Hard-wired vs. Wireless Home Security Systems

Homeowners today understand the value of home security. Four burglary attempts happen every minute in the United States, according to statistics released by the FBI, so protecting one’s home has never been more important. When individuals shop for home security systems, they have some choices to make. One of those choices is whether to choose a hard-wired system or a wireless home security system. Each has its advantages, and the choice ultimately comes down to what you value more as a homeowner.

Wireless home security systems

When you look at different wireless systems, you will notice one very important thing about them. They are easy to install and you can put them practically anywhere. This is one of the reasons why these systems are so very appealing. Individuals can purchase a wireless system and install it themselves, cutting down the costs of home security. Additionally, these systems are portable, which means that homeowners can take them to a new home in case of a move. There is no sunk cost when you go with a wireless system.

The issue with wireless systems is that they’re less reliable. Though they tend to work for the vast majority of the time, wireless home security systems can sometimes be held captive to periods of interference. Many homeowners hate the idea that their systems might fail when they are needed the most. Another issue is that these systems require battery changes on occasion, which can become quite expensive. It can be a legitimate hassle in certain instances. The best of wireless systems do have a high degree of technology, though, so they can be linked up to monitoring services in order to provide a great deal of service.

Hard-wired security systems

Those homeowners who seek reliability above all else will want to go with hard-wired systems. These will cost more up-front, since you will likely have to pay a professional to install them. The issue at play here is that there might be points in your home where the wiring just won’t work, which will preclude that area from being covered in your security plan. This is why individuals will need to check their home out first, just to make sure that a hard-wired system would be compatible.

Once these systems are installed, they are locked into place, so there will be no picking them up and taking them to a new home without a great deal of trouble. Despite the lack of portability, they do provide the reliability and peace of mind that homeowners seek when they purchase a home security system. The wired lines are not enslaved to wireless interference, so there will never be a point in time where your home is unprotected. Additionally, you won’t have to do any maintenance or change out any batteries once the system is installed, since it will typically run from a permanent power source. This makes them easier to manage on the whole, though they are more costly in most cases.

At HSS Net, Madison Parker has been researching and evaluating home security companies and their products as well as analyzing hundreds of videos and documents from actual robberies. Her advice and findings are a great way to understand the ways in which you can improve the safety of your home.