Home Alarm Security System - How to Determine If Your System Should Be Hardwired Or Wireless

When deciding on a home alarm security system, you will want to determine if you need a wireless or hardwired system. There is a fallacy that hardwired systems are better than wireless systems. That is not the case. Both systems work exactly the same and are equally effective.

What you think of the aesthetics of the devices, if your home is prewired and if you have access to the spaces between the walls, will help you decide what type of system to go with.

Aesthetics

Most wireless devices are visible after installation. Some of the contacts are square or rectangular and are installed outside the door or window frame. These can sometimes not match the aesthetics of your home decor.

There are recessed wireless contacts, but they are quite expensive. If you do not like the look of the wireless contacts on your doors or windows, you will either have to have hardwired contacts or the much more expensive recessed wireless contacts.

Prewire

If your home is prewired, you should go with a hardwired system. The wiring is already run and all your installer will need to do is install the devices and program them. If all the doors and windows are not prewired and you want to add additional devices, you can always make your alarm system a hybrid. Ask your installer to add a wireless receiver and you can now easily add wireless devices to your hardwired system

Access to spaces between the walls

To hardwire an alarm system, wires will have to be run from the devices to the alarm panel. To accomplish this and make sure the wires are hidden, the wires will have to be run inside the walls. Most one story homes with attic or crawl spaces have access from the attic down to the windows and doors.

Two story homes on the other hand are a different story all together. You might have access to the second story windows, but not to the first floor doors or windows. So if your two story home is not prewired, you will have to go with a wireless solution. Going with a hard wired solution in this instance will be too invasive on the house and is really not worth the trouble.

Remember, there is no difference in how a wireless alarm system operates compared to a hardwired system. Focus on the steps outlined above and you will get a system you will be happy with.