Blog

It is a commonly known fact that robbers are less likely to break into homes that have security systems, especially when the homeowners uses signage to show their home is protected by one. It is also known that less is stolen in home intrusions where a home security alarm sounds, scaring off the robbers.

With these facts in mind, many homeowners are installing home security systems, which makes perfect sense. However, when it comes to home monitoring, taking the DIY route can put you and your family at risk.

Today, you can walk into just about any hardware store or big box store, and find a at least one type of DIY home security system. Though you may fancy yourself a “handyman,” home security installation is much more than simply hooking up the technology.

Equipment Placement
Security professionals have been trained to understand an intruder’s mindset, giving them the knowledge and know how to survey your home for optimal sensor and camera placement. With DIY home security, this process is often a guessing game—a dangerous one at that. Improperly placed equipment can not only leave gaps in your security it can also lead to an increase in false alarms. For example, a temperature change of glass, pets, small children and other triggers can prompt false motion detector alarms. Professional design support ensures that no detail is overlooked and systems are reliable.

Compromised Monitoring
The cornerstone of any security system is its monitoring capabilities. Professional security companies partner with sophisticated 24/7 monitoring companies to provide their customers with uncompromised peace-of-mind. Many DIY kit resellers neglect this very core necessity in their offerings. Without professional monitoring, you’re left to notify emergency personnel yourself when a problem arises putting you and others at high-risk in situations when every second counts.

Security System Maintenance
Proper maintenance is key to the longevity and effectiveness of any home security system. With a DIY system, you have no business partner to notify you when your equipment needs to be upgraded or maintained, and you have no one to contact if something needs repairing.

Professional security companies are always there to help you. As part of your service contract you can rely on them to:
• Ensure that transmitted signals are being received by the monitoring center
• Perform controlled tests on panic buttons
• Repair damaged or malfunctioning parts of the system
• Notify you of upgrades to the system

DIY Smart Intruders
Home security alarms used to be few and far between, so their inner workings were mysterious to the average person. Because these systems are easy to access for homeowners, it means they are also easy to access for intruders. With DIY home alarms crowding the home security market, these alarms no longer hold that mystery and many robbers are becoming very good at disabling the average DIY alarm.

DIY home security systems may appear to be cost efficient at first view but they are not cost effective in the long run. Taking the right steps to secure your home and family will not only bring you peace-of-mind but savings in costs and headaches down the road.

At Tasco Security, we have a wide variety of products to meet our customers' needs. When you choose Tasco Security, you are choosing a company that will work with you to determine the best security system options for your budget and your lifestyle. We tailor each system we install to the individual customer. Our experienced team has all the training necessary to determine which products and system installment is best for the layout of your home and we are happy to assist not only through the installation process, but also during your entire experience as our customer.

A home security system seems pretty straightforward. A systems main purpose is designed to protect the home and its inhabitants and to deter any possible intruders. These days, many home security systems have extra add-ons available, helping homeowners become more creative with how they keep their home secure. Here are a couple ways a homeowner can get creative with how they protect their home and their family:

• Receive Regular Text Updates. A security system today may have an option enabled to let homeowners know exactly what is happening in their house at any given time by sending regular text updates. Perhaps a homeowner wants to know if their front or back door is opened during the day while they're at work. All they have to do is set up a notification from their security system to send to their phone.
• Monitor the Home Remotely. Many of today's security systems are so high tech that many allow remote monitoring of a home. That is, security cameras may beam an image or video from the home to a cellphone, tablet, or computer anywhere in the world. A homeowner simply has to access their security system with their username and password to begin viewing either the interior or exterior or their home.
• Install Text Notification for Latchkey Kids. It's highly recommended that a new homeowner install a security system in their home, and having extra add ons may also be helpful for maintaining further security and peace of mind. Security systems that include an option for alerting homeowners whenever someone, like their child or relative, enters the home can provide a sense of security for them and their family. When someone gets home, like a child getting home from school, they simply have to disarm the alarm with the security code. A text is sent to parents telling them that their child has gotten inside safely.

These two ways certainly enhance the variety one has access to when it comes to keeping their home secure. While there are even more ways a homeowner can use their security system, many vary based on the security system they choose for their home. Homeowners should ask their security system company which systems offer the greater flexibility in functionality and options in order to discover additional creative ways to protect their residence.

