drive. Your car could hydroplane,which could lead to a serious accident. The water can also damage your engine and other equipment beneath the hood of your car.

If you have to drive, drive slowly and be careful. Don’t take roads that are prone to flooding, and watch the height of the water.

Protect Your Home
If you are in a two-story home, move any valuables, moveable furniture, and other items that might be damaged to the second floor. If you live on single story floor, place your items you don’t want damaged on high shelves and counters. Have a friend or neighbor with a two-story house? Ask them to keep a few things for you.

Place sandbags at the entrances on the first floor of your home to try to prevent water from getting indoors.

Walk Cautiously
Avoid walking in a flooded area in the first place. If you must walk, do not walk in water 6 inches or higher, and don’t walk in water that appears to be moving. Moving water is often more powerful, and therefore dangerous, than it appears.

Even still water has its risks. If you have to walk, wear waterproof boots to protect yourself from potential contamination in the water.

Beware of Electrical Equipment
Do not touch any wires or electrical equipment, especially if you are wet or if they are in water. You’re likely to electrocute yourself. If you are dry and have access to your home’s power source, turn off your utilities from the main switches and valves.

We may be used to floods in the Lowcountry, but that doesn’t mean they are any less dangerous. If the state or county calls for evacuation, leave the area. Don’t try to wait out a serious flood- your safety is more valuable than your property.

No matter what kind of car you drive, an emergency situation can occur at any minute. Emergencies can be scary, stressful, and potentially life-threatening if you aren’t prepared. That’s why it’s important to know what to keep in your car in the event of an emergency.

Here are the essential tools and supplies that you should keep in your car at all times.

License and Registration
Keep your license and registration in your car at all times. If you’re pulled over for any reason, the process will run much more smoothly if you can easily access your license and registration papers.

You should also keep insurance papers and AAA card in your glovebox. If you’re stranded on the side of the road or involved in an accident, you’ll need them.

Jumper Cables
It’s always a good idea to have jumper cables with you. Just make sure you know how to use them first; incorrectly connecting the cables can seriously damage your car. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn how to safely jump start a car battery.

Your Car Manual
If you do have car issues, you will need your car’s manual to have any hope of fixing the problem. If you purchased a used car that is missing its manual, buy one for your car’s model and year online. Without the manual, you may not understand your car’s warning lights or how to check the fluid levels in the engine.

First Aid Kit
In addition to a traditional first aid kit that has bandages and antiseptic wipes, you should also pack a flashlight, umbrella, blankets, and an ice scraper. If you are stranded on the side of the road at night or if you need to look under your car, a flashlight will come in handy. Blankets can shield you from cold weather or from hot concrete depending on the season and should always be stored in your car.

Speaking of the chillier months, keep an ice scraper in your glovebox. Although you can use a credit card to clear the ice in an emergency, a scraper is much more efficient and costs next to nothing.

Tire Repair Kit
At some point in your life, you will inevitably experience a flat tire, even if you are diligent about regularly replacing them. That’s why it’s important to keep a tire repair kit in your car at all times. In general, a tire repair kit should include a spare tire, tire jack, tire iron, an inflator, sealer, lug wrench, and a can of WD-40 lubricating spray.

A flat tire can be disastrous if you don’t have the proper equipment to fix it. If you don’t know how to change a tire, ask a friend to help teach you or watch tutorials on Youtube.

Important Medications
In case of emergency, carry any important medications with you in your car. This can include regular aspirin or medicine you take daily. Since certain medications need to be stored at room temperature, you may want to pack them in your purse before you leave and take them with you instead of leaving a bottle of sensitive medicine in the trunk of your car.

If you think you may need an epipen or an inhaler, always keep it within reach in the glovebox.

Water Bottles
If you are preparing for a long road trip, consider packing extra water bottles. Fatigue can quickly set in if you are stranded without access to water, especially in the summer. Since plastic water bottles can be unsafe to drink out of after sitting in a hot car for longer than a day, don’t keep these in your car for extended periods of time.

And speaking of running on empty, pack a gas can with you to more easily fill up in case you run out of fuel.

Other Useful Items
When there is no service or your phone has died, a good old-fashioned paper map can be extremely useful until you can navigate with your GPS. For an emergency where you have to turn your car off, store a portable USB charger in your glovebox. In addition, keep a few rolls of toilet paper and paper towels in your car. If you have to use the bathroom outdoors, you’ll be grateful for one of those little white rolls.

Finally, keep some duct tape in your emergency bin. Famous for its versatility, a durable roll of duct tape is always good to have on hand. Check out these ten heroic duct tape car repairs if you aren’t convinced.

