Alarm Detection Systems, Inc. University

Savvy Senior: How to keep tabs on an elderly parent | Richmond Times-Dispatch

2010-07-28T11:21:00.001-05:00

Savvy Senior: How to keep tabs on an elderly parent | Richmond Times-Dispatch

If you're interested, check out ADS's eCare service!

Basic Fire Preparedness: You should create an escape plan

2010-06-16T15:56:00.000-05:00

Being prepared for an emergency is very important. It may mean the difference between life or death. However, according to a National Fire Protection Association survey only one in four Americans have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan!

You can be better prepared for a fire at your home by creating an escape plan! Here are some tips:

1. Draw a home escape plan and discuss it with everyone in your home.

2. Designate at least two ways out of every room, including windows and doors.

3. Chose an outside meeting place a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet.

4. Practice the plan at night and during the day, at least twice per year. Bring everyone together and walk through the plan, highlighting all possible exits and escape routes.

5. Make sure that all doors and windows leading outside open easily.

6. Practice using different ways out.

7. Teach children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them.

If the alarm sounds,

1. Get out and stay out.

2. If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.

3. Feel the door and doorknob for heat before opening a door.

4. Close doors behind you as you leave.

5. Call the fire department from outside of your home. (Even if you have a monitored fire alarm system, an extra phone call to the fire department is still a good idea.).

By putting a plan in place, practicing the basics, and understanding what do during an actual emergency, you put your family in a much better position to survive a fire at your home. Going through these recommendations does not take much time and can actually be fun, especially for kids. Good luck and be safe!

Source: National Fire Protection Association, Public Education Division, www.nfpa.org/education.

Don't leave it to Fido for your safety

2010-05-03T09:31:00.006-05:00

Here's an interesting story about a family in Dekalb, Illinois courtesy of the Daily Chronicle. According to the article, the family dog acted up and barked due to smoke, which alerted a resident and caused him to call 911. Fortunately, the fire department was able to get to the home before the fire destroyed the home.

It's a nice story. And, the homeowners/family were lucky for their dog and that someone was home during the incident. Otherwise, things could have been a lot worse.

My recommendation to others is that you take the pressure of your dog to alert you to fires. An alarm system is a better option.

Here's an example of how an ADS monitored alarm could have worked in this situation: A monitored smoke detector would have sensed the smoke, triggered an alarm (alerting the family), and summoned emergency responders almost instantly. This would have happened regardless of whether someone was home. Also, it would have worked with or without a fire-alerting dog like in the Daily Chronicle story.

Way to go St. Charles!

2010-04-27T09:25:00.006-05:00

Take a look at the Kane County Chronicle online. http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2010/04/26/66667617/index.xml

For those who are unaware, St. Charles, IL (an Alarm Detection community) has been the subject of recent residential burglaries. Specifically, the burglaries had been taking place in Eastern St. Charles in the area of Steeple Chase Road, Persimmon Woods, and Fox Chase subdivision.

Fortunately, the police now have a suspect in custody. And, it sounds like a beautiful joint-effort between the St. Charles Police Department and the community is responsible.

It appears that the community has been vigilant and helpful by taking note of suspicious activities and providing tips to the police department. The St. Charles Police has been conducting interviews, surveying the area, and exercising search warrants.

It's interesting to see some of the detail about the crimes. According to the Kane County Chronicle, "[the suspect] would ring doorbells late at night. Police suspected he would determine if the home was occupied and would later target the home."

It's classic casing of a neighborhood.

How can we at ADS help you minimize the risk that your home will be targeted by a burglary.

First, we have Alarm Detection System yard signs and stickers that you can display on the exterior of your house. These displays are an effective deterrent to individuals casing a location. You're house will look a lot less attractive if it appears that you have a monitored burglar alarm. (These stickers are free to ADS customers).

Second, we have monitored alarm systems. The yard signs and stickers only get you so far. Burglars that case neighborhoods have methods that can identify people who truly have alarms vs. those who don't. They may observe from a distance. they may get information from people (e.g., contractors) who have been in your home in the past. Heck, they may have been in your home at some point.

Furthermore, a burglar alarm will give you piece-of-mind knowing that you have a blanket of protection over your home and family. You'll have push button access to emergency responders if you're ever scared. The fact that your burglar alarm also monitors for fire is icing on the cake.

Third, we have security cameras. Security cameras are more affordable and higher quality than ever.

