Honeywell Security System More Than A Burglar Alarm

Honeywell stands at the forefront of an entire new industry, providing the next step solutions to home security systems. A Honeywell security system that features access control gives you far more than a burglar alarm. Depending on the options you choose and the customizations you request, a Honeywell system can provide surveillance, alarm monitoring, alarm notification and access control, all packaged into an unobtrusive, easy to install system.

In a time when burglaries and home invasions are rising, a home security system can give you peace of mind. Knowing that your property and your family are protected, even when you’re not at home, is a priceless feeling. Honeywell, the world’s largest supplier of home security and surveillance systems, goes even further in giving you the tools you need to ensure that everything at home is safe and sound.

Home Access Solutions

A Honeywell security system allows you to control access to your home, even if you’re not there. You don’t have to hand out keys and worry that they’ll get lost or fall into the wrong hands. You don’t have to be there to let someone in, and you can easily revoke access that you’ve granted without asking for your key back. A home access solution gives you the flexibility to schedule repair appointments without worrying about taking time off from work. Simply instruct the repairman to call you when he arrives at your home, and you can reset the access code to your front door on the spot from the office, and then change it back to prevent anyone else from using the code to enter. You can start with a home access security system for just one door, and expand to a second, third or fourth door if necessary.

These access solutions are also ideal for a small business in Houston, such as a beauty shop, a restaurant or a real estate office. The business owner can control access to the building or facility with access codes, and not have to worry if an employee leaves without returning a key. When you control access through codes, it’s easy to change the code when someone leaves, and issue codes for various areas of the facility so that you have complete control over who can enter secured areas.

Combine a Honeywell security system with a surveillance system and a monitored home alarm system to provide total security for your home or place of business. A Houston home security specialist will be happy to discuss all of your options with you.

Is Your Houston Burglar Alarm System Legal?

Is your burglar alarm legal? In the city of Houston, burglar alarm systems are only legal if the alarm subscriber, who is usually the owner of the home or business where an alarm is installed, holds a valid permit for that system. If you’ve had an alarm system installed and activated without a permit, the police department may refuse to respond to alarms from your home, and the city may impose fines and penalties on you.

Why You Need a Permit for a Burglar Alarm in Houston

In a city ordinance approved April 30, 2008, the Houston city council noted that, in fiscal year 2007, the Houston Police Department had received over 150,000 alarms and dispatched a patrol car in response to over 90,000 of them. According to the Houston PD records, 95% of those alarms turned out to be false alarms. The total cost of responding to alarms was over $11 million—nearly 30% more than the amount budgeted for alarm responses. With a 95% false alarm rate, that means that false alarms cost the city nearly $10.5 million. When you look at those numbers, it’s understandable that the city council wants to get a handle on cost of responding to false alarms.

What Your Alarm Company Should Tell You

The alarm company must provide you with the current Houston police department’s policy with regards to responding to alarms that don’t have a current permit. In addition, the alarm company must keep a record of all alarms they install and provide them to the police department at least once a year or if the police chief asks for it. This ensures that the Houston Emergency Center will have a record of burglar alarms that are capable of being activated within the city.

Who Must Have a Permit for an Alarm System?

In apartments or condos in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes, the tenant, lessee or an adult legally living in the unit can be issued a permit for a home alarm system. In other residential buildings, the owner or a legal adult tenant can be issued a permit for a home alarm. In non-residential buildings, the owner or lessee of the property must apply for and be granted a permit for an installed alarm or notification system.

The applicant for an alarm permit must provide at least two telephone numbers where the police can attempt to reach someone and confirm the alarm if it is activated. In a multi-unit building, the applicant must also provide the name of the owner or of a person who can grant the police access to the unit for alarm inspection and in case of alarm activation.

A residential Houston burglar alarm permit costs $30 for a system without a panic function and $50 for one that has a panic button that can be manually activated. The permit is good for one year, and the city will notify you at least 30 days before your permit must be renewed. If you go to the trouble and expense of having your home protected by a security system, it only makes sense to get a permit and make sure that the police will respond in an emergency.