| When most people think of monitoring their home | | | | you out of bed in the middle of the night but you |
| security system they think primarily about its ability | | | | would want to know if there is too much carbon |
| to alert the police of a break-in. What they aren't | | | | monoxide in your home. |
| aware of is the lesser know capabilities of the | | | | For those who are aware of the full capabilities of an |
| modern alarm system, which is environmental | | | | alarm system it may come down to the cost issue |
| monitoring | | | | whether or not to add extra equipment. Although |
| For example: you can monitor the amount of carbon | | | | cost is a valid concern one should also consider all the |
| monoxide that is present in your home. Smoke | | | | risks involved. |
| Detectors, water level sensors and low temperature | | | | A break-in takes a human and a conscience decision |
| devicescan also be monitored by home security | | | | to target a particular house. Where as fires and other |
| systems. Although monitoring of these devices is | | | | acts of nature are not so discriminating. Think about |
| becoming more popular it will be some time before it | | | | all of the things that run on electric in a home. Any |
| becomes a regular feature of every system. | | | | one of them has the potential for starting a fire. |
| News accounts have helped push the awareness of | | | | Don't get me wrong; I'm not talking about |
| these capabilities. Every time there focus is placed on | | | | spontaneous combustion but normal wear and tear |
| the effects of radon gas or other dangers such as | | | | to the electrical cords etc. A fire or a flooding |
| fires in the home there is an increase demand for this | | | | basement can damage an entire house costing many |
| type of monitoring. | | | | thousands of dollars. A break-in on the other hand is |
| Unfortunately it takes a tragedy to motivate most | | | | less likely to reach the same level of damage |
| people to take action. Adding environmental | | | | When put into this perspective it's not as hard to |
| monitoring devices to a new security system or | | | | justify the cost of the equipment versus the |
| existing ones is relatively simple. Once installed, the | | | | potential risk you can avoid. Check with your |
| alarm system is programmed to make an audible | | | | insurance agent to see what discounts they give for |
| sound or silent alarm depending on what type of | | | | monitoring your home security system. |
| device is being monitored. | | | | The author has more than 15 years experience in the |
| If you have a low temperature sensor to prevent | | | | home security industry. |
| freezing pipes you wouldn't want the siren blasting | | | | |