Fourth, we provide door locks and keys. We have a full-service lockshop at ADS. A good idea is to rekey your locks and regain key control where you're confident that nobody outside of your control has a working key to your house.

The value of being a good neighbor and having responsive police officers cannot be overstated. Often, however, neighbors and the PD gets involved after a crime. ADS can supplement your security and provide additional protection, both before and after a crime occurs. An alarm system or other ADS service may deter crimes before they happen. If one does occur, our services are positioned to minimize the danger to you, your family and property.

Insight into ADS's Central Station

2010-04-26T10:59:00.002-05:00

We take a lot of pride in our Central Station. After all, it did win the Central Station of the Year.

An essential element to our success has been finding and maintaining great operators. In this article at securityinfowatch.com, you can see some insight into what it takes to have one of the best monitoring stations in the country, located right here in Aurora, Illinois.

Supercharge your alarm with text alerts

2010-04-15T10:42:00.000-05:00

Do you want to make sure that your son or daughter is not throwing parties at your home when you’re away? Do you want to know how long your cleaning person was at your house?

If you have an alarm system, you know the basics. It can deter intruders. It can sound an alarm during a fire or break-in. It can contact keyholders or emergency responders moments after an incident. But, did you know that you can use your alarm to give you real-time updates for who is coming and going at your house?

For just about any event you want, ADS can program your alarm system to send you a text message. You get to decide what events will trigger a text message. For example, your system can be programmed to send you a text whenever someone arms or disarms the system. It can send a text when a certain person arms or disarms the alarm. Or, you can just receive messages if there is a trouble or alarm signal. It is all up to you.

We have found one of the most valuable uses of text alerts is for parents who have children who are home alone. Specifically, parents find that text notification when the child arm/disarms the system is very helpful. In essence, you’ll get confirmation that your child has left and returned to the house, which is especially useful during school when your child to leaves and returns from school at a regular time.

Another common reason for getting text alerts is to track who and when someone is coming and going at your house. For example, if you have a cleaning person who comes to your house regularly, then we can program your system to send you texts when the cleaning person’s arm/disarm code is entered. This will tell you that the cleaning person has been at your house and how long they were at your home.

Finally, you can use text service to make sure that unwanted persons are not entering your home. Imagine that you have a son, daughter, or babysitter who is prone to having guests at your home when you’re away. You can require that alarm is required to stay “armed” while your child or babysitter are in the house. With text service, you’ll know if someone disarms the system to let another person inside.

These are some common examples of when text service is useful. You may have your own creative way to use it to address a problem you are having. A phone call to ADS is all it takes to get text service going. It’s a service that people find very useful, but not everybody is aware of!

Living in the City of Geneva with an Alarm System

2010-04-02T10:02:00.005-05:00

Do you live in Geneva, IL and have an alarm system? Are you interested in having an alarm?

If so, you'll want to know that the City requests that alarm owning residents and businesses file for a free permit. You can get the permit at http://www.geneva.il.us/pd/AlarmUserPermitApplication.pdf. The permit is short and easy to fill out. It's the City's way of having contact information if your alarm goes off and nobody is home.

While the Geneva permit is aimed at reducing problems for the police department. At ADS, we also work very hard at reducing the burden of false alarms on the police/fire departments. If you have a monitored alarm system with Alarm Detection Systems, you'll be able to provide ADS with a list of "keyholder"/contact information. Depending on your preferences, the keyholders can be notified if there is an alarm at the your premises. When ADS contacts the keyholder, he/she can specify whether they want to have emergency services dispatched or not.

Do you have security cameras that are broken?

2010-03-31T14:28:00.004-05:00

According to the New York Times, about 1/2 of New York City's 4000 security cameras installed along the subway do not work. That is a lot of investment providing no return!

A similar situation occurs with businesses.

Does this sound familiar?

A while back, your company bought security cameras. Over time, the quality of the video deteriorated. Perhaps a few of the cameras stopped functioning. Now, you just hold out hope that your security cameras will deter bad things from happening, because the system no longer operates at all.

What do you do?

You could forget about your investment and continue to use your cameras as decoration. This is not recommended. Smart criminals will probably know your system is not working. They find these things out through observation, speaking to your employees, or by being one of your employees.

A better option is to repair your system. You may be surprised to find that it doesn't always take a lot of time and money (compared to your initial investment) to get your system back up and operating. ADS fixes camera systems all the time, whether the damage is caused by neglect, abuse, or "acts of god" such as lightning.

