When it comes to protecting your home and family, it’s important to make sure you have all the right information. That’s why we’ve compiled some of our most common questions to ask about home security systems, fire and life safety equipment, and home automation to help you answer the most important one, “is a home security system worth it?”

What Are The Main Features Of A Home Security System?

A traditional home security package from home security provider SafeStreets; comes with 24/7 ADT monitoring, a customized security system, maintenance work, an extended warranty, and a cellular connection to professional monitoring. Additional add-ons include life safety, two-way voice, app notifications, remote arm/disarm, system scheduling, video monitoring, real-time video footage, and smart home automation.

A customized security system can include a variety of different features based on your wants, needs, home layout, and more. Here’s a quick rundown of the products that could be included in your system:

• Smart Lock for Doors
• Touchscreen Control Panel 
• ADT Video Doorbell
• Door And Window Sensors
• Glass Break Sensors
• Outdoor And Indoor Security Cameras
• Flood Sensors
• Smoke Detectors
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Smart Plugs
• Smart Lights
• Smart Thermostat

For more information on all our packages and plans, click here.

What Types Of Cameras Are Available?

There are three main types of home security cameras available today:

• Video doorbells
• Outdoor security cameras
• Indoor security cameras

Video doorbell cameras are mounted where your traditional doorbell would be next to your front door with a 180-degree view of your front porch and yard area. Outdoor and indoor security cameras are relatively the same except for how they’re constructed. Outdoor security cameras are typically built with more durable materials to withstand outdoor elements and prevent tampering.

In addition to considering the types of cameras you want, you’ll also want to consider their capabilities. Full color, high resolution, night vision, fixed vs. moving, and remote monitoring are all things you’ll want in a reliable and effective home security camera.

For more on our home security cameras and surveillance, click here.

How Do Home Security Systems Help Protect Against Fires And Floods?

As mentioned in our first of our common home security questions, fire and life safety can easily become a part of your home security system. Sensors detecting heat, smoke, CO, and moisture provide the valuable warning alarms you need to stay safe as a family and help protect your home and belongings from damages. They can also send first responders to help as quickly as possible. When comparing home security companies, ask them about their average response time in the event of a fire or safety emergency when time is of the essence. 

SafeStreets is an ADT Authorized Dealer, which means that many of our home security products are professionally monitored by ADT monitoring centers all over the country. Having a security system professionally monitored by ADT will help give you peace of mind that someone will be able to alert you and your family members to an issue in your home, even if you’re not there. 

For more on fire and life safety and protection, click here.

Should I Choose A Wired Or Wireless Home Security System?

The choice between a hardwired or wireless home security system might depend on your home setup. If your house is already hardwired for a home security system, then that might make a wired system the obvious choice. However, there are some serious benefits to having a wireless system that you might want to look into. The main wireless home security system benefits include:

• Easier installation
• Remote control access via cell phones
• Increased flexibility to add more to the system later on
• Nowhere for thieves to cut off power to your security system
• The ability to take the system with you if you move
• Still works even when the power is out because the equipment is powered by batteries

For more on the wired vs. wireless debate, read our blog on 7 reasons why a wireless home security system might make the most sense.

How Much Does An Average Home Security System Cost?

Many people think that a home security system is a very pricey investment when in reality, most systems cost as little as $35* a month. For just a little more than a dollar a day, you can sleep peacefully at night knowing you’re helping protect your family and home. Plus, think about all the money you’ll save by not having to deal with extensive damages from floods or fires, or burglars. A home security or alarm system might even lower your homeowner’s insurance premium too!

Read more about how home security systems can pay for themselves by clicking here.

Are Home Security Systems Worth It?

The short answer? Absolutely. We all like to assume that our home is safe because thinking the alternative is stressful and scary. But the reality of life is that the unexpected happens all the time. Even if you aren’t necessarily concerned about burglaries, things like fires and floods can happen out of our control. Having a home security system gives you 24/7 peace of mind that no matter what happens, you’ll be in control with help on the way.

If you’re still pondering the question, “are home security systems effective?” or any others,  SafeStreets can help answer all these and more. Contact us today, and one of our home security company professionals will talk through your needs and provide a free quote for home security equipment. We offer professional installation on every job.

If you like to keep up with the latest gadgets and technology advancements, you’re probably going to love the benefits of switching over to a smart thermostat to control your home’s thermostat.

