I have recently received a lot of questions about the door and window contacts that are included with security systems. Many readers are wondering how on earth they work and how they should place them around their home. So, in order to reply to all of the loyal readers out there, I am now writing an article devoted solely to your questions regarding door and window contacts.
The first question that most people want answered is about how the door and window contacts work. How do they recognize the difference between an opened and closed window? First, let’s go over what a contact consists of. When a contact is installed in your home, a magnet is placed on the window frame or door frame and a metal strip on the window sill or wall area. When these two components are in contact with each other a complete circuit is formed, and the activated security system recognizes that there is no break in its layout. However, if a window or door is opened while the security system is turned on, the circuit is broken and the window or door contacts send a signal to the security system, which then sounds an alarm.
The next question I am most often asked is about the placement of door and window contacts. With most security systems, you will typically receive two door or window contacts, and sometimes even three. How can a security company only offer such a limited amount of contacts when most houses have more than one window or door. Are they just being cheap and trying to save a buck or what is really going on here? The fact of the matter comes down to how the contacts are used in your home. In general, you will want to place the contacts in specific areas of your home. Most of the front windows of your home are good enough without securing them, that is because of hopefully friendly neighbors that will help keep an eye out. You may want to focus the contacts on areas that are not directly visible by people, such as areas covered by trees or bushes or that have limited light available. Next you will want to consider your priorities, such as a child’s room, or even your bedroom or office. Some area of value of some kind would be a great place to secure!
The benefits of utilizing door and window contacts efficiently are numerous! When used correctly, they can be a valuable addition to motion detectors and cameras because they are rarely seen by intruders. They can even be used in cases where parents want to keep an eye on their kids, either trying to leave or enter the home unnoticed. It is my hope that by reading this article today, you will have gained an appreciation for those little door and window contacts, and that they will help you feel more secure in your home the next time you turn on your home security system.
