When buying a security system, the most important thing is to consider the practicality of the product. When buying a home security system, it is necessary to consider multiple factors such as home area, building structure characteristics, property value, and surrounding environment, etc. The following 16 tips for buying a home security system are for your reference：

1. Good reliability

The main purpose of using a home security system is to protect the personal and property safety of the family. If the reliability of the selected home security system is not strong, it often experiences false alarms or missed alarms, or is prone to system crashes or is easily broken by thieves, it will completely fail to protect the personal and property safety of the family. Therefore, when buying a home security system, we must prioritize the reliability of the system.

2. Powerful functionality, easy expansion, and high integration

A powerful, easily expandable, and highly integrated security system can not only meet current burglar alarm needs, but also meet future system expansion needs. Therefore, when buying a home security system, it is not only necessary to meet current needs, but also to consider future expansion needs appropriately.

3. Easy to install and use, affordable price

When buying a home security system, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of one’s own needs, and the product functions do not need to be too complicated. Choose rationally according to the application scope, practicality is enough, and not blindly pursue high products to avoid unnecessary waste of money. For the general public, they generally do not possess professional skills in security. Therefore, when selecting products, we should pay attention to choosing products that are easy to operate and install, to avoid encountering trouble during installation and debugging. In addition, hiring professionals to come and install the security alarm system incurs additional expenses and invisibly increases investment costs.

4. On-site alarm and telephone alarm:

• On-site alarm: When an alarm occurs, the detector transmits the alarm signal to the security alarm panel. After receiving the signal, the security alarm panel emits an audio alarm sound on site to deter thieves.
• Telephone alarm: In addition to the function of on-site alarm, the security alarm panel can also automatically dial the user’s preset phone number. After dialing, it can play the user’s prerecorded voice to explain the location of the alarm, and can monitor the sound of the crime scene through the phone. By utilizing the security alarm panel’s function, it is easy to form a network alarm system with community security or alarm monitoring centers.

We should determine the appropriate alarm method based on the environment we are in.

5. Wired and wireless communication

• Wired communication: It has the advantages of reliable communication, strong anti-interference ability, and low device cost, and is suitable for newly built buildings that can reserve connection lines in the walls. However, its mobility is poor, it is inconvenient to adapt to the changing requirements of users and products, and the maintenance and replacement of reserved connection lines are difficult and costly.
• Wireless communication: It can avoid the connection line between the detector and the security alarm panel from affecting indoor decoration, and has the advantages of flexibility and simplicity. However, it also has disadvantages such as susceptibility to various external factors and relatively high device costs.

We should determine the appropriate communication method based on the environment we are in.

6. Selection of infrared detectors

The current common method to prevent thieves from entering is to use passive infrared detectors. The initial single sensor type (using only a single thermal sensing element) is susceptible to factors such as light and temperature, which can cause false alarms. It is more susceptible to false alarms caused by small animals such as mice, cats, and dogs. This type of detector is not only prone to false alarms and can only be used in indoor environments, but also has a problem that restricts its use in homes: the defense area of this type of detector is three-dimensional rather than flat, and it cannot fully enclose the living room when the owner is active indoors.

Later on, infrared detectors gradually developed into multiple types (using multiple thermal sensing elements), as well as dual detector types (using both thermal sensing and microwave elements), or triple detector types (using both thermal sensing and microwave elements and then processed by a microcontroller) in order to reduce the incidence of false alarms.

7. Selection of panic button

Preventing robbery and seeking emergency help are achieved through panic buttons, which should also become essential equipment in home security systems. If the remote control is integrated with the panic button, attention should be paid to the ability of the panic button to prevent accidental triggering.

8. Fire prevention and gas leakage prevention are also indicators for evaluating the performance of home security systems.

9. The differentiation of alarm situations is an important indicator for evaluating the performance of home security systems. The security alarm panel with network alarm function should be able to distinguish alarm situations (such as intrusion, emergency, fire, etc.) and zones (doors, windows, rooms, etc.).

10. The reporting method of alarm situations is an important indicator for evaluating the performance of home security systems. The most primitive way of reporting is to use on-site alarm signals to warn nearby people. The more common reporting method is that the security alarm panel can automatically dial the user’s preset phone number, and after dialing, it can play the user’s prerecorded voice message explaining the location of the alarm. As a commercial residential community or community joint defense application, it is required that the security alarm panel has network alarm function.

11. When choosing home security systems, it is best to choose products that support mobile device applications, which can bring great convenience to our daily monitoring.

12. In order to ensure a beautiful and elegant home environment, wiring issues must be taken into consideration to avoid damaging the overall beauty of the home.

13. For home security, achieving 24-hour protection is key. In addition to addressing common issues such as theft, gas leaks, and water pipe bursts, home security system also needs to consider factors such as image blurring caused by insufficient nighttime lighting and inadequate monitoring. It is best to choose products with infrared function to ensure good performance in dark and harsh environments, as well as at night.

14. It is difficult to achieve true real-time monitoring, so the home security system should have built-in storage function for easy future viewing.

15. The home security system should have voice function, which can greatly improve work efficiency when seeking external help in practical applications.

16. It is best to have a linkage alarm function that can simultaneously achieve local and remote alarms, better addressing the hazards caused by unsafe factors in daily life.