Smart thermostats offer an array of benefits compared to older manual thermostat types, as well as programmable thermostats, which you may currently have in your home. Aside from the convenience of controlling your home’s temperature remotely from your smartphone, smart thermostats also can provide regular energy reports regarding your HVAC system’s energy usage and use AI technology to learn your temperature preferences over time and automatically adjust the temperature.

Aside from the added convenience of using a smart thermostat, they can also help you save a significant amount of money on your monthly energy bills. We’ll explain how in our most recent blog.

How Much Money Can Smart Thermostats Save Homeowners?

According to Energy Star, installing a smart thermostat in your home can save about 8% of your yearly heating and cooling costs, or about $50 a year. Even greater savings can be obtained depending on your personal temperature preferences, the climate you live in, and the type of HVAC system you own.

How Can Smart Thermostats Help Homeowners Save Money?

Let’s explore some of the smart thermostat features and how they can help you experience significant savings on cooling and heating costs. 

Controlling Your Thermostat from Anywhere

The ability to control your thermostat remotely is a huge convenience. You can crank the thermostat up from your smartphone before you leave work to ensure your house is warm and cozy when you return. But the ability to control your thermostat remotely can also save you money. Let’s say you left for a week-long vacation in the summer, but forgot to set the thermostat to a higher setting. With a smart thermostat, that’s not a problem! Simply pull out your smart device and make the appropriate adjustment. If your teenager is home alone and blasting the AC, you can also check the thermostat from your smartphone and change the setting. 

Regular Energy Reports

Smart thermostats provide you with monthly or regular energy reports to see how you’re using your HVAC system. If energy bills are high, you can make appropriate adjustments to your temperature settings for additional savings. All of this data can be accessed directly from your smartphone or device.

Monitoring Your Heating and Cooling System

Smart thermostats can even monitor for energy spikes that could indicate a repair or maintenance is needed. This can save you money in a couple of different ways:

Saving money on your energy bills. HVAC systems that are in need of repair often must work harder to heat or cool your home, leading to higher energy costs.

Saving money on a bigger, more expensive repair. The longer you wait to repair your HVAC system, the better chance that a small repair will balloon into something more serious – and expensive. Being able to monitor your heating and cooling system in the palm of your hand can help you save money and keep your energy efficiency in check. 

Pre-setting the Thermostat

Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat also allows you to program temperature schedules based on the time of day and day of the week. For example, in the summer, you can pre-set your thermostat to a higher setting during the work week and a lower setting during the weekend when you’re home for additional energy savings. An advantage to smart thermostats over regular programmable thermostats is that smart thermostats can also use geofencing technology to locate your smartphone and automatically adjust the temperature before you arrive home for the day.

AI Technology

There’s a reason smart thermostats have the word “smart” in their name. Smart thermostats use AI technology to learn your temperature preferences and can automatically adjust the thermostats accordingly. You don’t have to do a thing.

Contact SafeStreets for the Installation of a Smart Thermostat

As you can see, smart thermostats save money. If you’re interested in learning more about how a smart thermostat and other smart home technology can help save energy and money, contact the home automation professionals at SafeStreets today. We would be happy to set up an appointment to install a smart thermostat in your home today.

You probably already know you need to keep your home’s living areas safe from burglaries by taking preventive measures. But have you thought much about the safety of your garage?

At SafeStreets, we want to help keep your family safe at home through good safety habits and a home security system. And we include your garage in that “big picture” description of being safe and sound at home. After all, you might not sleep or eat in it, but you definitely spend time in it working on projects, and you count on your garage for storage too.

So let’s make sure that the extension of your home is as safe as your home with a quick review of the dangers you’ll want to be aware of and avoid.

Fire Prevention

Is there anything as combustible as a garage? Just think through all of the flammable materials stored there including oil, paint thinner, paint, lawn care chemicals, and oily rags. There’s also sawdust and lumber that easily can catch fire on top of all of the incendiary items. So fire prevention should be high on the garage safety list. You can start with these three simple preventive measures:

• Make sure your garage is equipped with a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher. You can contact SafeStreets for the installation of smoke detectors for both your home and garage.
• Keep tight lids on all chemicals and flammable materials, and keep them in their original containers.
• Store chemicals and flammable materials safely and securely to decrease the chances of something getting knocked over or spilled.

