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Burglar alarms are a popular choice among people looking for home security solutions. They are one of the most effective deterrents against burglaries and intrusions and are relied upon by millions of people around the world to alert them when someone tries to sneak into their homes.
Although considered to be an extremely reliable security measure, faulty and non-compatible systems can turn into a nuisance very fast. One major issue that most homeowners face is that of false alarms, especially those who have pets.
Since around half of the households in the UK have a pet as part of their family, this issue is more widespread and a serious cause for concern.
Pets are often responsible for triggering false alarms when inside the house which leads to not only frustration but oftentimes penalties by the local authorities as well.
To deal with this issue, people often disarm the alarm, use a fake one, or get rid of the system altogether. While their frustration is justified, is this a viable option when it comes to home security? Absolutely not.
One of the first things that burglars look for when targeting your property is the absence of security systems such as burglar alarms. Seeing that you have no such protection or that the system is fake or disarmed makes your house more lucrative to potential criminals.
What can you do then? The solution for pet owners lies in the form of pet-friendly burglar alarms. These systems are made specifically to ignore the movement of pets, reducing the number of false alarms and providing your home with uncompromised security.
Read on to find out what pet-friendly burglar alarms are, how they work, and the best ones available in the market:
WHAT ARE PET-FRIENDLY BURGLAR ALARMS?
Regular burglar alarms work using standard motion sensors that sound an alarm for any motion that is detected, whether it is caused by a burglar breaking into your home or your beloved pet simply walking around.
While you can adjust the sensitivity of most standard motion sensors so that they require more movement to trigger the alarm, they won’t be able to differentiate between an intruder and your pet dog or cat, leading to frequent false alarms.
Pet-friendly alarm systems, as the name very clearly suggests, are not susceptible to pets in that they do not get triggered by your furry friends walking around.
They provide you with all the safety and protection of a regular burglar alarm, with the added feature of ignoring the movement of your pets inside your home.
This enables you to enjoy all the benefits of a security alarm system without having to worry about your pets triggering any false alarms. You get to keep your pets without having to compromise on your security, so it’s a win-win!
HOW DO PET-FRIENDLY BURGLAR ALARMS WORK?
As mentioned earlier, burglar alarms work using sensors that detect any sort of movement and sound an alarm to alert everyone around of the activity.
One such sensor used by the system is a passive infra-red (PIR) detector that is designed to detect the movement of heat energy and works to constantly check for differences in the thermal levels in the area.
An empty room’s thermal energy remains quite stable and does not change rapidly. Therefore, as soon as a human or new object is introduced into the environment, the sensors see that as a change and trigger the alarm.
To make burglar alarms pet-friendly, the PIR sensors can be set up in a way to ignore the pets’ movement and focus only on the thermal energy levels of human intruders. Here’s how:
Size and shape
Pet-friendly PIR sensors not only detect thermal energy levels but also analyse the size and shape of the object before considering it a threat.
For instance, if you have pets in your house, you can get PIR detectors that ignore objects below the weight limit of 35 kgs.
This way, the system automatically ignores small, or even large, pets below the set limit. You can easily leave your pets inside the house without worrying about them triggering the alarm and causing distress to themselves, you, and your neighbours.
Height
Some PIR sensors can also be set to keep the height of the object into consideration. They ignore movements at the floor level while catching movements only at a certain height level, such as 2 feet above the ground.
This gives your animal friends enough space to walk on the floor without being identified and triggering the alarm.
While great for small pets, these devices are not the best choice for pets that are big or those that can fly or climb. So, even if your pet is small but has a habit of jumping or climbing onto things, such as the furniture in your hall, this might not work for you.
You would probably need to keep such pets away from areas that have been alarmed or find a system that uses different sensors to warn you of a legitimate intrusion only.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Pet-friendly PIR sensors work great for small pets and those that prefer staying on the ground. However, for bigger pets and those that fly or love to jump around, they might not be as effective.
If your dog is bigger than the height and weight limit, or if your cat loves to jump on top of counters and window sills, you may have to look for other options.
Most cats and dogs also love putting their paws up against the window to see who is coming up the driveway, and that may also lead to issues with the alarm system.
This does not, under any circumstances, mean that you cannot have an alarm system. There are many other solutions that you may opt for.
It is always best to discuss all your concerns with a professional security consultant who can conduct a site survey and recommend the most suitable alarm system for your needs, keeping in mind the nature of your little (or big) animal friend.
Burglar alarms can be used with other types of sensors and detectors that fall into the perimeter protection category to make them more pet-friendly. They include:
Door contacts
Door contacts are sensors that are fitted to the doors and windows of the house to detect any unauthorised opening or closing when the system is armed.
They generally consist of two components, one of which is attached to the door or window and the other to the frame.
Both components have a magnetic contact between them that stays intact when the door or window is closed. Once open, the contact between them breaks and the sensors trigger the alarm.
These sensors work great for homes with pets, especially if you install a pet door that they can easily use without unnecessarily triggering the security alarm.
Glass break detectors
Glass break detectors are another great option that, as the name suggests, detect the sound of glass being broken due to forced entry.
If someone smashes a door or window to gain access into your property, which a lot of intruders do, the sensors would instantly pick up on the sound and trigger the alarm system.
SMART ALARMS
There are other smarter approaches to dealing with the issue of false alarms triggered by pets. One such great option is that of smart alarms.
