When inside their homes, most people want to have a sense of safety. Unfortunately, today break-ins occur in the best of neighborhoods. Home security solutions such as the installation of a burglar alarm can monitor the dwelling to ensure occupants are warned of intruders.

Most of these systems allow the occupant to operate them in an armed or unarmed position. The unarmed position basically means the system is turned off. When armed, the unit is continually monitoring doors and windows for intruders. The system is switched from an armed position to an unarmed by entering a number into a keypad during the short delay after opening a door.

Systems have a trigger mechanism attached to the doors and the windows of the house. These mechanisms detect each time the door or window is opened. In businesses, it is common to have motion detectors or light beams. When someone is moving in a room and breaks the light beam, a warning is sounded. However, in homes these features are less useful as systems are often armed when occupants are present and moving about in the rooms.

Systems are usually connected to a monitoring company that will contact the authorities if the system is set off. These companies receive alerts through a telephone, the internet or in other methods. Most units also sound a loud alarm at the house to notify occupants of a problem and to scare off any intruder. Some units are only designed to create the loud noise for local alerts and to scare away intruders.

Most systems are considered reliable. Some have a battery backup that allows them to continue providing protection in a power failure. While phone lines were once the primary way systems contacted the monitoring service, today, units may use the internet, cellular or other wireless technology.

If you are concerned about your safety inside your house, home security solutions can help. These systems can be configured to meet your particular needs. They reduce the chance of intruders stealing items or harming occupants of a house.