False! Today’s home alarm systems are affordable and can even help you save on your homeowners’ insurance.
When alarm systems first came on the market, the equipment was expensive, and installation was invasive and time-consuming.
However, technology has led to affordable alarm systems that can be easily installed with no drilling or wiring. In fact, modern systems are entirely wireless, making it easy to relocate the system should you move to a new home.
Don’t let holiday decorations ruin the season! Here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe while still keeping things festive!
Holiday Decorations + Home Safety
First – Candles and Trees Don’t Mix. The National Fire Protection Association warns that bringing candles in the homes raises Americans’ risk of fire.
Try to use battery-operated candles, or if you are using wax candles, keep them away from any other decorations or flammable materials.
Check Your Tree
Trees should be regularly watered to avoid drying out, and Christmas lights should always be properly installed.
Finally, be sure to keep any space heaters or heat sources away from your tree.
Christmas tree with presents near the fireplace at home in the living room
Reign in Your Decorations
Be sure to keep walkways and exits clear of any decorations to ensure safe egress. Also, keep an eye on any floating or suspended decorations–these can trigger motion detectors, resulting in pesky false alarms.
Your alarm monitoring service is about to receive a major upgrade, and you don’t need to do anything to take advantage of our new features.
After a thorough search, we have chosen a partner in AvantGuard monitoring services.
AvantGuard, a five-star central station, offers many benefits for Advanced Security Systems customers, including UL listing, a second back-up central station, and several software enhancements to keep you better informed about your security and fire alarm systems.
Enhanced Notification for Your Responsible Party List One feature we’re excited to roll out is group chat alarm management for subscribers.
Basically, instead of receiving a traditional phone call after an alarm is triggered, subscribers receive a text message that prompts them to enter a secure group chat with other responsible parties on the account. While in the chat, users can collaborate to assess the situation, provide unique insights, and finally decide to request dispatch or disregard with the touch of a button.
Group chats help overcome many problems. For starters, very few phone calls get answered. On the other hand, texts have a much higher response rate and at least provide an alert that a subscriber can see when an emergency arises, even when they are in an important meeting or would not answer a call for any particular reason.
Using group-chat notification for alarm management has benefits, including: • Fewer false alarms • Response for valid alarm events happens more quickly • Improved communication among all parties • Simultaneous alerts to multiple users
No action is required to use this new Central Station service. The upgrade will take place seamlessly behind the scenes, all without any need to reprogram or adjust your alarm system.
Now is a great time to review and update your Responsible Party list to include your cell phone number. If you don’t have a cellphone, monitoring will be performed as it always has, with a live operator and telephone calls. Click here to download our Responsible Party list update form.
Thank you for your continued business and support. Please, let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Advanced Security Systems is a leading distributor of state-of-the-art fire alarm systems, according to NOTIFIER, one of the world’s top fire alarms manufacturers.
NOTIFIER recently presented its Diamond Award of Excellence to Advanced Security Systems, citing the company’s strong commitment to customer satisfaction. The annual award is based on more than just financial results. To become a Diamond Award of Excellence winner, companies like Advanced Security Systems must demonstrate a strong community connection and a commitment to deploying the latest fire-detection technology.
With more than 500 NOTIFIER distributors worldwide, only a handful are selected to receive the Diamond Award of Excellence. “Our employees’ commitment to our customers is what helps us win awards like these,” says Chuck Petrusha, CEO and President of Advanced Security Systems. “I want to thank our dedicated technicians and security consultants for delivering state-of-the-art life-safety services to our customers throughout Northern California and Southern Oregon.
Since 1971, Advanced Security Systems has helped North Coast residents secure and protect their property with cutting-edge security and fire alarm systems. The company, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021, also sells, services, and installs surveillance and access control systems.
NOTIFIER by Honeywell is a manufacturer of engineered fire alarm systems. The company is based in Northford, Connecticut.
As satisfied customers for well over a decade, we are coming back to Advanced Security Systems to help us with surveillance and security for our new rebuilt home in Santa Rosa.
All of the staff are helpful and responsive, and we especially appreciate the support provided by Zach for our design specifications. We’d like to share a story about Advanced Security and the 2017 Wildfires:
As many, we were caught by surprise in the middle of the night. With the trees already burning around our house, we fled into the firestorm with no time to pack.
Less than 20 minutes into our nearly 90-minute struggle to survive through the fires, our cell phone went off. It was the Advanced Security dispatch center calling us to tell us that our fire alarms had gone off.
The system worked all the way until the house caught fire and, had we not evacuated only 20 minutes earlier, I believe Advanced Security would have saved our lives.
We are installing another Advanced Security System. We know it will work, but we hope we never have to use it again.
Hello,
Let’s talk about Ring and other DIY systems for a minute. We just saved a customer from switching to Ring when I told him how Ring can’t compete with us.
I wanted to make sure you’re prepared with 5 Big Reasons why Ring and other DIY systems don’t compare with a professionally installed and monitored alarm system.