SOURCES:

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/61008/home_security/get_creative_with_your_home_security_system.html

http://roberterich.hubpages.com/hub/The-Best-Creative-Security-Systems-for-a-House

Every year in the first week of January, the consumer electronics industry is abuzz with excitement over the CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show. Hundreds of companies from all over the world come to show off their products that will be coming to market in 2015. Batteries, memory chips, and computer programs are just a few of the items displayed this year. Older products have gotten a reboot for 2015, reflecting the ever changing state of electronics.

Here are some of the highlights from the CES show of 2015:

• POV Cameras. A point of view camera is a fun gadget that is useful for practically everyone--from surfers to home owners--wishing to amp their home security. Many POV cameras were displayed at the CES show this year, with the Sony 4K Action Cam being one of the most popular varieties. This camera attempts to mitigate motor vibration, doing a good job at it, too.
• Drones. A variety of commercial and consumer drones were shown at the 2015 CES, with the Bionic Bird being the most intriguing variety. It looks like an electronic toy bird, except that it is controlled via smartphone in connection with its Bluetooth radio.
• Kitchen Gadgets. One of the most popular kitchen appliance shown at the CES 2015 show as the Samsung Flex Duo Dual Door Oven. This interesting appliance allows two separate meals to be cooked or baked in the same oven at two different temperatures. Does a neighbor need to borrow the oven while your cooking dinner? No problem. Do you need to bake a pie at the same time your cooking a casserole at an entirely different temperature? Also, various gadgets were shown, ranging from new high-speed blenders to electronic measuring spoons.
• Home Security Devices. New sleek home security devices, such as cameras, made their way into the CES 2015 convention. One camera that streams HD video straight to your smartphone has facial recognition software, allowing you to know when certain people (whom you program) have entered the home at any point in time. This can be helpful when knowing when your kids have returned home for school.

Contact us to learn more about the new innovations in home security and monitoring and check out our Facebook page!

Have you ever watched the TV show "Punk'd"? The show features celebrities who become the victims of harmless pranks, while being secretly videotaped. While hidden cameras may provide us with a source of entertainment they also play a very important role in enhancing security capabilities of both the workplace and our homes. We see the results every day on the news.

Law enforcement effectively used surveillance videos to identify the persons responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing out of the tens of thousands of people near the race's finish line. In addition to providing security in the workplace, surveillance cameras can be an effective tool at home as well.

Having a surveillance camera in a home can provide peace of mind to the homeowner for a variety of reasons. With the capability to get live feeds from these cameras via the Internet a person who is stuck at work can monitor their kids at home by using those security cameras. The peace of mind that they can provide in letting you know that you child is safe and sound at home is invaluable.

More importantly, the major benefit of having a home surveillance system is the event history it provides. In the unlikely event that a criminal attempts to, or successfully, breaks into your home the stored video footage can be used to help identify the perpetrator to law enforcement officials. This information could be the difference in their ability to quickly recover, and return, any stolen items to you.

The advantages of having such a system in your home or business are certainly obvious. If you would like to learn more about them, visit us at http://www.tascosecurity.com

Just in the past few months, we all have heard various accounts of young children suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. In Massachusetts, three separate cases left young children in the Boston area dead after preventable situations occurred. During a snowstorm, each case involved running the car to warm up, while not fully plowed out, leaving the exhaust valve blocked. Things that seem so simple can turn into something so heart wrenching and devastating.

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is considered to be the most common type of fatal air poisoning throughout the world. Carbon monoxide is virtually impossible to detect without the assistance of a monitor, so making sure that your household has at least one carbon monoxide detector is vitally important. If you are running the detector on batteries, make sure that you are replacing them every few months. Be sure to run monthly tests to make sure that the detectors are running properly, letting out the necessary audible tone. Similar to smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors should be an obvious addition to any home.

For more information on how you can improve your home's carbon monoxide detection system, visit us at TascoSecurity.com.

Even though we are hopeful that winter is almost behind us, there will still be plenty of chilly nights requiring the use of our furnaces, room heaters, and fireplaces.