Store Items Smartly

Most people use their garages as storage areas, especially if they don’t have a basement. Storage, though, is a safety issue in your garage for a few reasons. One is the fire hazard mentioned above, but the other more likely safety issue is injury, either from things falling on your head or on your toes.

To prevent this, it’s important not to stack items too high. If you’re using shelving, make sure it’s sturdy. If you’re using overhead storage, make sure it’s strong. Think safety over convenience or cost when you’re investing in garage storage. This will save yourself or a family member from an injury and will make the investment worthwhile.

Also, think through the storage so anything you need on a regular basis – like a weed eater – is easy to access, while the seasonal items such as holiday decorations can be stored in a harder-to-access location. Practice the same principle for anything dangerous.

Good Habits to Practice

Even with all the right fire prevention measures in place and the fanciest garage storage unit in use, your habits will still matter when it comes to garage safety. Give your garage a little more thought when you’re using it. With safety always top of mind, you’ll get into good habits that keep you and your family safe. For example:

• Clean up after yourself after cutting wood so you’re not leaving sawdust or little pieces of wood lying around as a fire starter.
• Resist the urge to pile up storage “just for now,” thinking you’ll get around to putting something away safely and properly later. There’s a good chance “later” will never happen.
• Lock doors to not only keep burglars out, but kids too, especially if you don’t have dangerous tools and materials locked up and out of reach.
• Pick up anything that might be a tripping hazard, such as hoses, extension cords, tools you’re not using, containers of old oil – even those items you’re saving to put away “later.” Try really hard not to store or leave anything on the floor.
• Always have a clear path in and out of the garage. I know that sometimes the piling up is going to happen.  But don’t pile in such a way that you’re having to clamber over stuff to get in or out of the garage.

Contact SafeStreets for Fire and Life Safety Equipment

Garages are a blessing for busy families for many reasons, and storage and a place for projects are high on that list. However, they can also pose a threat if not managed in a safety-first way. So let’s take a few preventive measures to make sure our garages are a place we can appreciate, not avoid. If you need a fire detection system installed in your garage, don’t hesitate to contact SafeStreets today.

You can invest in a home security system, install bright lights on the perimeter of your property, and use a baby gate in every doorway of your home, but you’ll still need to practice some commonsense to really make your home safer.

It’s a good idea to install a home security system and fire and life safety equipment to help protect your family and home. However, many homeowners often forget to go the extra mile, which is putting safety into practice.

Do you want to learn how to make your home safer without spending money? Keep reading to learn some easy tips to practice around the home.

Test Your Fire and Life Safety Systems Regularly

Many homeowners have fire and life safety equipment installed to help keep their families safe, but are they working? The only way to know is to test. Test your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and flood sensors on a regular basis to make sure they’re working properly. Test your flashlights too to see if they need new batteries. It’s a good idea to ensure all of your fire and life safety equipment is working properly in case you need them to work in the future.

Use Caution When Cooking

Accidents frequently occur in the kitchen, but many of them are preventable. Practice common sense when cooking, and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding anyone being injured by cuts or burns. All you have to do is make these kinds of things a habit, so you are always doing them. Some common tips include:

• Staying in the kitchen while something is cooking on the stovetop.
• Pointing pot and pan handles in.
• Keeping sharp knives out of reach of little hands.
• Cleaning up spills immediately, especially spills on the floor, to prevent slips and falls.
• Skipping the tablecloth if you have little ones or even pets who could pull on the cloth and thereby cause hot foods or liquids to fall on and burn them or others.

Lock Up Cleaners and Medicine

If you have kids, keep everything locked up any time it’s not in use, even if you’re going to use it again in a little while or the next day. We mean all of your household cleaners, soaps, and medicines inside of the house. This also includes your yard care products, paints and chemicals outside of the house.

But it’s not just the chemicals and cleaners that pose a threat. Even alcohol, matches, lighters, and, of course, guns should be locked up whenever they’re not in use. Obviously, what’s considered dangerous in your house will change as your kids get older, but it’s still a good habit to get into.

Check Security Systems on a Monthly Basis

It’s a good idea to check your home’s security systems on a monthly basis to ensure they’re working properly. This includes your security cameras, door and window sensors, and door locks. According to ADT, you should also test your system if you’ve changed your phone or internet service, or had any home renovations performed. If you notice any issues, contact a security company such as SafeStreets.

