Carbon Monoxide Safety

Carbon monoxide (CO) is called the invisible killer because the gas cannot be seen or smelled.  Carbon monoxide gas can enter the air from a number of flame fueled devices like ovens, ranges, clothes dryers, furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces and grills.  If you have any of these items in your home, it is a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors.

Symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide include dull headache, weakness, dizziness, and nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision and loss of consciousness.  If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical attention.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning make sure all vents for dryers, stove, furnace and fireplaces are clean and clear.  Have heating equipment and fireplaces professionally inspected and cleaned every year.  Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.  Do not leave a car running in the garage.  Use grills and generators outside only.

Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home.  They should be placed at least five feet from the floor or on the ceiling.  They should be placed outside sleeping areas.  These need to be tested monthly.

Monitored CO alarms can save lives.  These can be added to your current alarm system.  The detector will sound the alarm and the central station will call you and ask you to leave the premise immediately and send emergency help right away.  For more information call Central Monitoring Services 229-431-0800.

Help, Safety and Peace of mind are just a call away…

Life Sentry – A Personal Emergency Response System

Living independently is the desire of most individuals.  However there are times when living alone can mean there is nobody to assist you during an emergency.  LifeSentry offers the ability to summon assistance at any time with a simple push of a button.

This two way voice communicator plugs into any standard telephone jack.  Four pendants can be programmed to one base unit.  The coverage is up to 600 feet line of sight.  The pendant is water resistant.  Two rechargeable batteries are included which can power the unit up to 24 hours in a power outage.  Built in line seizure allows for the telephone line to be seized during an emergency.  As an added bonus to this device, the pendant can answer incoming calls to the home phone.

Our central station monitors the unit 24/7 ready to assist you anytime you push the button.  Your contact information is on file.  Central Monitoring Services can provide you with this peace of mind, knowing you can call for help at the push of a button.  Call us at 229-431-0800 for a consultation or stop by our office at 522 Pine Ave, Albany, GA for a demonstration.

Do I Need Glass Break Sensors?

Your home and your business are important investments. Therefore, it is in your best interests to protect them using the most advanced security methods available. Home security services offer a wide variety of ways to detect break-ins at your home or business, and glass break sensors are among the most valuable tools today.

How glass break sensors work

Glass break sensors are specially designed to notice and respond to the exact frequency that is created when glass is broken. Any time a security system is armed, these sensors are active. Therefore, even if an alarm system is currently in the “Stay” mode, doing something like dropping a glass will trigger the alarm. Glass break sensors typically have a range of 20 feet in all directions. However, this can vary slightly based on the manufacturer. The result is that one sensor is capable of monitoring many windows in the same room. This is provided there are not any walls or doors between the window and the sensor.

Who typically needs to use glass break sensors?

Any person who has something worth protecting would be a good candidate to use glass break sensors. One of the most common ways that burglars enter a home or business is by smashing a window. Therefore, any home or business that does not already have security bars on all of the windows would be a good candidate for glass break sensors.

Where do you use glass break sensors?

One of the most important places to install a glass break sensor is in rooms with sliding glass doors, since this will be a probable entry point for intruders. Most home security services also suggest that you have one installed in any part of your home where windows are clustered together, such as a sunroom. You should also consider installing glass break sensors in areas where motion sensors will not be in operation when your alarm system is in “Stay” mode. These vulnerable areas must be accounted for in order to make your home completely secure.

It is not necessary for a glass break sensor to point directly at the window or door it is monitoring. Only a clear line or sight is needed for the sensor to be effective. This will allow the sound waves of the glass breaking to travel directly to the sensor. Since a glass break sensor can cover all the windows and doors in a large area, it eliminates the need to install a sensor on every window and door in your house. This can save you a lot of money.

Fire prevention

When people think of glass break sensors, the first thing they think of is protection from burglary. While this is a popular use for these sensors, they can also be used for other things. For example, glass break sensors are ideal for use in Albany fire protection. When a fire breaks out in a home or business, there is often a great deal of shattered glass. The sound of this glass can allow the fire department to be summoned quickly to the building. With any luck, they will arrive soon enough to put out the fire before any serious damage is done. If you are in need of Albany fire protection, consider the advantages of glass break sensors.

The Importance of Flood Detection in Albany Home Security Systems

Most homeowners associate home security with intrusion detection and perhaps fire prevention, but flood detection also plays a crucial role in any comprehensive residential security solution. The purpose of a flood sensor is to provide an early warning of water accumulation, which lets the homeowner stop the water at the source or call for professional help before any real damage can occur.

How Flood Detection Works

The basic flood detector has three sensors. When any two of those sensors become exposed to water, it completes the electrical circuit, which sends a signal to the system and activates an audible alarm. Some flood sensors are local only and simply activate an audible alarm in the immediate area.

24/7 Monitoring

Most Georgia security companies, however, recommend devices that are integrated into the home security system. These flood sensors still activate a local alarm, but they also notify a central station that is monitoring that residential alarm system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a flood occurs during the night, for instance, a homeowner can easily sleep through the sound of the alarm, but the central station would detect it, notify the homeowner and, if necessary, contact emergency services.

Limiting Water Damage

Insurance industry statistics indicate that localized residential flooding usually causes significant financial damage, but most floods and leaks are detected well after the fact. Flood sensors are not yet the rule but rather the exception in Albany home security systems. In the vast majority of cases where flood detection was present, financial damage was nonexistent or sharply below industry averages.

Interior Placement

The most common type of flood sensor is placed within the home, such as in a basement, bathroom or laundry room. Most interior flood detectors have an external probe and can operate as a temperature sensor as well. This allows them to function in refrigerator and freezer environments too.

Exterior Placement

The most sophisticated flood sensors offered by Georgia security companies require external placement. These devices are covered with external contacts, have a built-in reed switch and have a tamper-resistant case that also protects against insects. Ideally, these devices are installed at ground height but can be raised when ground-height installation could lead to false positives.

Insurance Benefits

Most homeowners who would consider installing flood sensors will likely also opt for flood insurance. Most insurance companies who provide flood coverage in the Albany, Georgia area provide a discount to the policy rate just as they do a discount to the homeowners policy due to the security system.

Central Monitoring

If you live in Albany or a surrounding area and require flood detection or a comprehensive security solution, then contact Central Monitoring. Central Monitoring is a leading provider of Albany home security systems, and the company has been serving southwest Georgia for more than 29 years. Central Monitoring’s technicians are all bonded, highly skilled and undergo ongoing training, and they specialize in developing unique flood and security solutions for the individual client and his or her home.