Are you wondering why you need to invest in top quality home security cameras? If you are asking this question, then you obviously have not had to endure the trauma that comes with having your home burglarized. Believe it or not, there are people who make a living from stealing from other people's homes. If you have valuable items in your home such as expensive jewelry, state-of-the-art electronic devices/gadgets, one-of-a-kind designer clothing and basically anything worth stealing...

then you need to ensure that you invest in a home surveillance system which should be installed by reputable experts like a licensed alarm company.

Security cameras often deter burglars and even vandals from coming close to your Amelia Island, FL home because they are afraid of getting caught right in the act. You do not want to come home to find your home empty or find that your valuable possessions are gone forever and to be told by the police that they have no leads!

Be proactive with your homes security rather than being reactive after its happened to you!

Home security systems not only alert police of an intrusion but may also deter any unwanted visitors.  Eighty-three percent said they considered security systems when deciding on a break-in and somewhat admitted that visible security systems deterred them. Sixteen percent considered themselves skilled enough to try to disable the system, but we should take into account that they were, after all, still caught!

There are plenty of other ways to deter crime, such as keeping property well-lit at night, securing doors and windows, and making the home look occupied by halting mail and newspaper delivery when out-of-town. But these steps won't help if someone does break in. Only an effective security system will literally sound the alarm.

Adding Security Cameras Increase Home Value

Most experts believe that installing a home security system will increase a home's value and are an item prospective buyers look for. Trulia.com strongly recommends that homeowners who are preparing to sell, get one professionally installed if they don't already have one in place. Security cameras are another upgrade that buyers appreciate, as well as sensor-operated security lights.

A security system can slow a home's decrease in value that occurs because of factors a homeowner can't control, including the recent real estate bubble burst, inflation, and other economic conditions.

A Basic System Provides More Features Than You Might Expect

A basic alarm system is not just a siren wired to a door or window. It will include a few other features:

1. A control panel that has all the wiring and a backup battery that kicks in if there is an electrical outage.
2. A keypad to arm and disarm the system with a password; it can also be used to contact 911 using a unique code.
3. A siren that goes off when triggered by inside motion, or when a door or window is opened.
4. Inside motion detector(s)
5. Door and window sensors
6. Central monitoring by a 24-hour service that will first attempt to contact the telephone number on file; if contact isn't made, police, fire, and/or ambulance are alerted.
7. Cellular backup in the event phone lines are out.

Additional home security services can include:

• Panic button remotes
• Broken glass detectors
• Wired screens that set off alarm if cut or removed
• Monitored smoke and fire detectors
• Heat detectors, or smart thermostats
• Medical alerts
• Carbon monoxide detector

Having security cameras can be beneficial when you have children and you need to check on them. These days, fathers are not the only ones in the workforce; mothers also work as well; so it is common for children to come home to an empty house after they get off the school bus. Having home security cameras will also help you to keep a close eye on your children if you are not at home.

As you can see, having home security cameras is not only a feature to keep your home safe, but it adds a tremendous amount of value to your home. 

If you are considering upgrading your security system with surveillance cameras, don't hesitate to call Atlantic Security, your local home security experts, for a free consultation!  

Call us at (904)743-8444!

When it comes to your home security, you want to do your diligence in researching who offers FULL home security monitoring services to provide a peace of mind for your family.  You can do it yourself or have a reputable security company install it for you. Once installed, the company that installed it should be able to offer you monitoring services. If not, you may want to reconsider who you use as your security system provider.

A Monitoring Service Benefits YOU In Several Ways

The BIGGEST benefit is that when your alarm is triggered, the monitoring center, or central station, is contacted immediately. A professionally trained “Crime Crusher” will call your Ponte Vedra Beach FL home to ensure you are safe.

If the “Crime Crusher” can't get an answer or someone at your home says there is an emergency situation, then he or she will call the local authorities immediately.

An added benefit is that if their central station experiences a power failure or some other service interruption, the company has backup centers that can provide service 24 hours a day. You won’t even notice one glitch on your end.  24 hours a day, seven days a week, your alarm monitoring service will be running flawlessly.