Additional Tips to Keep Your Home Safer

Other things you can do to make your home safer without spending any money include:

• Keeping shoes under your bed in case you should have to get up and get out in a hurry.
• Avoiding hanging anything dangerous such as glass over your bed or your kids’ beds. This will prevent anything dangerous from falling on you or a family member while sleeping.
• Having a family emergency plan and going over it on a regular basis, like monthly or quarterly. (Get ideas here.)
• Practicing common sense in everything you do around the house and always paying attention to the things that could go wrong.

Contact SafeStreets for all of Your Home Security Needs

SafeStreets is the country’s only ADT Authorized Provider. We take pride in installing state-of-the-art home security systems and home automation products to help keep homeowners across the country safe from threats such as burglaries and natural disasters. To learn more about our products or to schedule an appointment, contact SafeStreets today.

Many of our customers choose to install outdoor security cameras to keep a close eye on their property, day and night. And for good reason! Just the presence of security cameras alone are enough to make most would-be criminals look elsewhere.

But what many homeowners neglect to keep a watchful eye of is the inside of their homes. Installing indoor security cameras is a great way to check in on your home, kids or pets when you’re away. To learn more about our ADT-monitored indoor security cameras, reach out to SafeStreets today.

How Do Indoor Security Cameras Work?

Indoor security cameras from SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider, can be strategically placed throughout your home to provide coverage of your entire home. Some of the best locations to install indoor security cameras include by stairs, in hallways and in common areas.

Our home security cameras use 720p HD video imaging that can capture clear images, even in low-light spaces. With Wi-FI capabilities, our indoor camera systems can send video footage of burglars in the event of an intrusion, which can be used by police to help identify the intruder.

You can watch live video right from your smartphone, and even speak to your kids or pets using a two-way audio feature. You can also set up your indoor security camera system to send alerts whenever motion is detected.

Who Can Benefit from Indoor Security Cameras?

Since any home can potentially be the target of a break-in, every homeowner can benefit from having home surveillance cameras installed for an extra layer of protection. Some of the most common reasons our customers choose to have indoor security cameras installed include:

Deterring Criminals

If a burglar or intruder does manage to break into your home while you’re away, the mere presence of indoor cameras is enough to help deter criminals and make them run for the hills. That’s because they know their every movement is being recorded. When you catch something, you can use the ADT Control app to let someone at ADT monitoring know to dispatch the police right away. 

Aiding the Police

Due to the high-quality images they produce, indoor security cameras are often very helpful in police investigations. Police can use the video recording to help identify a suspect, make an apprehension, and in some cases, return your stolen items.

Lowering Insurance Rates

Insurance companies love security cameras and will often lower insurance premiums for customers who have security cameras and home security systems installed in their home. Video recorded from indoor and outdoor cameras can also help validate your insurance claim.

Checking in On the Kids and Pets

Indoor security cameras also help provide parents with peace of mind by giving them the ability to check that their kids have returned home from school safely. With the ADT Control app, you can even say hi to your kids and tell them to do their homework. Many homeowners also enjoy checking in on their pets, especially if they’re home alone for long periods of time during the day.

Contact SafeStreets for Indoor Security Cameras

When it comes to helping protect your family, pets and home, it’s important to only work with a professional home security company that you can trust. At SafeStreets, we always put you, our customer, first and develop a home security package that is tailored for your individual needs. To learn more about installing security cameras or other home security system offerings, contact SafeStreets today.

If you’re looking to cut costs and save money in your household, consider home automation services from SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider. A home automation system costs money up front but pays you back over time in several ways.

The cost of installing a home automation system is likely less than you think. Many home security setups cost under $40 per month, less than you’d pay for dinner at a restaurant once a month. Once you have the home security system, your homeowner’s insurance may decrease in price, so the monthly cost is often less than the sticker price.

In our most recent blog, the security professionals at SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider, discuss several ways that smart devices can help reduce energy costs and save money.

Where Will You Save Money with a Home Automation System?

Your Electric Bill

A home automation system is a great tool to be installed in your home as it can help you save money on your electric bill in various ways.

With a home automation system, you can automatically turn on the lights at specified times of the day. This will help save money compared to leaving lights on all day when they didn’t need to be.

Consider the outside lights, too. It would help if you had those on when you get home after dark, but you don’t want to leave them on all day. A home automation system turns on the lights at a designated time, so your house looks occupied, and your path from the garage to the back door is well lit for your walk inside – without having to pay to leave all those lights on all day.