Although this is an extensive list, these items can help you through almost any roadside emergency. Alleviate the stress caused by an unexpected emergency by knowing what to keep in your car.

While you’re driving safely on the highway, is the home you left behind protected? At Sonitrol, we offer quality security systems for your home or business. Chat with an expert member of our team at (843) 747-0904 to learn more about our superior systems.

The benefits of a security system are well-documented and include police protection, video surveillance, and peace of mind. However, while an alarm can be lifesaving in the event of a break-in, a false alarm is a disaster. It’s important to understand how to properly use your security system and prevent a false alarm from occurring. Otherwise, you could incur hundreds of dollars of fees and waste the valuable time of law enforcement officers.

Here are five simple strategies for preventing a false alarm:

Know the code
Although this may seem obvious, a surprising number of false alarms are due to the homeowner forgetting the code or failing to inform someone of a code change. When you first install your security system, make a list of everyone who knows the code and update it as needed. This could include family members, babysitters, or a friend who is watching your home for the weekend. Choose a code that is easy to remember, but not easy to guess. Avoid choosing something like the house number.

Keep an eye on pets
Motion-detecting systems in your home or yard are great for security, but pets and animals can set off false alarms. If you use a motion-detection alarm system, you’ll need to keep pets in a secured area where they won’t trigger the alarm. Talk to your security provider for information about pet-friendly product options.

Replace the batteries
Although many home security systems are outfitted with batteries that can last for five years, any system will need a battery replaced eventually. Most alarm systems will let you know when the batteries are weak. Keep a record of when you have last changed the batteries to prevent any unexpected malfunctions.

Report faulty equipment
Although an estimated 70% of false alarms are caused by human error, a system malfunction can occur. If you suspect that the security system may be at fault for a false alarm, contact your provider. A representative will be sent to your home to examine the system for any defects.

A few general rules
Although you may think that running back into your house to grab a forgotten item won’t trigger an armed alarm system, even a short duration will cause the alarm to go off. If you need to go back into your home or office after setting the alarm, take a few moments to disable it as soon as you walk through the door.

Inclement weather, such as electrical storms, hurricanes, strong winds, and tornadoes can also cause a false alarm, although this is rare. As a precaution, take the weather into consideration when using your security system.

The key to successfully using your alarm system is to set and disable it as often as possible. When this becomes routine, you reduce your risk of triggering a false alarm. Always ensure that your security equipment is working properly. For information about the benefits of a security system in your home or office, give our expert team at Sonitrol a call at (843) 747-0904.

Living alone at home poses risks for even the most capable of elderly people. And while retirement communities offer great care for aging people, sometimes the best thing for your loved ones is to stay in their own home. And fortunately, there are ways to make a home safe for aging people.

Here are some tips on how to make a home safer for aging people.

Lighting

Enhance the amount of light in the house, especially in walkways. Plug in “night lights” in the walls for use of the bathroom, stairwell and hallways at night. Also increase the brightness in your everyday lights, don’t make them dim. This will prevent them from falling or slipping at night time.

Want to take it a step further? Install motion sensor lights in hallways and bathrooms. That way, you or your loved one will not have to fumble around for a light at night.

Floors

Keep your floors covered with rugs and carpets in the walkways. This will create more friction and prevent falls. Make sure you anchor rugs securely to the floor or install a rug pad so that they don’t move or slide.

Bathrooms

Make bathrooms fall-proof. Grab bars are good in the shower or bathtub, as well as next to the toilet and the sink. These can help prevent many slips in the bathroom. Shower benches also help prevent slips and falls.

Medical Response

There are a variety of medical response systems available for aging people who live alone. In the event of an emergency or a fall, you can press a button to contact emergency services and get help.

Bed Rails

Installing a bed rail will help prevent incidents from occurring while getting into and out of bed.

Security System

Unfortunately, burglars see elderly people as an easy target. A home security system will add a layer of protection to help keep you or your loved ones safe from harm. A comprehensive home security system adds that extra bit of comfort and peace of mind you need.

Following these tips can help ensure a safe and comfortable lifestyle for aging individuals, as well as the rest of the family. At Sonitrol, your family’s safety is our number one priority.

Interested in a home security options for you or a loved one? Contact Sonitrol today and we can help find the best home security system for you!

According to the FBI, approximately $5.9 billion was lost to motor vehicle theft in the U.S. in 2016. From stolen valuables to stolen vehicles, burglars will use an unsuspecting car as a quick, often easy target. Therefore, it’s important to understand how to prevent car theft and protect your property.