1) Customers have to design their own systems. And many customers don’t know the difference between a glass break and a window contact. Working with a professional consultant solves that problem!
2) Lousy Tech Support: We’ve all had to call some international tech support line. How did that go? How long were you on hold?
3) DIY is TOO basic: Ring and others often don’t monitor for low-batteries, lack of supervision, or other common issues. Typically, all you get is alarm monitoring and nothing else.
4) Some DIY Systems Won’t Dispatch Police: Need we say more? What’s the point of a monitored alarm system if you’re not backed up by emergency services?
5) No Service Technicians: This one is obvious – it’s right in the name after all: Do it yourself. Got problems with your alarm system? You’ll be calling Best Buy to order more parts and install them yourself. That’s never an issue with a security system from us!
Thanks for reading. Now you’re armed with the TOP 5 reasons why DIY security isn’t always a great idea and you can help our customers make better decisions. Of course, if you have more questions, please reach out!
For many, Summer means a surge in outdoor cooking. Grilling is a fun and delicious way to prepare food, but it’s not without its risks.
Did you know the National Fire Prevention Agency says cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires? Between 2014 and 2018, more than 42,000 home fires were started by grills, hibachis, and barbecues, resulting in over $149 million in property damage. Every year, gas grills are involved in more than 8,900 home fires!
Knowing how to safely operate your outdoor cooking equipment is critical to preventing fires. And knowing what to do in the event of a fire can save lives and property.
Check out these tips and recommendations for enjoying a fire-safe grilling season:
For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use.
Place the grill well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grilling area.
If you use starter fluid when charcoal grilling, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire. When you have finished grilling, let the coals cool completely before disposing in a metal container.
Never leave your grill unattended when in use.
With these tips, you’ll have a safe and happy summer. We hope you enjoy it!
This week, Honeywell Home’s Total Connect 2.0 app will have a fresh, updated look. You will have the same great Total Connect functionality with a sleeker and more intuitive design. Whether they are using iOS, Android, or the website, users will be excited to see the improvements.
This is not a total redesign of the app, so we expect a seamless transition. Users can still expect the same red TC app icon, the name remains Total Connect 2.0, and the overall layout, functionality, and design of the app largely remain unchanged. All a user will need to do is update their app to the latest version. There is no other action required.
Updates include:
New clean color scheme
Updated automation devices page, with new icons and clear action buttons making the user experience easier
Smart Scenes has a new setup workflow, simplifying the process for end-users with quick setup in just three steps
Skybell Video Doorbell can now be live-streamed with a phone vertically, in addition to landscape
Please update your app to the latest version available in your app store.
In an effort to prevent infectious disease spread in our workplace, we have taken the following precautions:
Air handling filters rated to remove viruses and bacteria are being installed in our heating/cooling system, which will be changed at their recommended frequency.
We are disinfecting all door handles, every weekday.
We are sourcing medical intake masks (the type you are asked to wear when you are sick and enter a medical office) – these are in short supply internationally, and may take additional time to receive.
We are ensuring ample stock of disinfecting wipes and aerosol spray/disposable rags & anti-viral tissues.
There are actions we ask that each of us participate in daily to help prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk that you’ll bring anything unwanted home with you:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, especially after using the restroom.
When soap and water are unavailable, use liquid hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears as much as is possible.
Cough/sneeze into a disposable tissue and dispose of them, then wash/sanitize your hands.
Alternatively, if you are caught off-guard by a sneeze, do it into your shoulder, not into your hands, and always facing away from others.
Avoid shaking hands/fist-bumping. Elbow-to-elbow taps seem to be the flu-season greeting of choice, or just say “Hi” instead of making contact.
If you use a dish/bowl/glass/silverware, make sure you put it in the dishwasher when you’re done with it so that others won’t need to handle it.
Be mindful of personal space – and workspaces. When possible, ‘keep your hands to yourself’ – avoid leaning on others’ desk surfaces or standing inside their workspaces. Talk from a friendly distance.
If you use a phone/computer/other office item that is shared by others, make sure to sanitize it before leaving it. This is particularly important in our dispatch center, where all devices are shared by at least 6 different people every day.
AT EACH SHIFT CHANGE, AND BEFORE EACH BREAK PERIOD:
Use sanitizing wipes to clean the phone buttons, handset and phone cradle, headset, mouse, keyboard, and other touch-surfaces such as wrist-rests and chair arms, let them sit for 30 – 60 seconds then follow with a dry paper towel to remove excess liquid residue. Being mindful of over-saturating electronic equipment, use disinfecting spray sparingly on those types of items.
If you’re sick, or suspect that you may be getting sick:
If you have a fever, please, STAY HOME.
If you are coughing or sneezing uncontrollably, please, STAY HOME.
We recommend that you practice what we’ve asked above at home too, to better protect yourself and those you live with.
Use your best judgement and seek medical care whenever appropriate.
Do your best to get ample rest – ensuring adequate sleep is an excellent measure toward maintaining your health.