Heating Bill

You can control your home’s heating and cooling system by installing a smart thermostat, a great way to help save energy and money. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust your HVAC system using a smart home device. You will even receive monthly energy reports that show where you’re using the most energy so you can make adjustments to increase energy savings in the future.

With a smart thermostat, you don’t have to leave the furnace or air conditioning system on all day just so no one has to walk into an uncomfortable house after work or school. You can use a smart thermostat to warm the place up just before you return home. 

In addition, if you have pets home alone all day, you can set the thermostat to be comfortable for them without the poor things shivering through an entire day of no heat.

Help Lower Risk or High Price Burglary

The average cost to a homeowner who is the victim of a burglary is over $2,500, according to 2019 statistics from the FBI. The price could be significantly higher depending on the damage done and items stolen. 

With a home automation and security system – complete with prominent signage in the yard – your home is a lot less likely to be the one robbed, helping you save you a lot more money than you’ll spend for the service over a year.

Save on Babysitting Costs

If you knew the kids could come home to a warm, well-lit house on those days they get back before you do, you could save a few dollars on paying a sitter to be there to welcome them home. You can also install indoor security cameras to check in on your kids while they’re home from a smart device.

Contact SafeStreets for Home Automation Services

Technology is evolving rapidly, and homes will only get “smarter” as home automation, and other home technologies continue to help improve and offer even more features. 

But why wait? Help start saving money today with a home automation system installed by SafeStreets. Contact SafeStreets today for a free consultation.

A burglary happens every 25 seconds in the U.S. Most burglaries occur in broad daylight when many people are at work or school.

Is your home safe from such harm? Maybe not, so let’s go over a few tips you can do to make your home less appealing to burglars looking for likely prospects.

Steps to Help Keep Your Home Safe

Let’s start on the outside and work our way in, taking steps to help make your home safer by helping make it more secure with the following home security tips.

If you’re looking for home security systems to install in your home – including motion sensor lights, cameras, and door locks – to help make your home safer, contact the home security experts at SafeStreets today.

Eliminate Hiding Places

Let’s start in the street, looking at your house as a passing burglar might see it. Most burglaries happen in broad daylight, but that doesn’t mean they happen in plain view. A burglar loves to have a place to hide while breaking in through a door or window. 

What kinds of hiding places do you see from the street? Are there fences, shrubs, trees, or outbuildings like garden sheds that offer an excellent hiding place and easy access to an entry point? 

Those are the things that need to be addressed first. Here are what we suggest you start with:

• Trim back bushes
• Pull plants out
• Move garbage cans
• Do what you can to eliminate the “cover.”

While at it, make sure not to hide your house key in apparent spots, including by the front door or under mats.

Check the Lighting, Inside and Out

Your next evaluation needs to happen when it’s dark because you want to see how well you’re lighting your house for security. Look for the same kinds of hiding places as before in the daylight, but this time look for shadows and dark corners. Then figure out how to shine a light on these problem areas. If you find places that need to be lit to help make your home safer but don’t want your house and yard to glow all night, consider motion detector lights for the areas that need extra lighting.

Also, consider the lighting inside your house as it’s seen from the street. Choose some windows to light up from the inside, and put lights and lamps on timers, so the house is lit from the inside even if you’re still at work or you’ve gone out to a movie. This is particularly important in the winter when the days are shorter.

Make Your Home Look Occupied

If it looks like someone is home, your house may be less likely to be burglarized. There are several tricks you can do to help make it look like someone is indeed inside, even if the house is empty:

• Put smart lights on timers so your home is never completely dark. You might want to leave lights on during the day too.
• Keep any extra cars in the driveway rather than leave them parked on the street.
• Ask your neighbors to pick up any delivered packages, so they’re not sitting on your front step if you’re away from home or out of town.
• Leave the radio or the TV on when you’re not home.

Reinforce Your Locks

Burglars often enter homes by breaking a window or forcing open a door. Investing in heavy-duty locks and adding deadbolts to your doors can help prevent break-ins. To help burglar-proof your windows, insert dowels into the tracks of sliding glass doors and windows so they can’t be opened from the outside. Also, we recommend you invest in locks for your windows if they only have latches.

Make sure all doors and windows are locked every day when you leave, including the doors and windows of garages and tool sheds too.