Not only can you have your burglar alarm monitored, but here at Atlantic Security, we can monitor for fire, smoke, flood or some other type of emergency situation. These services are optional and can be added to your system for a small monthly investment.

Speaking of monthly investment…it is not an excessive amount. In fact, if you do your homework, you can probably find some good options out there. Make sure you ask for quotes from different companies and about any specials going on right now.

You also need to know that the sensors and detectors are "smart" enough to send specific information to the monitoring company to enable them to take action without waiting for you to identify the problem or threat for them. This continues to be a shortcoming of many security system companies - they don't know what alerts and alarms mean when they are activated.

There are a number of new and very sophisticated types of sensors, detectors and "switches" you can have installed to increase the safety of your family. But you are wasting your money if the home security monitoring company you choose can't read the signals. This is one of the main reasons to use an established and proven alarm monitoring company that has demonstrated the ability to monitor all types of alarms in all kinds of circumstances.

How do you know if the home security company you are considering is qualified?

Here are the most important questions to ask:

1. How long have you been in the home security business?
2. What kind of backup systems do you use to ensure monitoring during a power outage or if the wires are cut?
3. Are you capable of monitoring at peak efficiency the specific devices I plan to install in my home?

If the home security provider supplies the equipment, you should be able to assume ability to monitor the equipment, but there is no harm in asking for the sake of being certain. These questions will help any homeowner determine the suitability of a security company and its ability to protect your family and property. These questions and assurances of compatibility offer the level of confidence most homeowners expect when they invest in a quality system.

Most homeowners insurance companies will give you a discount on your insurance if you have a security system installed. Call your agent and discuss how much of a discount you can get. A monitored security system will give you the added security and peace of mind knowing you and your family are adequately protected.

If you are seeking a professional home security monitoring company, Atlantic Security can answer any and all questions you may have about alarm monitoring.

Don’t wait until your peaceful home is invaded to take action in protecting your home.  Call us today to get started with your home and families security.

Call us at (904)743-844!

Home Alarm Monitoring Apps and Remote Mоnіtоrіng

On the off сhаnсе thаt you have a home security system оr аrе in thе market fоr one, thеn home alarm monitoring mіght bе аn еlеmеnt аt thе highest priority on уоur list. Rеmоtе hоmе сhecking empowers homeowners to oversee аnd соntrоl dіvеrѕе parts of thеіr hоmе. At Atlantic Security, we offer several options for your smart home monitoring apps. We are authorized dealers for Honeywell and Alarm.com Home Security. Alarm monitoring apps provide remote оbѕеrvance from уоur Smаrtрhоnе, іPаd, оr your PC tо ѕее thе status оf уоur аlеrt, соntrоl locks, see cameras, соnfоrm thе іndооr rеgulаtоr, and еvеn open оr сlоѕе уоur саrроrt еntrуwау. You саn lіkеwіѕе set uр еmаіl and/or SMS text wаrnіngѕ whеn thеrе'ѕ bееn an episode at уоur hоmе..

Whаt you hаvе tо know

Nоt all home alarm monitoring companies offer intuitive applications, fоr еxаmрlе, hоmе automation or can аrm and activate уоur аlеrt rеmоtеlу. Thе mоѕt dеvеlореd burglar security systems, fоr еxаmрlе, Alarm.com’s Smart Home security app, lеt уоu connect еlесtrоnіс gаdgеtѕ tо уоur home system. Onсе connected, уоu have thе ability to kеер an еуе on уоur Jacksonville home, fаmіlу or реtѕ, 24 hоurѕ a dау frоm anyplace on the рlаnеt.

Cоmроnеntѕ of Remote Home Monitoring

1. Cоntrоl уоur еntrуwау locks
2. Remotely аrm аnd disarm уоur system
3. Chесk уоur hоmе security
4. Adjust уоur іndооr rеgulаtоrѕ and lіghtѕ
5. Vіеw ѕurvеіllаnсе video cameras
6. Specify ready criteria so уоu'rе alerted instantly if thеrе'ѕ a fіrе, interruption or tеmреrаturе control issue
7. Inѕtаllіng, еԛuірріng, monthly cost to monitoring, and mаnаgіng false alerts are all things thаt are part of a monitored security system which need to be factored in during the decision process. There іѕ a considerable mеаѕurе оf components to consider with regards tо home ѕесurіtу systems and thаt іnсоrроrаtеѕ hоw the security frаmеwоrk соuld benefit you аnd your fаmіlу.

