What Is the difference between a home/business protection system and a security system?
Most security systems are designed to let you know if some one is in your home or place of business with out authorization.
A home/business protection system is a set of components installed to detect and prevent potentially dangerous situations such as burglaries, home invasions, intrusions, holdups, fire and medical emergencies. In addition to alerting the authorities of these potentially tragic events, a home/business protection system can also advise of events that are non-life threatening. Sewage backups, Floods, frozen water pipes can cost you thousands of dollars and cause unnecessary aggravation. Would you not prefer to be notified before you have an indoor pool where you didn’t want one in the first place?
Reliable Security’s Home protection systems are generally made up of detection components, photoelectric smoke communicators, water sensors and/or low temperature sensor. a control module, a keypad, and a siren. With each home/business protection system installed, the keypad comes fully equipped with and activated panic buttons.
A home/business protection system is complimented and improved when the system is connected to a professional monitoring center. This guarantees rapid response by the appropriate authorities and thus increases security.
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What Is monitoring?
When a monitored home/business protection system is activated, it is connected to the monitoring center through the phone line. If a sensor is triggered, the system is activated and automatically sends a signal to our monitoring center in order to have the proper authorities dispatched.
Will my system directly call the authorities?
No. The home/business protection system is connected to a network of monitoring centers. Our highly trained professionals confirm each alarm signal received and then decides how the signal should be responded to based on the situation (check for false alarm or call the fire department, police, or emergency medical services as required). With Reliable Security ’s home/business protection system, this takes approximately 6-8 seconds to dispatch authorities.
What is ULC certification?
ULC stands for Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (www.ulc.ca). ULC certification indicates that a product or system has been evaluated and tested for compliance under the ULC Canadian standards.
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I have a pet . Can I still use a security system?
Of course you can. Reliable Security has many options to allow families with pets to protect themselves, without having to change the way they already live. If pets are given free reign of the house, Reliable Security will install pet immune motion sensors. This means that the sensors are equipped with Infrared technology. This allows the motion sensor to distinguish between your family pet and an intruder. Another option is glass break sensor and/or window shocks. These options will trigger should there be an attempt to gain entry by means of breaking of a window.
How easy is the system to use?
It is so easy a child can do it with our one button activation. Upon completion of your home/business protection system, the technician will teach you how to effectively arm and disarm the system and includes a complete user’s manual and instruction guide. Should you have any questions after that, feel free to contact Reliable Security.
How often should I check my security system?
Any home/business protection system installed by Reliable Security automatically tests it self and notifies the monitoring center should there be any system errors or malfunctions. It is still recommended that should you plan to be away for an extended period, that you test your home/business protection in order to ensure that in the event of an emergency situation, everything will work as it should.
Your home/business protection system is connected to a monitoring center. Every time your system is triggered, it sends a signal to the center. To avoid unnecessary dispatches, first call the center and identify yourself with your password and inform the operator of how long you’ll be testing your system or ask for assistance to learn how to do so.
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What do I do when I contact the monitoring center operator?
1. Provide the main phone number that the home or business protection system is connected to.
2. Identify yourself using your password along with your name.
3. Describe the reason for your call or the cause of the alarm.
Why do I need people listed on my call list?
In the event that you Home or business protection system is set off, an operator places a call to the protected site. If there is no answer or if the person who does answer cannot identify him/herself using a password or PIN, the operator will proceed to dispatch the police (depending on your preferred dispatch instructions)
The operator will attempt to contact the first person on your call list. If there is no answer, the operator will continue down the list until one of your listed contacts is reached.
Ensure that your contact people are notified should you plan to be gone for an extended period. When any of the people listed on your emergency call list arrives at the site after an alarm gone off while you are away, they should first check the outside perimeter prior to entering the protected site. It is strongly recommended to wait until the police arrive before entering the premises should there be any signs of forced entry.
For an effective response, contact people should live near the protected location, have keys to the site, an access code to arm and disarm the alarm system, and a password or PIN to identify themselves.
Your Reliable Security Fire and Safety Advisor can meet the people on your emergency call list to explain their role and teach them how to arm and disarm the home or business protection system. We recommend that you review your call list every six months to a year.
Can I update my file and emergency call list?
Of course you can… and you should. Simply call the monitoring center, identify yourself with your password and indicate the changes you wish to make.
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Why doesn’t my phone work when my alarm goes off?
When Reliable Security installs any Home or business protection system, the installers ALWAYS have the system setup to perform what is called a “line seizure”. This is done so that your Home or business protection system will take precedence over any phone calls that may be taking place at the time your system is set off. Because the system has top priority, it is never met with a busy signal because someone is on the phone in your house.
What happens in a power outage? Will my alarm system function?
In the event that a power outage occurs, your home protection system is equipped with a backup battery that will take over for a number of hours. If the battery becomes low, the system will alert the monitoring center, who will then in turn notify you of the low battery signal.
What do I do if I accidentally set off my security system?
If you accidentally set off the alarm, try to stay calm. You should then enter your code on your keypad to deactivate the alarm. Wait approximately one minute or so (or, call on your cell phone if you have one) and then call the monitoring center to notify us of the mistake (make sure to give your information handy such as your name, phone number and passcode. Your passcode is not the same as the code you use to disarm the system and is used to verify that you are indeed an authorized user. If not, an operator will initiate your dispatch procedures.
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How up to date is the information in my file?
It is crucial to notify Reliable Security of any changes that could affect the operation of your security system. For your security, you should immediately notify Reliable Security if you:
- Change your home or work phone number
- Make changes to your emergency contact list
- Add a new user (babysitter, housekeeper, roommate, etc)
- Get a pet (which could require the addition of a special motion detector for pets)
Any renovations that could interfere with your Home or Business Protection System should be reported to the Monitoring Centre. If your telephone service provider must work on your phone lines, ensure that you test your home protection system after the work is completed. Please call the monitoring center to let them know you're testing.
Are there any fees for having the police respond to a false alarm?
Many municipalities now charge fees when police are dispatched to respond to false alarms. By-laws can vary from one municipality to another.
- Check with your municipality to find out about its current by-laws.
- Be sure that all system users have a good understanding of how to operate the system.
- If pets are given free reign of the house, Reliable Security will install pet immune motion sensors. This means that the sensors are equipped with Infrared technology. This allows the motion sensor to distinguish between your family pet and an intruder.
Does a home/business protection system affect my insurance rates?
Most reputable insurance companies will reward you for taking steps to protect your home or business . Insurance companies will usually provide a discount of anywhere between 5-20% on average when equipping your home or business with a professionally monitored home/business protection system that is installed by a professional company like Reliable Security.
How does Voice over IP ( VoIP ) technology effect my alarm system?
What is IP telephony (VoIP)?
“Voice over Internet” (VoIP) technology is a service that is rapidly growing in Canada and is now offered in most of the urban areas across the country. In a nutshell, VoIP technology allows customer to have their conventional phones internet based as opposed to using traditional land line service providers.
What effect will it have on my alarm system?
If you subscribe to Voice over IP (VoIP) with the intention of replacing your present phone service, the transmission of alarms between your establishment and the monitoring center could be disrupted. Should you choose this type of telephone service, Reliable Security has options and means that will allow you to safely use an alarm system AND VoIP services together.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to call Reliable Security.
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Reliable Security answers some of the most common questions that customer often ask. Please read the F.A.Q. and if your concern is not addressed, please feel free to