Invest in a Home Security System

Over 90% of convicted burglars say they would avoid a home with a prominent home security system. This is why we highly recommend having a home security system installed in your home.

This method for protecting your home is like an inside/outside one: It’s inside your house, but it can be blatantly displayed outside so that any burglar passing by can see the sign and keep on driving, looking for the next potential target.

SafeStreets has a full line of home security systems to help keep your home safe. We can install the highest quality glass break sensors, video doorbells, and security cameras backed by ADT monitoring.

Contact SafeStreets for Home Security System Installation

When it comes to keeping your home safe from harm, prevention is key! At SafeStreets, we care about the safety of your family. That’s why we can help by installing home security systems, smoke alarms, smart locks, and other alarm systems in your home to help keep your family safe.

Most Americans will recognize the name ADT Home Security. ADT has been in business for more than 146 years and is America’s first choice for home security.

With so many security systems on the market, all offering different deals and packages, it can be difficult to know what you need to help protect your home. Understanding the various components of each option and making an informed decision is key to creating a safe home for your family. 

SafeStreets is here to help make this process easier. An ADT-monitored system from SafeStreets comes backed by the understanding of our experts, professional installation, and the knowledge that you made the right choice to help protect your home.  

What Are ADT-Monitored Systems?

A leader in home security, ADT provides a premium service and is a best-in-class home security system. SafeStreets can assist you in customizing an ADT-monitored security system with easy-to-use technology and unique protection features to match your specific security requirements. Your ADT-monitored system may include all the features below.

• ADT Command panel. Your ADT-monitored home security system’s control center allows you fingertip control over your security system’s arming and disarming, as well as hundreds of smart home devices you can add on.

• Door and window alarm. Your security system is equipped with door or window alarms that will activate the high-decibel siren and notify you and ADT if someone who isn’t supposed to enter your home tries to do so.

• Security key fob. Even if you have your hands full with your kids or groceries, you can easily disarm your home security system with the click of a button.

• Motion sensors. With certain SafeStreets services, motion sensors can trigger lights and security cameras throughout your home. However, the system is smart enough to allow your children or animals to pass without triggering a false alarm.    

• Yard signs & window decals. Send a clear statement that your family is protected by ADT.                                                                                                               
• 24/7 alarm monitoring. Professional home security professionals are looking out for you and your family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can relax knowing they’ve got you covered.

What Are the Different ADT-Monitored System Packages from SafeStreets

Each of our home security systems includes a personalized installation plan tailored to your family’s needs. We have you covered whether you want to control your entire system via the mobile app or a more traditional home security system. We’ve simplified the different ADT-monitored packages for you and your family. 

• Traditional plan. Cover all the basic needs of your family with this plan. Burglar alarms, cellphone connections, and the option of two-way communication are all included in the ADT-monitored traditional security package. You can update your system to incorporate Life Safety in addition to the standard features. These elements assist to safeguard your home from the unexpected, such as fire/smoke, extreme temperatures, flooding, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Remote plan. The SafeStreets Remote Plan will help you and your family feel secure wherever you may be. With SafeStreets’ Remote Plan, you can take control of your home security from anywhere. This package includes all of the essentials as well as remote activation. With our remote home monitoring app, you can arm and disable your security system from virtually anywhere in the world with the touch of a button. You’ll get notifications on all of your linked devices, providing you with added peace of mind wherever you go.

• Control plan. With this package, you’ll get our remote web and mobile security, as well as email and text notifications. This package is ideal for those who are frequently away from home and want to spend less time worrying about their home when they’re not there. 

Benefits of a Professional Installation

Many security systems can be self-installed, but even a small mistake can jeopardize the entire system. That’s why SafeStreets believes installation should be left to professionals. The only D.I.Y. required is picking up the phone and calling SafeStreets. We do the hard work to help protect your home, and you get the peace of mind that your system is installed properly. 

ADT’s Overall Value

A brand with as long a history as ADT surely brings quality and safety to every home. 

Trustworthy. ADT home security systems have over 146 years of experience behind them. ADT, as the industry leader in home security, can assist you in customizing a home security system with easy-to-use equipment and unique protection features to fit your specific safety requirements.