Protecting your car from theft sometimes involves common sense, and other times involves just a touch of effort on your part. Here are four ways that you can prevent car theft:

Park in Well Lit Areas

Vehicles parked in a dark isolated corner of the parking lot are prime targets for car thieves. Instead of parking in areas that attract thieves, try to park under a lamp post or near a busy entrance. And at home, consider moving your car into the garage instead of parking out on the street.

Lock Your Doors and Take the Keys

The easiest way to get your car or items stolen? Leaving the doors unlocked or the keys inside. Always lock your car door, and never leave your keys inside. Even if you’re only going to be gone for a minute, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Avoid Leaving Valuables in the Car

Leaving valuables, like a purse or a GPS device, out in the open in your car will certainly attract theft. Avoid leaving valuables in the car to not only protect those items, but your vehicle as well. If leaving them in the car is your only option, hide them underneath the seat or put them in the trunk.

Get a Car with an Alarm

A loud, obnoxious alarm makes it hard for a theft to occur unnoticed. Most newer models come with a car alarm that you should set whenever you leave your vehicle. If your car doesn’t come equipped with a car alarm, a mechanic should be able to install one for you. You may also want to consider installing a tracking device to locate your vehicle in the event of a theft.

With common sense and a extra few safety measures, you can prevent car theft and keep your property safe. But when it comes to protecting your home, let Sonitrol help. Our comprehensive security systems can prevent home invasion and give you peace of mind. Contact Sonitrol today to learn what we can do for you.

Smart security systems connect with an app on your smartphone and allow you to monitor your home or business remotely. These high tech systems use a combination of cameras, motion detectors and alarms to keep your property safe. The system can lock or unlock your door from any location, alert you to someone entering your property, and check for carbon monoxide in the air.

Installing a smart security system into your home or business is easy, cost-effective, and convenient. Sonitrol offers six systems for commercial and residential properties that provide comprehensive protection and peace of mind.

Theft Prevention Systems

Firstly, you can protect your home from theft with Sonitrol’s Burglary Monitoring System. Motion detectors will sound an alarm if someone is lurking outside your home or if there is a break-in while the system is armed. Alarms will also frighten off a burglar and alert the authorities.

Our team is available around the clock to monitor the alarm system and notify the police of a forced entry. For commercial properties, install the Intrusion Detection System, which provides the same security and benefits for your business.

Fire and Smoke Detection

A fire can be devastating to your business by rapidly destroying property and endangering the lives of employees. Sonitrol’s Fire and Smoke Detection System monitors your facility 24 hours a day for heat and smoke. Early detection gives employees more time to escape the building and limits damage to your property. This system also monitors the water flow from sprinkler systems, triggers an elevator recall, and is aware of sensitive temperatures in freezer rooms.

Total Connect System

To protect either your home or business, install the Total Connect alarm monitoring system. Total Connect allows you to access your smart system’s video and camera feed from anywhere in world, at any time, providing real-time alerts to your synced smartphone or mobile device. You can check on your pet while at work, or monitor your home while you and your family are away on vacation. You can also control the thermostats, lights, and locks, as well as remotely arm or disarm the system.

Video Surveillance Cameras

Additionally, Sonitrol offers video surveillance equipment for your home or business that seamlessly connects with our other systems. Video cameras provide the highest level of security by allowing you to monitor your property remotely. Cameras and alarms are powerful deterrents to both crimes and false claims. Our operators provide 24/7 alarm verification to dispatch authorities to your property if needed.

Wireless Security Systems

In the past, security systems were installed by drilling holes into the walls and required a mess of wires. Fortunately, technological advances have rendered these old systems obsolete. Sonitrol’s Wireless Security System has a sleeker design, causes less damage, and provides unmatched security. Plus, it’s easy to install, with no wires or drilling. These smart security systems can be linked to your mobile device and are ideal for renters since they can be moved from apartment to apartment with no damage to the walls.

If you are asleep or away from home when a thief breaks into your home or a fire is sparked, a smart system will act immediately to save your possessions and even your life.

Access Control Panels

Finally, Sonitrol’s Access Control Panels are a cost-effective option for introducing keyless entry into your workplace. Our systems can allow for free entry during business hours and restricted entry during after hours. This limits who has access to your property and controls the flow of traffic in and out of the building. The access control panels can also detect fire and smoke, providing total protection for your commercial property.