Carbon monoxide, or CO, known as the “Invisible Killer”, is odorless and invisible. Burning fuel such as wood, gas, kerosene, charcoal, and oil will naturally produce carbon monoxide. When heating appliances are kept well-ventilated and maintained, the level of carbon monoxide produced will not be dangerous. However, if they are not operating correctly, they can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, which can kill an entire family while they sleep and even while they are awake.

The following appliances produce some level of CO:

• Charcoal burners
• Cooking/kitchen ranges
• Engines (ex. Generators or Cars running idling a garage to warm up)
• Fireplaces
• Furnaces
• Portable generators
• Room heaters
• Water heaters
• Wood burning stoves

According to the Center for Disease Control, “CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it.”

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include confusion, dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Even low levels of carbon monoxide can lead to symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath, and nausea. Carbon monoxide alarms are more common in the early evening hours, peaking around 8:00 p.m.

In addition to annual inspections and carefully maintaining your appliances, carbon monoxide detectors are highly recommended for both home and office safety. Tasco Security can install CO detection devices and monitor your home and office, notifying you of a poisonous buildup before it becomes a threat, whether you’re on the premises or not.

Tasco Security custom designs every security system to fit the individual customers’ concerns and needs, including monitoring for fire, burglary, low temperature, generator failure, boiler failure, CO detection, and more.

Contact Tasco today at 800-546-5552 to schedule a free security assessment for your home or business.

Tasco Security has been providing peace of mind security solutions to the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont for over 49 years

Your business is an extension of you; you've spent nights there, you think about it at all times, and it is crucial for you to protect it and everything inside, here are some trends in alarm system technology that will allow you to do just that!

Going Wireless

Your phone is wireless, your cable is wireless, why not your security system? From the cameras themselves to the devices used to control them, wireless technology is definitely a top trend in today's alarm systems.

In With the New - Screens

Do you like the convenience and user-friendliness of the touch screens of your electronic devices? The alarm system in your business can have one too! And you will be surprised and pleased to hear that the price today nearly matches older analog keypads!

Smartphone and Computer Access

Thanks to digital IP security cameras with cloud recording capabilities, you can access footage from any web-enabled device, so you can check on your business from just about anywhere - and you know you'll want to!

Automation

Not only does alarm system automation let you keep an eye on things from across town or across the world, you can also remotely set or disable the alarm and even change the thermostat temperature! Automation can also allow you to receive your business security status by email and text alerts!

Energy Efficiency

Allowing you to keep track of energy consumption can ultimately save you money, but also who isn't looking to go green in every aspect of their lives, now you can with security too!

A safe room, while still not incredibly commonplace, is becoming a popular home addition to homes around the world. This room is meant to keep individuals of a household safe in the case of intruders, sealing them off from any contact with outside individuals. Some safe rooms are beginning to use advanced technology to enhance the effectiveness of a safe room, often implementing the use of camera monitoring, secret passageways, and electromagnetic locks.

Here are just a few of the high-tech safety measures many people are beginning to implement in their own homes:

Fog machines to ward off intruders: The initiation of synthetic fog in the home is just one of the many new additions to upgraded security systems. When the system notices an intruder, the fog is released in the home to help confuse and ward off the danger.

Wine cellar that doubles up as an underground bunker: In some high-end homes, safe rooms often perform double duty to maximize space and efficiency. An underground safe room that doubles up as a wine cellar and food storage area is also becoming quite popular among some home owners.

iPads installed on walls that enable monitoring and control of key access points: Some homes with high-scale security will have iPads installed on walls that are hooked up to camera systems. These cameras monitor key access points in the home, and each iPad can control locks, lights, and security alarms throughout the home.

Electromagnetic locks on panic rooms: Panic rooms that need additional security are becoming increasingly structured with the use of electromagnetic locks. Users do not have to worry about the quality of the lock or locking the doors behind them, because these locks are incredibly sturdy and can't be opened with a traditional key or manipulation methods.

Secret Passageways. Many homes are becoming more like their sci-fi counterparts typically seen on television, with many calling on the use of secret passageways for extra protection. While some homeowners use these to add an element of fun into their home, many also use it for its ingenious safety factor.