Modernization. Google Assistant is compatible with ADT-monitored systems. Alexa can arm and disable your system and operate smart lights, locks, and thermostats. This is a blessing for those of us who have ever wished we could switch off the basement lights without getting out of bed. Despite the fact that ADT is the country’s oldest home security brand, its monitored products from SafeStreets can compete with the finest in terms of smart home connections. This is great news because smart home technology is only growing in popularity.

ADT-Monitored Systems is the first name in home defense systems. You can’t put a price on peace of mind and the safety of your family. Ready to get started with SafeStreet’s ADT-Monitored Systems? Request a quote today, and our professionals will help you find the right plan for you and your family.

Life on Earth would not be possible without carbon. This is because carbon easily forms bonds with other atoms, allowing it to create a wide range of molecules — including biomolecules like DNA and RNA. Also, the long-chain molecules formed by carbon contain a lot of energy, which organisms use to power vital cellular processes. 

In other words, we need carbon. Unfortunately, when carbon combines with the wrong atoms, it can be downright dangerous.

Here, we take a closer look at two potentially lethal carbon compounds: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. 

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a compound in which a single carbon atom forms a bond with a single oxygen atom (formula: CO). Carbon monoxide does not usually occur naturally in Earth’s atmosphere. Instead, it is formed from the incomplete combustion of certain fuels — wood, coal, oil, and natural gas may all release carbon monoxide as a by-product, particularly when combustion occurs at lower temperatures and/or in low-oxygen environments.

Although carbon monoxide was once little more than a trace compound that could be found following forest fires or the occasional volcanic eruption, modern technology has changed all that. Cars, trucks, and other vehicles that use internal combustion engines produce large amounts of CO, as do furnaces, stoves, gas ranges, and some other home appliances. Why is this relevant? Because carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, that results in approximately 50,000 hospital visits and at least 430 deaths every year according to the CDC. 

When a person breathes in carbon monoxide, the compound displaces the oxygen carried in the bloodstream. In essence, carbon monoxide poisoning suffocates the body’s internal organs. This can quickly lead to death, and even non-fatal exposure may have long-term health effects, including permanent brain damage.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be as simple as a headache, confusion, or fatigue, but can also include more alarming issues such as shortness of breath, vertigo, chest pains, seizures, and loss of consciousness. The longer a person is exposed to carbon monoxide, the more likely they will experience severe symptoms, lasting effects, or death. Be aware of the signs of CO poisoning and immediately vacate any property where someone might be showing symptoms. In high enough concentrations, carbon monoxide can cause death in less than five minutes. 

This is especially important, given that carbon monoxide is completely odorless, tasteless, and invisible. As such, it’s vitally important that all occupied properties have carbon monoxide detectors installed, to provide residents with early warning of possible CO leaks.

What Is Carbon Dioxide?

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound made up of a ratio of a single carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms (formula: CO2). Carbon dioxide comes from natural sources. Many animals (including humans) breathe in oxygen and exhale CO2, and the compound also comes from decaying plant material. Carbon dioxide is likewise released from the burning of fossil fuels and is the most voluminous of the greenhouse gasses involved in climate change. 

In most cases, carbon dioxide is considered non-toxic and is even used regularly in consumer products (such as carbonated soda) and fire protection devices (such as chemical fire extinguishers). That said, it can still pose a health risk in large concentrations. Symptoms of carbon dioxide exposure may include headaches, increased respiratory rate, fast or irregular heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, dizziness, nausea, or loss of consciousness. Extremely high concentrations may even cause convulsions, coma, and death.

What is the Difference between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide?

When it comes to carbon dioxide vs. carbon monoxide, there are a number of similarities and just as many differences. 

Similarity Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide

The most obvious similarity between the two compounds has to do with their structure. Both occur when carbon atoms combine with oxygen atoms. In fact, it is carbon’s tendency to readily bond with other atoms that makes these two gasses so prevalent. CO and CO2 both come from natural and human-made sources, and today, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide can both be found in the air all around the world.

On a more personal level, both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can be dangerous, particularly in large amounts. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms associated with exposure to these gasses and to immediately leave the area when exposure is detected. 

Difference Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide 

The most important difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is that carbon monoxide is much more dangerous to individuals. As previously stated, CO exposure is responsible for thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths in the US every year. Even limited exposure can cause lasting health complications. Carbon dioxide exposure, on the other hand, is not nearly as deadly. The likelihood of suffering from CO2 poisoning is very low. However, CO2 represents a greater threat than CO in terms of climate change.

