Are you taking a vacation this summer and feel anxious about leaving your home unattended for a period of time? Having an integrated and automated home surveillance system can help protect your home (or business) and bring you peace of mind while you are gone. Effective home surveillance is easier said than done and there are a ton of little details that can make, or literally, break a system.

From cameras pointed at the wall to improper wiring, we have seen both obvious and subtle mistakes that people make when installing their own system. Avoid these mistakes to keep your home or business safe and secure!

–Lawrence

security camera

Not integrating your security alerts and controls into your complete home automation.

A surveillance system does no good if you aren’t able to know what is going on at all times. Integrating your locks and lighting, accessing your cameras and controlling your smart home from your fingertips is the best way to have a safe and secure home.

Not using the right camera for the right job.

No single camera application is the same and it is important to know what you need from each of your cameras. Ask yourself a few questions to get started. Will the cameras be inside or outside? Will it be used more during the day or at night? Do your cameras need built in illumination? What focal length do you need?

Not considering enough storage for your surveillance cameras.

Also think about storage capacities for cameras. Will the system have enough storage capacity based on the necessary resolution, frame rate and number of cameras?

Bypassing proper installation research.

Know how to set up the camera layout and know how to create a secure perimeter –these are the most important aspects. Consider placement, the detection zone and blind zones. There are a number of variables to consider—are you covering all of them?

Focusing on filmmaking instead of surveillance.

Forget what your college filmmaking or photography class said. The goal is to not get the most interesting shots, but to get the shots and angles that provide maximum security. Having a camera angled with 1/3 of the shot to be the beautiful Central Oregon sky (yes, we have fantastic sunsets) is not going to help if you have an intruder on your property.

Not covering all security bases.

Look into a corner of a room and you might see a security camera. While this is good placement for covering MOST of the room, it probably doesn’t cover the corner that it sits above. There are many things to consider with proper placement, and this expertise comes from experience in site surveys. Let the experts do that.

Skimping on power distribution.

It is important to know the amount of power that is required to run a properly sized video surveillance system for your home or business. Taking the cheaper, simpler, less wattage approach can result in cameras not working, leaving your home susceptible to security issues.

Neglecting to maintain your security system.

Security equipment should, at a minimum, be checked by a professional to ensure that it is cleaned, updated and working properly once a year. We offer ongoing maintenance agreements to keep your system in tip-top shape.

Forgetting indoor monitoring.

There are many benefits to also covering certain areas inside your home or business. One or two small indoor cameras can gather a lot of information in the event that someone inside your home, intruder or guest, is engaging in less than desirable activities!

Adding home surveillance to your smart home is a smart choice—when it is done right. We are here and ready to help!

At Home System Solutions, we take pride in being Central Oregon’s leader in smart home automation, theater and entertainment. Let us help you make your dream home future-ready. Contact us by email or call 541-610-7915.