Your camera system may be in such disrepair, however, that you need to replace your system. The situation is not all grim, however. New camera systems have evolved significantly. Picture quality and user friendly features are two areas where the improvements have been vast. You may be shocked at how easy it is to navigate recorded footage with mouse clicks and a computer. You may be able to identify peoples' faces, numbers on documents, and items in your inventory--when your past system could do none of these things.

How do you keep your security camera system working?

We think the best way to handle your security camera investment is with a regular maintenance schedule. You'll be able to catch minor issues before they become major. Your system should have significantly more up-time. And, you'll save money over the long-run, because your investment will last much longer.

Alarm Detection Systems offers regular camera maintenance as part of its suite of services. The that customers really like this option over a "time and material" basis.
cost of a camera maintenance can vary depending on the type and size of system. Often, we find
We install and service security systems through out the Chicago area....from the far western suburbs (and beyond!) all the way to Wisconsin. Let us know if we can help!

ADS Wins Environmental Award

2010-03-24T10:59:00.001-05:00

Today, ADS proudly received an Environmental Award from Cintas Document Management. Through our partnership with Cintas, we saved 153 trees, 3,420 gallons of oil, 63,000 gallons of water, and 27 cubic yards of landfill.

What to do after a fire

2010-03-18T09:54:00.003-05:00

Whether its Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, or Chicago, I frequently read about home fires every day through out Chicagoland. A home fire can be devastating and traumatic. Thankfully, there are resources to help. Here is a checklist that gives a brief guide to follow after a fire strikes from FireSafety.gov:

Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food and medicines.
If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory and contacting fire damage restoration companies. If you are not insured, try contacting private organizations for aid and assistance.
Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire.
The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made.
Try to locate valuable documents and records. Refer to information on replacing documents and records.
If you leave your home, contact the local police department to let them know the site will be unoccupied.
Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on income tax.
Notify your mortgage company of the fire.
Check with an accountant or the Internal Revenue Service about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss.

While this list is designed for actions to take after a fire, one thing you can do to help reduce your risk of a catestrophic fire is install a home alarm. Remember, a home alarm can easily incorporate fire detection devices such as heat and smoke detectors. When these devices detect a fire, the monitoring station can immediately dispatch firefighters. This saves you valuable time to gather your family and get out of the house. Moreover, the monitored alarm can get help even if you're not home.

Two Suburban Chicago Communities Reporting Crime Increases

2010-03-10T13:50:00.005-06:00

Recently, two local ADS community newspapers reported on crime in Riverside, IL and Bradley, IL.

According to the Riverside/Brookfield Landmark crime is up for the second straight year with a dramatic increase in the number of thefts. Likewise, the Kankakee Daily Journal reported that in Bradley, IL, overall crime is down, but burglary is up 80%.

At ADS, we've been noticing a trend in theft/robbery type crimes in the Chicagoland area for a while. We monitor over 25,000 alarms and many of these are burglar alarms. We also have contact with thousands of individuals regarding their security, property and safety. We have our ears connected to the community. It's interesting when we see other data sources confirming our own.

A recent, disturbing trend that has been remarked by some here at ADS is that more and more of the thefts/robberies have been connected to violent acts/situations. This is not a good thing--at all.

Tomorrow, I'll post about some of the things that we (ADS) can do to make yourself more safe.

Making a Statement with Your Alarm System

2010-03-10T13:32:00.001-06:00

One Friday evening, you go over to your friend’s house for cocktails and dinner. Since it’s your first visit to the house, your friend starts you on the customary home tour. Room-after-room, the house impresses you with its style, colors, and arrangements. The tile work is radiant, the hardwood floors, impeccable. The lighting is subtle and warm.

Towards the end of your tour, you notice something on the wall that doesn’t quite fit the stainless appliances and rich wood textures of the house—an alarm keypad. It’s made of white plastic. And, while the keypad is clean looking, it looks like every other alarm keypad that you have seen and it does not match the over-all quality of the house.

Not surprisingly, traditional home alarms (specifically keypads) have not been designed with sex appeal in mind. The alarm industry’s first goal is to make you safe and secure, not necessarily fit designer tastes. To be fair, there has been an occasional upscale keypad. These, however, have been few and far between, and the options have been lacking.