What are your thoughts on the power of technology and its future role in protecting homes? Let us know on our Facebook page! Feel free to also share with us your thoughts in the comments.

SOURCES:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2013/11/27/billionaire-bunkers-beyond-the-panic-room-home-security-goes-sci-fi/

http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/panic-room1.htm

Most burglaries are quick and fairly simple in approach and execution. Intruders don't often search a home extensively to find hidden jewels or expensive items and usually take what they can see as soon as they enter. That being said, it is imperative, regardless of security level, that valuable items be placed out of sight when away at work, school, or on vacation. Finding hiding places is essential for ensuring the safety of your items, not to mention your entire home.

You may not own a safe or have a hidden passageway for your valuables; however, there are some areas that any homeowner can utilize for storing their most valuable possessions. Here are a few ideas:

• Containers in the Kitchen. Having containers in the kitchen cabinet that are labeled with words like "Flour" or "Sugar" can be an ingenious way of hiding your possessions out of sight. An intruder is unlikely to investigate the kitchen cabinets or pantry and is even less likely to look into containers with labels that suggest meaningless, mundane materials.
• A False Wall Socket. Some companies online sell false wall sockets that double up as a hiding place for small, valuable objects. Necklaces, coins, and other similar small materials can be hidden with relative ease. It may be wise to place a large houseplant or furniture near the socket just in case to slightly obscure or detract from its presence.
• Wrapped in Aluminum Foil in the Freezer. Paper money can be wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in the back of the freezer for safe keeping. This can be helpful in some cases if there is a fire. Intruders are unlikely to look in the freezer for valuables, and many would think twice before opening up wrapped "food" products.
• Hollowed Books. If you own a library, it may be wise to evenly disperse a couple of hollowed-out books to throw off potential snoopers. These books can hold an assortment of small objects, and most look and feel like real books.

What other security hacks do you implement in your home? Share your ideas with our readers on Facebook!

SOURCES:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/8-secret-spots-to-hide-valuables-at-home-190982

Z-Wave devices allow complete and seamless interaction among your home electronics, low powered radio waves that travel without hindrance through objects and space. According to Z-Wave Alliance, the technology is "a next-generation wireless ecosystem that lets all your home electronics talk to each other, and to you, via remote control. [It] unifies all your home electronics into an integrated wireless network, with no complicated programming and no new cables to run."

The benefits of this technology as detailed by Rob Callahan, are numerous and multi-faceted. Z-Wave devices include:

• Wireless Technology: According to Z-Wave.com, the wireless technology of "Z-Wave...makes regular household products, like lights, door locks and thermostats 'smart.'" The products, when connected with Z-Wave, can communicate wirelessly, all being controlled by a phone, tablet or pc. Currently there are nearly 1000 different Z-Wave products that all work together so you can choose the products that are right for your home." If you're home, out running errands, or on vacation, Z-Wave technology gives you the same amount of control over the devices in your home.
• Compatibility and Availability: As discussed by Callahan, the "relatively low power consumption of Z-Wave technology" can let it be incorporated into devices which could not have supported wireless communication previously. At present, there are almost 1000 different Z-Wave products which work together to be used to their best advantage in your home. These include the "iBridge Connected Home Suite [which] centers around one cost-effective Z-Remote Module and choice of consumer interface, the iBridge App; optional iBridge Wi-Fi Touchscreen/Tablet; or online PC." The technology allows services to be provided by smaller dealers, including "security, energy management and/or home automation."
• Energy Conservation: Z-Wave technology can help you to conserve energy in multiple ways, including thermostat control corresponding to daylight sensors, and lights and appliances turned off and on at a set schedule.

Z-Wave technology allows home technology to become automated and accessible remotely, conserve energy, and expand connection over time. The benefits of Z-Wave are readily apparent and will only continue to develop as the technology becomes more widely used and incorporated into daily life.

SOURCES:
http://www.z-wavealliance.org/with-its-ibridge-line-of-interactive-remote-services--napco-joins-the-z-wave-alliance
http://www.esxweb.com/page.cfm/action=library/libID=10/libEntryID=219/listID=1
http://www.z-wave.com/what_is_z-wave
http://www.ehow.com/about_6638798_benefits-z_wave-technology.html