Criminals these days are smart—they know various techniques to break into a house. They’re so clever that they cause around an average of $2,000 in property loss per incident.
Of course, you don’t want to lose your hard-earned properties to the bad guys. The best way to outsmart burglars? Equip your home with a reliable security system such as a Honeywell alarm system that provides 24/7 protection against burglaries. The presence of a home security system is enough to deter 60% of burglars, according to a University of North Carolina report.
Adding a protective layer to your home security system are alarm devices such as glass break detectors and motion sensors. While they both work to secure your home against burglars, these two devices have different functions.
How do glass break detectors and motion sensors work?
Honeywell FG1625F Glassbreak Detector
Photo courtesy of Alarm System Store
A glass break detector is a sound-activated alarm that alerts you when a glass shatters after a burglar has tried to come through your door or window.
As soon as the intruder breaks your door or window, the frequency picked up by the device’s audio microphone from the shattering sound is processed first to ensure that the glass has indeed been broken. When the detector confirms the breaking of glass, it sends a signal to your alarm system’s control panel, triggering an alarm.
Honeywell DT8035 Dual Technology Pet Immune Motion Sensor
Photo courtesy of Alarm System Store
If the glass break detector detects sound of a breaking glass, a motion sensor detects movements. The motion sensor activates the alarm the moment a burglar walks into your room. When the intruder trips the sensor, it sends a signal to the control panel of your alarm system to alert you of the security threat in your home.
What are the benefits of using these home alarm devices?
Glass break detectors and motion sensors are small and compact, making them almost invisible to intruders. They’re easy to install and use as well.
Because burglars often enter a home by breaking the doors and windows instead of just opening them, glass break detectors are ideal for protecting homes with a lot of glass components like large windows, patio doors, sliding doors, and doors with glass panes.
Aside from letting you know of a burglar attack, motion sensors also help you ensure the safety of children and pets in your home by alerting you when they access hazardous areas, such as the medicine cabinet and the basement.
How much do glass break detectors and motion sensors cost?
Glass break detectors are cost-effective. With prices ranging from $14 to $45, one glass break detector can cover all your windows within its range. Motion sensors are just as affordable, costing anywhere from $15 to $87 (for dual-tech models).
Considering the price range of both home security devices, it isn’t a matter of cost. Both devices are budget-friendly and extremely useful in protecting your home.
Why use both?
For your home security system, it is better to have both glass break detectors and motion sensors than just use one of them because they fill each other’s safety gaps. Motion sensors, for example, do not trigger an alarm when the alarm is armed in stay mode so that you don’t get false alarms from moving around the house. Thus, glass break detector can be used to detect a burglar entering through a window by shattering the glass.
Glass break detectors and motion sensors also boost the protection from your existing window and door sensors. If your home is equipped with just window and door sensors, a burglar can simply break your window and enter your home undetected. Some burglars may even make a hole in your roof and break in through the attic.
If glass break detectors are used for perimeter protection, motion sensors are useful for interior protection. Install them both in your home to have complete protection against intruders whether you’re at home or not.
What features to look for when buying a glass break detector and a motion sensor?
1. Easy to set up, use, and upgrade
If your sensors are easy to install and operate, you can enjoy their safety features right away. Look also for models that are easily upgradable should you want to update your sensors in the future.
2. Wide audible/coverage range
You’ll want your sensors to cover an area as wide as possible for better home security. Go with sensors that cover wide ranges and can be adjusted, like the Honeywell FG1625F and FG1625RFM models with a 25-feet maximum range.
3. Dual-technology
When buying a glass break detector, look for ones that can detect both low and high frequencies. If a sensor can hear the sound of something hitting the glass and the sound of shattering glass, this reduces the chance of false alarms and improves the chance of detecting a break-in.
As for motion sensors, some models combine several features to reduce false alarms such as body heat detection, vibration detection, and microwave sensor.
Glass break sensors and motion sensors with dual-technology tend to cost a bit higher, but the added expense will be worth it to boost your home security system.
4. Black bug guard
False alarm can be a hassle—imagine waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of your alarm when the sensor has detected a bug instead of a burglar. Honeywell motion sensors, for instance, feature a black bug guard that keeps insects from getting into the sensor and causing false alarms.
In a nutshell, having both a glass break detector and a motion sensor in your home is a smart investment. You don’t have to choose between the two sensors because with their low prices, you can easily afford to buy both.
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