Now, alarm manufacturers are delivering products that will integrate into your home’s style. Specifically, high-resolution LCD touch pads have emerged into to the home alarm market. These units resemble a small flat-screen TV rather than traditional alarm keypads.

The touch screen operation of the new units is a significant departure from the alpha/numeric keypads on traditional alarm systems. The touch screen allows for easy-to-use controls in multiple languages with intuitive icons and menus. The units also give the homeowner more programmability and control over the alarm, alarm codes, and zones. Even if you prefer alpha/numeric keypads, the LCD units can be programmed to imitate/appear as a traditional keypad.

Most striking about the LCD units, though, is the appearance in the home. The units are available in various high-quality trims, including silver, black or white. These options allow you to fit the unit into almost any area of the house. For example, the silver unit is designed to fit right in with your stainless steel kitchen appliances. Moreover, the LCD units double as a digital picture frames that allow users to upload photographs and create slideshows. Many users find this feature enough to justify the upgrade to an LCD touchpad.

If all you want is basic, good-looking functionality, a traditional keypad will do just fine. If, however, you want to make a statement or if you want your alarm keypad to match the feel of your home, an LCD touchpad may be perfect for you.

Secure your home with quality locks and key control

2010-02-12T15:22:00.001-06:00

One of the most important safety items at your home is your exterior door lock. Yet, we find that people neglect this critical component by hiding keys in obvious spots, not knowing who has keys to their house, and by using poor quality locks. But, there is hope! There are easy solutions that can help make your home more secure!

Do you have a key under a door mat, rock, or plant? Too many homeowners hide a spare key in an obvious spot. Instead of trying to find some great spot to hide a key, a simple solution is to use a key lockbox that you can easily secure mount on a wall or to the handle of an exterior door. Realtors often use these. With the lockbox, you do not have to hide your keys and you will not forget where you hid them! ADS sells the door hanging or mountable lockboxes for around $50. You might be able to find them at your home improvement store.

A second problem is that too many people have keys to a home. When you purchase your home, there is no telling how many people have a key that can unlock your doors. If you did not change the locks, you never established key control. Also, if you have lost keys or given copies to neighbors over the years, you may lost key control. A simple way to establish key security is to have your home locks re-keyed. Re-keying ensures a fresh start and costs far less than getting entirely new door hardware. Most people can have their locks re-keyed by certified locksmiths for less than $200.

Finally, people too frequently rely on poor quality locks and deadbolts. These inferior locks may be picked, drilled, hammered off, or pried off. It can be easy for an intruder to simply kick the door with a cheap lock. A quality lock will minimize the ease at which a person can forcefully enter through your door. Often these locks utilize longer screws, protective armors, and strategic designs that make it very difficult to quickly or easily gain access to your home

An alarm system is a great security tool. Still, there is no substitute for using quality locks and maintaining key control. You want to make sure that you and only those who you trust have access to your home. If you have never had your locks changed or have doubts about who may have a key to your home, you should correct the issue sooner rather than later. You will be safer and sleep better at night knowing that you have!

We have more employees to acknowledge!

2010-02-08T08:31:00.002-06:00

In a recent post, various ADS employees were recognized for their hard work and dedication to success in 2009.

Here are two more employees that were honored for their excellent contributions in 2009:

The Residential Salesperson of the Year was Jim Pappas. Jim has received this honor for three consecutive years. After 12 years of experience in the industry, Jim joined the ADS family 6 years ago. Jim’s sales can be attributed to his hard work and dedication to ADS and our customers. That dedication is the key to Jim's success, as a large portion of his sales come from direct referrals from his happy customers.

The Central Station Operator of the Year for 2009 is Nicole Rice. Nicole has over 7 years of service with ADS, and has been willing to take on additional responsibilities when the need arose. In the event of an emergency, or if a coworker was unable to work, Nicole is one of the first to volunteer to help out. She is also being recognized for the number of signals she handled during the year, as well as the professionalism used to perform her duties.

Congratulations to Jim and Nicole!!!!!!

DID YOU KNOW…that ADS has grown to over 220 employees?

2010-02-01T08:53:00.000-06:00

As a growing company, we are always looking for talented new individuals to become part of the ADS team. You can see current job openings at www.adsalarm.com. Depending on the position, benefits can include a 401K, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, company vehicle, company fuel card, and training.

Although not a traditional benefit, ADS has taken pride in never laying off a single employee in over 40 years.

Test Signals—We want your system to operate correctly!