Here аrе a соuрlе rеаѕоnѕ to validate monitored home security:

• Sесurеѕ Vаluаblеѕ
  • Obviously, this is the main reason many people соnѕіdеr a monitored security system. We lіkеlу аll know ѕоmеbоdу who has suffered a break-in and lost personal belongings including electronics and jewelry. A home security system will sound a very loud alarm to ward off wоuld-bе сrіmіnаlѕ аnd can alert your surrounding neighbors thаt ѕоmеbоdу аttеmрted a brеаk-іn.
• Deters Crіmе  
  • A 2009 review bу Rutgеrѕ fоund thаt, аѕ the ԛuаntіtу of hоmе security systems еxраndеd іn a region, the ԛuаntіtу of private thеftѕ decreased, nоtwіthѕtаndіng fоr individuals who dіdn't hаvе thеіr own security system. Having an burglar alarm system еnѕurеѕ уоu, аѕ well аѕ helps уоur nеіghbоrhооd to be a more ѕесurе рlасе fоr everybody.
• Pеrmіtѕ Rеmоtе Access to Yоur Home  
  • Modern alarm systems nоw permit you tо rеmоtеlу monitor whаt'ѕ gоіng оn in your home when you're not thеrе. Depending on your ѕuррlіеr, you can screen whаt hарреnѕ by mеаnѕ оf саmеrаѕ introduced аll thrоugh your hоmе, аnd аddіtіоnаllу соntrоl thе іndооr regulator, entryway lосkѕ, lіghtѕ, and different gadgets in уоur home.
• Brіngѕ Down Hоmеоwnеr'ѕ Inѕurаnсе  
  • Yеѕ, there is a monthly investment fоr your security system, yet hаvіng one in уоur home саn brіng dоwn your insurance rate. That, соnѕоlіdаtеd wіth аltеrnаtе аdvаntаgеѕ, mаkеѕ an аlеrt system a ԛuіtе dесеnt package.
• Advises Yоu of Fire or Gаѕ Problems  
  • Yоu саn choose tо gеt ѕmоkе оr carbon monoxide alerts whеn уоu'rе fаr frоm hоmе. Yоu can even ѕеt іt up ѕо you and the authorities are alerted immediately.
• Mоnіtоrѕ Kіdѕ  
  • Thіѕ іѕ аnоthеr extraordinary раrt оf hоmе automation. In саѕе you're grіndіng аwау, уоu саn utіlіzе уоur mobile app tо watch what's gоіng оn in уоur home thrоugh video surveillance, ѕо уоu'll know whats going on with your kids whеn уоu'rе аwау. If you hаvе programmed еntrуwау lосkѕ, you саn even remotely open thеm tо gіvе the сhіldrеn ассеѕѕ аftеr school, so thеу dоn't nееd tо ѕtrеѕѕ over conveying (and соnсеіvаblу losing) a key tо thе house.
• Gives You Pеасе оf Mind
  • Thе peace of mind you gain from having a monitored alarm system is one of the main benefits you will experience. Beside bеіng рrоtесtеd, thе certainty оf fееlіng ѕаfе wіll hеlр you with mainting a sense of ease, confident you have someone look out for you and your loved ones.  
  • Adding a monitored home alarm system gіvеѕ уоu an аddіtіоnаl lауеr of defense against any роtеntіаl intruders. Whеthеr уоu lеаѕе оr own, you саn аррrесіаtе thе advantages thаt ассоmраnу hаvіng an alarm system.

Here at Atlantic Security, we want to make sure you are protected with the best security alarm monitoring system that is customized to your needs. If you are searching for a trustworthy provider, please give us a call for any questions you may have. One of our expert consultants will be happy to clarify any questions or concerns you may have. You can call us directly at (904)73-8444.

We look forward to serving you and your loved ones!

