Back to Blog

Setting Up Wireless Home Alarm Systems with Environmental Sensors

Search the blog
By: Editor
September 17, 2013

Setting Up Wireless Home Alarm Systems with Environmental Sensors

While summer is the time of year when homes are burglarized most often, the fall brings its own set of challenges with its falling leaves and colder temperatures. Whenever the seasons change, it’s always a good idea to check all the sensors in your home. But for the fall in particular, the environmental sensors deserve extra attention. Door/window and motion sensors remain the foundation of any home security system, but environmental sensors add a new dimension by protecting against the elements.  These sensors can detect fire, flooding, freezing and even carbon monoxide, which can ultimately protect you and your home.

Turning a Wireless Security System into a Fire Alarm Security System

While most homes already have a smoke detector, advancements in technology have created a sensor that not only detects smoke, but also heat. If there’s a rapid rise in temperature in the room, but no smoke, the sensor will still send an alarm out. When paired with a wireless home alarm system, a smoke and heat sensor can save your home from disaster.

The problem with traditional smoke detectors is that they can beep and beep forever, but if no one is around to hear, it doesn’t do any good. That’s why it’s best to have a smoke and heat sensor as part of a full security system. That way, it will send an alarm to a Monitoring Station upon detecting smoke or heat, instead of just making noise.

FrontPoint Security offers a Smoke and Heat Sensor that uses photoelectronics to detect smoke particles, while also sensing when a room gets too hot, too fast. Upon detecting either of these two conditions, the Monitoring Station is alerted and someone will try to contact you, while also dispatching the fire department to your home.

Water and Flood Monitoring

Falling leaves during autumn can cause a number of issues, the most common being clogged gutters. This minor nuisance turns into a major problem, if ignored. When it rains, blocked gutters and pipes can lead to flooding. It is highly recommended that you clean out the gutters as often as possible. No matter what your gutters look like though, a Water and Flood Sensor is a great addition to any home alarm system.

A Water and Flood Sensor alerts you about leaks or flooding as soon as they happen. The sensor comes in two pieces: the detector and the transmitter. The detector will send signal an alarm the moment it comes into contact with water, while the transmitter sends the signal to the Control Panel. There’s no need to worry about the sensor shorting out because it is a wireless two-piece sensor. The signal is instantaneous and will always get through to the Control Panel.

Freeze Prevention

In some areas of the U.S., freezing temperatures accompany the fall. With this drop in temperature comes the danger of burst pipes. Preventing your pipes from bursting is not an easy thing to do, since many of the factors (such as the location of the pipes) lie outside of a homeowner’s control. However, you can monitor those areas of your home with a Freeze Sensor so you can be alerted and ready to take action.

A Freeze Sensor can’t stop a pipe from bursting, but it can give you an early warning, which can help you take action to prevent damage from occurring. The sensor will detect when the temperature drops below 41 degrees Fahrenheit and immediately signal the security system’s Control Panel. An alert will be sent out then to both you and the Monitoring Center.

Carbon Monoxide Detection

Finally, we come to the silent killer – carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a gas that has no odor, color or taste, making it virtually undetectable. This is a big problem because in higher concentrations, it can be fatal.

During the winter, carbon monoxide becomes more of a prominent problem, as many heating devices produce this deadly gas as a byproduct. Faulty and poorly vented appliances such as furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces can produce carbon monoxide in toxic amounts.

A Carbon Monoxide Sensor detects the gas and sends an alarm. As with all the other sensors, the alarm is sent to the wireless security system, which then will alert you and the Monitoring Center. If there is no immediate response from the user saying that everything is fine, the authorities will be notified to take action. By being able to detect the gas, you can take your family out of harm’s way.

Like all other FrontPoint Security sensors, the environmental sensors shown here are 100% wireless. Being wireless means that it can’t be disrupted or interrupted, meaning that a signal will always go out when you need it. A wireless home security system is the safest way to protect your home. By adding sensors to protect against the environment, you’ll have the complete wireless home alarm system and as a result, have complete peace of mind.

Find Your Perfect System

Systems staring at $79*
Comments
Shannon
September 18, 2013
Hi Cassandra, Great article! With summer almost over and fall approaching I think it would be great for you to write an article about termites. It is termite season and just a couple of days ago our home was tented for termites. I was really upset when I was told by the termite company that our front door would need to remain OPENED with the screen door closed for the full duration of the tenting. I called FrontPoint customer service as soon as they finished putting the tent on my home and I was instantly relieved when I was told that I could still set my alarm for "away" and it would just bypass the open front door. This meant that the glass break and motion sensor as well as the remaining door sensors would still be active. I can't tell you how happy I was to be able to set my alarm. I have been reading several news articles in the past couple of months of people's homes being robbed while being tented for termites. The tent is being removed today and I can't wait to tell everyone I know that with FrontPoint I was able to sleep soundly these past couple of days knowing that my home is in good hands.
Shannon
September 18, 2013
Hi Cassandra, Great article! With summer almost over and fall approaching I think it would be great for you to write an article about termites. It is termite season and just a couple of days ago our home was tented for termites. I was really upset when I was told by the termite company that our front door would need to remain OPENED with the screen door closed for the full duration of the tenting. I called FrontPoint customer service as soon as they finished putting the tent on my home and I was instantly relieved when I was told that I could still set my alarm for "away" and it would just bypass the open front door. This meant that the glass break and motion sensor as well as the remaining door sensors would still be active. I can't tell you how happy I was to be able to set my alarm. I have been reading several news articles in the past couple of months of people's homes being robbed while being tented for termites. The tent is being removed today and I can't wait to tell everyone I know that with FrontPoint I was able to sleep soundly these past couple of days knowing that my home is in good hands.
Leave your comment
Loading...
Scroll to Top Scroll to Bottom