Posted: 3/3/2016 5:12:01 PM EDT
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This question is probably better suited for the home security forum, but I figure with the high traffic levels here, I'm likely to get a better answer.
I am purchasing a Simplisafe system for my mom as she is living solo now and am not entirely sure how many of each sensor to get. It's an old victorian house with a solid oak + dead bolt front door (no window) and a solid oak + two dead bolts down low, back door (small window at face level). The windows on the first floor are all 6' tall picture windows, each about 16" wide, with cross pieces, breaking up the glass into roughly 12" x 6" pieces of glass. The windows crank to open, but only open out approximately 8", making it very difficult for someone to squeeze in the small gap. There is a third exterior door that opens out from the basement to a stairwell, it is solid oak again, with no window, and no handle or anything to grab onto from the outside...it can only be opened from inside. The basement has a few small daylight windows, that are single pane and maybe 12" x 24" with no cross bars. The basement is blocked off from the rest of the house by a solid oak interior door, that has a deadbolt (which she never uses). Her bedroom is on the third floor and she spends most of her time in the den on the first floor, which is on the opposite side of the house from the front and back doors. Initially, my primary reason for getting the system was for smoke and CO2 alarms, as she is a sound sleeper and roughly 60% deaf. She is also a smoker (unfortunately) and my fear is a fire stemming from something smoking related. There is currently a fire alarm in the basement, in two of four rooms on the first floor, at the top of the stairs going to the third floor, and one each in her suite and the guest room. There is also a CO2 detector in her bedroom. Realistically with her hearing issues, she is unlikely to hear any of the alarms from the first floor or basement, should something happen when she is asleep. I am thinking that I should leave the current smoke detectors where they are now, but add one Simplisafe smoke detector in the basement, one in the den on the first floor, and one at the top of the stairs on the second floor...does this make the most sense? Should I replace all of the current detectors with the Simplisafe versions? I am also thinking of just adding one Simplisafe CO2 alarm, and putting it in her bedroom, as most of the CO2 issues seem to occur when people are sleeping at night and never wake up. Is the one OK, or should these be on each floor? As far as the security portion goes, I am thinking a door sensor on the front and back door, along with one for the interior basement door. In addition, I plan on getting a glass break sensor for the first floor in place of the motion detector, as she has an 80lb golden retriever who is considerably larger than their size limit for pets. To finish it off, a panic button next to her bed. (And of course next to her 1911) Am I missing anything obvious here? Again, my primary concern is a fire when she is either asleep or not home, but I would sleep better knowing the security features were added as well. Any insight, tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated...she has said no to the traditionally installed security systems in the past and is looking at moving in the next year, so those aren't an option at this point. |
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While that is good to know and kind of disappointing to hear, I don't see it as being a concern in this situation. My primary concern is fire and if there is a security issue, it's likely to be some dumb thugs smashing in. The house currently has zero protection, so some will be better than none. |
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Quoted:
While that is good to know and kind of disappointing to hear, I don't see it as being a concern in this situation. My primary concern is fire and if there is a security issue, it's likely to be some dumb thugs smashing in. The house currently has zero protection, so some will be better than none. Quoted:
While that is good to know and kind of disappointing to hear, I don't see it as being a concern in this situation. My primary concern is fire and if there is a security issue, it's likely to be some dumb thugs smashing in. The house currently has zero protection, so some will be better than none. Fair enough, just hate to see people make big decisions like this without having all the angles. Good on you for taking care of your mom like this. |
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Simpli-safe is easily defeated, not just with remote hacks. Do some google searching....trust me any criminal worth a good shit will. If you're going to use it, get another alarm company's stickers and signage...discourage someone from doing some research and coming at your system with a jam or sensor defeat meant for someone else's stuff. |
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With an old house you have to worry more about how RF is going to work. She likely has brick interior walls covered in lathe and plaster or worse yet chicken wire and plaster. Will the signals reliably penetrate through 3 levels? If it were me I'd use the Honeywell 5800 series wireless and if needs be you can hard wire a receiver to the 3rd floor (old houses usually have a wide gap around the furnace exhaust going through to the roof. |
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Quoted:
With an old house you have to worry more about how RF is going to work. She likely has brick interior walls covered in lathe and plaster or worse yet chicken wire and plaster. Will the signals reliably penetrate through 3 levels? If it were me I'd use the Honeywell 5800 series wireless and if needs be you can hard wire a receiver to the 3rd floor (old houses usually have a wide gap around the furnace exhaust going through to the roof. As far as I know, none of the interior walls are brick, though I will make sure to check. I do know that wifi in the house works well, but is semi limited in the basement. |