Sonitrol Security Systems have the highest apprehension rate and the lowest false alarm rate in the industry. Our highly-trained professional monitoring team can determine whether a break-in is in progress or a false alarm has occurred. By dispatching police only in appropriate situations, our team drastically reduces the number of false alarms.

Give us a call at (843) 747-0904 or schedule a free consultation to install the smart security system that provides the best protection for your property.

Our homes are very important to us; they protect the most important people in our lives, and they defend our most prized possessions. Unfortunately, our homes are not always the strong fortresses we imagine them to be; often, our homes are the victims of theft and damage that are hard to avoid or halt.

 

In terms of home burglary and crime statistics in 2016, nearly 88% of burglaries in the United States were residential, with 38% of burglaries including a firearm. Regardless of whether anything is taken from the home, burglars often get away unscathed, especially if the home lacks any sort of home security system.

 

How do thieves know where to strike, and when? In startling home burglary facts, it was reported that the majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby, and who can become familiar with the daily movements of a home, but that’s not all.

 

In a new turn of events, there have been reports of thieves using a new method of learning about a home’s layout prior to performing a break-in. This approach has made it very difficult for authorities to stop burglars from gaining valuable information about the design of a home and how to enter, and homeowners need to know about it.

 

The New Way to Target Homes

It has been reported by police that burglars are now using unmanned drones as their latest break-in tool. Drones have been a very popular tool and toy, as of late, and they are easily purchased and inexpensive. They are used for all kinds of purposes and have recently caught the eye of thieves who want to get a better look.

 

Essentially, thieves are using the drones by flying them over properties to get better visuals of the property’s layout. With some of the higher-end designs, thieves can have the visuals sent to them from the drone, and they can also record videos and take pictures.

 

This kind of information is extremely helpful for burglars, as they can use the information for a variety of things, including learning the layout of a home, learning what kinds of doors they use, seeking out security cameras or guard dogs, and even finding out whether anyone is home.

 

This new technology is becoming worrisome for authorities, as there aren’t very many rules against low-flying drones in public areas. Someone who is enjoying flying their drone in a park could just as well be using it to zoom in on a backyard across the road without detection. The drone is the newest tool in a burglar’s belt to avoid a property while still getting all of the information they need for a later date.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to around 365,500 home fires in 2015. The fires caused $7 billion in damages and injured over 11,000 people. Three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or non-working alarms, making smoke alarm maintenance an absolute priority for homeowners.

Although we never think that a fire will happen in our home, it is a very real danger. Here are four tips for maintaining your smoke alarm systems in your home or business.

Replace when needed
As a general rule, smoke alarms will need to be fully replaced every decade. Alarms older than ten years have a 30% rate of failure. The batteries in your alarms will need to be replaced yearly unless you are using long-life batteries. But keep in mind that older models are incompatible with the long-life batteries.

Since dust gathers on smoke alarms, vacuum it out annually to make sure the alarms are functioning properly. Finally, you’ll want to install both ionization and photoelectric alarms. These models will detect either fast or slow moving fires and respond accordingly.

Choose the right location
Next, it is important to install your alarms in the correct locations. Although cooking equipment in kitchens is the leading cause of fires, you don’t want to install your alarm system directly over the stove or even too close it it. Otherwise, you’ll set off the alarm every time you cook.

Instead, install the alarm outside the kitchen. Alarms should be installed in bedrooms, outside of bedrooms, in living rooms, and on each level of your house. Every alarm should be regularly checked and maintained.

Build houses up to code
Make sure your house or office meets all local, state, and federal codes for fire safety. Constructing a new building? Connect smoke alarms to the main electrical system. It’s also important to connect the smoke detectors to each other so they will sound alarms throughout the house or office if a fire is detected.

Despite stricter building codes, newer buildings can sometimes be at a greater risk for fire. Since they are more insulated, the flames burn faster and hotter than in older structures. It is important to keep your alarm systems in working condition regardless of the age of the building.

Take other fire safety precautions
Take other fire safety precautions in addition to smoke alarm maintenance to protect your home.Extinguish candles and turn off appliances like stoves or toasters. Make sure to unplug things like heaters, keep them away from curtains or other flammable materials, and never leave them unattended. Lastly, develop a fire escape plan and practice it with family members or employees. Following this plan in an emergency is critical to surviving the fire.

Lastly, installing a security system with fire control features and security cameras can help protect your home or business. A security system from Sonitrol can help protect your property from theft, break-ins, and fire. Our state-of-the-art security systems provide peace of mind and quality assurance.

Talk with an expert on our team at (843) 747-0904 or schedule a free consultation today.