When you hear a security company talk about “professional monitoring,” you might immediately think about burglary and intrusion protection. Makes sense, because a professionally monitored home alarm system is the best way to deter intruders and help protect your home from break-ins.
But professional monitoring is really about keeping you safe overall and helping protect what matters most. It can be used to help protect against a variety of common homeowner concerns — ones that are potentially lethal, and ones that can lead to devastating property damage. For example, did you know that your home can also be monitored for environmental threats, such as fire, carbon monoxide, and water leaks?
When combined with security monitoring, life safety and environmental monitoring take your home’s safety to another level. And with Guardian, there is no additional charge for these monitoring services; it’s included in your monthly cost. All you need to do is add the equipment! So, let’s talk about a few important life safety and environmental monitoring alarms every household should add to a security system.
Monitored Fire Alarm Systems
More than three out of every five home fire deaths happen in homes that do not have smoke alarms, or the smoke alarms aren’t working. When you have working smoke alarms in your home, it cuts your risk of dying in a home fire in half!
Monitored smoke detectors are connected to a central station that can notify the fire department whether your system is armed or not, whether you are sound asleep or away from home. This type of fire alarm system (monitored versus non-monitored) is by far the best approach to help protect your home. After all, if a fire is detected when no one is home, who will call for help?
Guardian’s monitored combination smoke and heat detectors use photoelectric technology, which detects abnormal levels of smoke caused by slow smoldering fires. This type of tech is particularly effective at identifying abnormally high levels of smoke associated with even small, smoldering fires — before they get out of control. Not only can this help to protect your property, but it can also help protect you and your loved ones from deadly smoke inhalation.
Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas produced by devices that burn fuel, like your water heater or stove. Breathing it in can be life-threatening, and it’s virtually undetectable without the proper equipment.
A monitored carbon monoxide detector for your home does more than provide early warning of abnormally high amounts of carbon monoxide gas; it also alerts a monitoring team who can notify emergency assistance (this can be particularly important when you and your family are sleeping.) You can also receive a text notification that the detector has gone off, so you’ll know about it whether you are at home or not.
Monitored water and flood sensors
Water damage caused by flooding and leaks can be devastating to your home — to the tune of $25,000 for just 1 inch of water. Monitored water sensors detect the presence of water in your home, and help alert you to potential flooding before extensive damage occurs. These relatively inexpensive devices are perfect for tucked away areas of your home prone to flooding, like the basement or under a sink.
When a water sensor is connected to your professionally monitored security system, it can also signal an alarm to your company’s monitoring center and send you a notification via text or email.
Room temperature sensors and smart thermostats
Temperature monitoring is an often-overlooked part of a whole-home security solution. But if you’re looking for that just-right temperature at home, they’re essential — especially when paired with smart thermostats. These two form the ultimate home comfort power couple, giving you control over your home’s heating, cooling, and general energy management.
Room temperature sensors let you decide what temperatures are too high and too low, and create unique heating and cooling schedules by measuring the average temperature of multiple rooms. Discover unwanted swings in temperature before there’s a bigger problem. And the best part? You can get alerts when something is off!
Medical alert devices
When there is a medical emergency at home, the ability to get help quickly is crucial. Seconds count. In the case of a cardiac arrest, for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by seven to 10 percent — plus, 75% of cardiac arrests occur at home.
Medical alert pendants can provide peace of mind for anyone who is elderly, lives alone, or has health or mobility issues. A medical pendant is a wearable device that can send a signal if there is a health emergency at home. All you have to do is press and hold the panic button, and an emergency signal will be transmitted to the monitoring center. Then, the monitoring team can alert authorities that urgent help is needed.
Keep in mind, that these devices only work when you are inside your home or very close to it. Learn more about home medical alert devices.
Improve safety and comfort at home with environmental and life safety devices
Fire, carbon monoxide, flood, and temperature monitoring are even more ways Guardian helps keep your home safe. With Guardian’s U.S.-based, U.L.-listed monitoring centers on the job, you can feel confident knowing that our security experts will initiate a response to any alerts from your environmental detectors and sensors — even if you’re away, sleeping, or just tied up in a work meeting.
Want to know what makes our award-winning monitoring centers stand out from the rest? Learn more.