Not specific to pet owners, smart alarms are a great choice for all homeowners due to their great features such as camera PIRs, real-time monitoring, remote access, and push notifications.
In addition to detecting strange and unauthorised movements around the house, smart burglar alarms can be integrated with other security systems, such as CCTV cameras, for a more comprehensive approach towards home security.
The CCTV systems constantly monitor the area for any unusual activity and are connected to the PIR sensors to detect any movement.
As soon as the PIR detects movement in the area, the camera takes a snapshot, or a series of snapshots, of the activity and sends them directly to your smartphone through a dedicated app installed on it.
Smart alarms work great for pet owners since you can instantly check on your phone – regardless of where you are since you can always be remotely connected to the system via the internet – if the alarm activation is a legitimate break-in or just the cat jumping onto a window sill.
Using the app on your phone, you can remotely and very easily disarm the system and rearm it almost instantly. This great feature prevents false alarms from blaring for 20 minutes straight, that may not only scare your pets but also annoy your neighbours and other concerned individuals.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST PET-FRIENDLY ALARM SYSTEM?
When choosing the best pet-friendly burglar alarm system for your home, there are a few key criteria that you need to consider:
The size of the house
This is an important factor to consider not only when choosing a pet-friendly burglar alarm but any kind of security system for that matter.
The size of your house and the number of rooms it has will determine the number of sensors to be fitted around the property.
There are numerous alarm systems suitable for different types of properties. You must pick the right alarm system that is the perfect fit and covers all the key areas of your property.
The type of pet
The type of pet in your home is another very important consideration since what might work with one pet might not work at all with the other.
Depending on the size, height, and habits of your pet animal, you must choose an alarm that ignores them and doesn’t trigger false alarms because of their presence.
For instance, you might have a small cat that is the perfect size for your PIR sensor to ignore, but the cat might have a habit of jumping and climbing on the sofa.
If that is the case, it is best to use a sensor other than a PIR, such as a door contact sensor or glass break detector.
BEST AVAILABLE PET-FRIENDLY BURGLAR ALARMS
Some of the best pet-friendly burglar alarm systems available in the market include:
Yale 6400 Pet-friendly alarm system
Yale is a renowned name in the world of security and has numerous solutions for all kinds of properties and security requirements.
Their 6400 pet-friendly alarm system comes in a kit that includes PIR sensors to detect changes in the level of heat while allowing your pet to move around freely without triggering the alarm.
It is ideal for flats and terraced, detached, or semi-detached homes, and works great for small house pets that weigh less than 26 kgs.
It also includes 2 door and window contact magnets that trigger the alarm when the doors or windows that the sensors are connected to are opened.
The system has a keypad that can be used to arm and disarm the alarm. It can also save up to 3 phone numbers to be alerted in the event of an alarm trigger.
Visonic Powermaster 33
With the ability to work with pets that weigh up to 35 kgs, the Visonic Powermaster 33 is a wireless home burglar alarm system that comes with an IP module and a free mobile app.
It can be bundled with pet-friendly PIR motion detectors and includes door/window contact sensors that alert you every time any movement is detected or if the doors or windows are opened.
It comes with an in-built IP module that allows you to remotely access and control the system via your smartphone. With a high transmission range, the system is suitable for large residential properties and small to medium-sized businesses.
Risco Agility 4
A wireless smart burglar alarm system that can be bundled with pet-friendly PIR sensors if needed, the Risco Agility 4 offers multi-layered security with detectors that can work with pets that weigh up to 35 kgs.
It uses state-of-the-art technology and offers indoor as well as outdoor security. It can use your landline connection to alert you on your phone in the event of an alarm trigger.
Its IP module allows for remote app connectivity to connect to your smartphone for real-time updates, also allowing camera PIR detectors to send over visual imaging alerts straight to your phone via the internet.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
Pet-friendly alarm systems are a bit complex to install and require professional help to set up. You may try to do it yourself, but chances are that you may end up with an inefficient or malfunctioning system. To prevent that from happening, it is best to hire a professional to install it for you.
The placement of the sensors is another crucial factor, especially if you have pets roaming around your house. Therefore, always speak to an experienced professional who will not only guide you on the best system for your home but also decide where the most ideal places for the sensors should be.
At Calder Security, we provide a comprehensive range of pet-friendly burglar alarm solutions that include not just professional installation but also monitoring, maintenance, and repair services.
We are professionals working in the security industry for over 40 years and have extensive knowledge regarding all kinds of security systems, including pet-friendly ones.
Here’s why you should choose Calder Security to secure you, your family, and your precious pet from all kinds of security threats:
- We offer professional installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repair services for all kinds of burglar alarms, along with professional keyholding services.
- We are SSAIB approved installers and all of our burglar alarm installations are carried out by qualified, experienced engineers that comply with standards: PD6662: 2010, DD243, and BS8243, required to qualify for police assistance.
- Our systems meet the stringent requirements of BS4737 and European Standard EN50131 (Intruder Alarm Systems in Buildings).
- We have both wired and wireless systems and can also advise you on the best burglar alarm for your property.
- Our expert installers guide and train you before leaving the site, making sure you are comfortable with the system and understand how it works.
- We offer a 24-hour emergency call-out service and can help you at any time of the day or night.
- We also offer telephonic consultations where we can talk you through fault fixes over the phone.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 9799 to talk to our experts right away!