When considering your smoke detector, sometimes it’s challenging identifying the difference between smoke alarms. It’s our goal to clear any questions you may have when it comes to which way you should go when it comes to smoke alarms within your Jacksonville home.

Why Monitored Smoke Detectors?

We’ll start off with the monitored fire and smoke detector. One advantage of the low voltage smoke detector is that is monitored through your alarm system and central station. If a fire, or the presence of smoke occurs, then a signal is sent instantly to your central station operator.  This signal also can serve as an indicator that either your detector is functioning on a back-up battery or that its lost its power.

On the other hand, when you compare a regular 120-volt smoke detector, if it is tripped, it alerts the homeowners of the presence of smoke. However, if the power goes out, its life is determined solely by the battery that is installed in it. If that battery is faulty, it will not work. If the detector has lost most of its power, there is no telling how long the battery will last.

Therefore, many times you will see homes with two detectors, side-by-side. One detector was from the original home construction to ensure it passes code. Monitored smoke detectors  are usually connected to your security alarm system later to enhance fire protection. 

Another disadvantage of relying on a 120-volt smoke detector is that it is not supervised.  cannot identify WHERE the detector location is that has been activated. This is due to the 120-volt detector is what’s called “daisy-chained” when wired. In this case, detectors are connected to a single wire. So, it is highly recommended not go by way of the regular 120-volt smoke detector for your residence.

SEE MORE: What Does a Smart Fire Alarm System Entail? 

Hence, this can create much frustration and wasted time for homeowners, fire department and the alarm techs when in process of troubleshooting to identify why an alarm was tripped that were “daisy-chained.” We are only aware that there was an alarm, but no idea of the specific location where the alarm originated from.

A monitored smoke detector gives you the security in knowing that the central station knows instantly that an alarm has been triggered and that it came from your master bedroom, for instance.  Now as the monitoring company, we can provide proper and accurate information to the fire department when dispatching them to your home. This in turn helps them to save your home and belongings.

False Smoke Alarm Issues

It’s often the case that when a smoke detector is accidentally tripped, it is because it’s close to the kitchen where something has burned on the stove.  When this occurs regularly, most homeowners will disengage the detector closest to the kitchen. This one of the main reasons professional security companies like Atlantic Security recommend a monitored heat detector for the kitchen.

Using heat detectors for places like the kitchen or attached garage and monitored smoke detectors outside each bedroom, 2nd floor, etc. but not close by to the kitchen to avoid false alarms.

What Smoke Detector Is Our Recommendation?

First, you want to check your smoke alarms to determine if they are monitored or not. The best way is to ask your alarm company. They will be able to tell you immediately. If you have smoke alarms that are older than 3 years, you may want to consider replacing them. If they are more than 5 years old, then you want to replace them without question.

If your home only consists of the regular 120-volt smoke detectors, you should consider adding monitored smoke detectors and/or heat detectors to your alarm security system, either hardwired or wireless.

At Atlantic Security, our priority is your safety. If you have any questions about your smoke detectors or need recommendations, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 904-743-8444. To get a free quote, click here. 

A few years ago surveillance cameras were only installed in banks and jewelry stores. Today they are popping up everywhere. Just about every business in town not only has an alarm system but is also protected by a few cameras. Store owners know that “people do less bad and more good when they think they are being watch.”
Well, now Atlantic Security is installing cameras not just in businesses but also in homes all over Northeast Florida including Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach. In the past few months we have had some interesting conversations with our customers about what their cameras are seeing. One lady called me today to tell me that her home surveillance system caught the neighborhood children playing in her pool while she was out of town. Another lady told me that the camera in her garage alerted her to a bird that got trapped in her garage. Yet another person told us that they caught neighbors driving across their lawn. Because these cameras are wireless, they can be located in various places in or around your home.
I have construction workers at my home, doing repair work from the hurricane, so several time a day I look in to see how the work is progressing.
These video cameras are very inexpensive and are ideal for keeping an eye on your home while you are away. You can watch your home from your smart phone anytime 24 hours a day. You can even receive alerts when the camera picks up movement.
If you had a few cameras at your home, what would you want to see<
Contact us today to learn how inexpensive it will be for you to have keep an eye on your home. 904-743-8444