Additionally, carbon dioxide is much more abundant in the atmosphere. Oxygen-breathing animals around the world exhale CO2 through respiration, making it a natural part of life on Earth. Conversely, although carbon monoxide may be released through natural processes such as volcanism, the primary source of CO comes directly from human action. 

Help Protect Your Home from Harmful Gasses

Home should be a place where you and your family can relax in safety. Unfortunately, it’s hard to breathe easily when faced with harmful gasses. Carbon monoxide is one of the most common dangers found in the home, and without protection in place, it can quickly lead to tragedy. 

Thankfully, the right monitoring devices can be an effective defense against possible CO poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors from SafeStreets incorporate 24/7 off-site monitoring so that if the sensors are ever triggered, you’ll have ADT professionals ready to send out the alert, contact emergency services, and make sure everyone in the home is OK. And with professional installation, you’ll never have to worry about whether your CO detector is in the right place or hooked up properly. 

After all, it’s important to understand the difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, but it’s even more important to understand how to protect your home. Get a free quote today, and let SafeStreets help secure your property against CO.

If you’ve ever heard the sound of glass shattering, you know it makes a very distinct sound. If you ever hear this scary sound in your home, ensure that it’s immediately followed by the sound of your home’s security system going off. You can help ensure that happens by installing glass break sensors from SafeStreets throughout your home.

Breaking a glass sliding door, glass doors, and windows is one of the most common ways for burglars to gain entry into your home, but you can help prevent this with glass break sensors. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of installing glass break sensors.

How Do Glass Break Sensors Work?

SafeStreets offers two different types of glass break sensors – shock and acoustic. Although they work differently, they are both designed to do the same thing: detect the sound of shattering glass in your home.

Shock glass break sensors work by “feeling” the disruption caused by breaking glass. This type of glass break detector needs to be installed directly on the window in order for them to work properly. Acoustic glass break sensors, meanwhile, are designed to “hear” the sound when glass breaks. Because of this, acoustic glass break detectors do not need to be installed on the window and can instead be installed in locations throughout your home. SafeStreets’ glass break sensors have a radius of 25 feet, which means one glass break sensor can cover multiple windows and doors.

When one of the ultra-sensitive glass break detectors picks up the sound of shattering glass or feels a disruption, our 24/7 ADT-monitored glass break sensors will trigger an alarm. You’ll then receive an immediate notification to your smartphone or other smart devices, whether you’re at home or away at work, or on vacation. An ADT monitoring professional will also be notified immediately and can contact the authorities to send help right away.

When you work with a member of the SafeStreets’ team, they will help you find the best locations around your home to install our glass break sensors and help ensure total coverage throughout your home. The best locations to install acoustic glass break sensors are typically high on ceilings and walls and in areas that are not obstructed from the sound of glass breaking. They will also help you understand exactly how these sensors work to make sure you know how to properly use them.

Additional Features of SafeStreets’ Glass Break Sensors

SafeStreets’ glass break sensors come with a full range of features so you can get the most out of your home security system.

• Four sensitivity settings. You have four sensitive settings from which to choose, including maximum, medium, low or lowest sensitivity. This will help limit false alarms. You can use the sensors’ testing feature to find the best setting for you.
• Professional installation. SafeStreets is the largest ADT Authorized Provider in the country. All of our technicians are expertly trained and will find the best place to install your glass break sensors so they are out of view of potential burglars and are able to properly detect the sound of shattering glass.
• 24/7 protection. All of SafeStreets’ home security systems, including our glass break sensors, come with 24/7 ADT monitoring. This means that as soon as your sensor triggers an alarm, an ADT professional will be immediately notified to send help quickly.
• Versatile protection. No matter what type of glass you have or how big or small it is, our sensors are designed and installed to help pick up shattering glass.
• Flexibility. Our glass break detectors can run on batteries which allows you to install them in locations that are most effective at detecting breaking glass.

Contact SafeStreets for Glass Break Detector Installation

SafeStreets is a customer-focused company that is committed to helping keep our customers’ homes and families safe. We can help you do that by providing you with the best glass break sensors in the industry, including an acoustic glass break sensor or shock glass break detectors.

SafeStreets operates in 44 states and covers about 90% of the country, so it’s highly likely you have a friendly SafeStreets’ technician that works nearby to help you. Contact SafeStreets today to request a free quote or to schedule an appointment for glass break detection.