2010-01-13T11:01:00.002-06:00

For most ADS customers, an essential component of your alarm system is monitoring. Monitoring is what gets you help in the event of an emergency. Monitoring works by communicating (typically through the phone) with ADS’ Monitoring Station.

Your monitored alarm system can and should be programmed to send a test signal to Alarm Detection Systems’ central station at least once per-month (though the requirements vary depending on the nature of the system and jurisdictional requirements). The test signal confirms that the line-of-communication between your alarm and ADS is intact and functioning. It does not test the operation of your alarm devices such as keypads, door/window contacts, smoke detectors or sirens.

During the test, the alarm panel contacts the Monitoring Station through the phone line or other method of communication. The test is silent and does not require any action from the owner. Often, the test is programmed for the middle of the night so as to not disrupt the phone line during the day. At the scheduled time, ADS looks for a successful receipt of the test signal. If no signal is received or if the signal is late, it may show that there is a problem with your alarm system. In this event, we will contact you to remedy the communication issue.

Why might an alarm system fail to communicate properly? Sometimes, a homeowner (or previous homeowner) cancels the phone line that the alarm system needs for communication. Another reason can be a switch from a landline to a cable supplier who uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Finally, equipment or line failure may be the cause of lack of communication.

Even if you do not use your burglar alarm (yes, we know this happens), you need functioning communication lines for your fire alarm to work properly. Often, people do not realize this.

If you do not know whether your ADS monitored alarm system is sending test signals, you should call Alarm Detection Systems at 630-299-1131. Within a few minutes, we can check our systems to determine if your alarm has been sending a regular test signal.

If your ADS system is not communicating properly, the problem can often be fixed by programming or connecting a phone line, which is relatively easy to do. Under most circumstances, we do not charge to program your alarm or take simple steps to restore a solid connection between move the monitoring to a different phone line.

Please contact us to verify your test signals! A regular test signal is an important diagnostic test for your alarm system. We want your alarm system to function properly!

Increasing home value with an alarm system (Part 2)

2010-01-04T09:00:00.005-06:00

Many readers come to this blog interested in a post from a couple of months ago, which discussed the idea that a home alarm system can increase a house's value. In that post, I pointed out a few articles that say that a home alarm can increase you're house's value. The premise is simple: Many people want an alarm system and having one can add value to your home and make it more attractive to prospective buyers. However, the cited articles and previous blog post stopped short of a key detail in increasing home value with an alarm.

In order to increase your home's value with an alarm, you must buy a quality system and have it installed in a professional manner. Otherwise, the alarm system that you install will not last or be an attractive feature at your house.

What distinguishes a quality alarm system?

Quality components vs. Cheap components--It can be difficult for a consumer to determine the quality of the components of an alarm system. However, you should look for a few things. First, the alarm components should be UL Listed. Next, even if you don't want to have your system monitored, it should be capable of communicating with a central monitoring station. You may change your mind and want to have the alarm monitored or the next home owner may want to have the alarm monitored. Third, the alarm panel and components should be capable of "supervision", which means that they can self-report operation issues. Finally, the alarm should be fully-programmable and capable of expansion.
Custom designed alarm vs. one-size-fits-all--An alarm professional can design a system that takes into account your needs and budget. Different house layouts, house construction, family budgets, safety concerns, and family make-up require that an alarm system be tailored to fit. A one-size-fits-all alarm can be a recipe for headaches due to poor quality and ill-fit if there is no abilitiy to customize the alarm.
Professional Installation vs. Unprofessional Installation--For many people and businesses(including Alarm Detection Systems) a neat, professional installation is important. Wires that are run poorly look sloppy. Equipment that is not mounted square and level is distracting and can ruin appearance. These finer details are important when you want an alarm that improves the value and appearance of your house.

At ADS we pride ourselves on professional and quality alarm systems. Do not assume, though, that we're more expensive than the cheap alarms offered at big box stores. Often, we're not, especially when you consider the value of a quality alarm system over the long-term. A free security evaluation is available from one of our professionals. Simply call 630-844-6300 or go here http://www.adsalarm.com/switch_ads/ScheduleEvaluation.aspx

Alarm Detection Systems announces Employees of the Year

2009-12-23T15:09:00.010-06:00

At the end of each year, Alarm Detection Systems celebrates the hard work of its employees by holding a company party and dinner. The fantastic event, which takes place at an area hotel, is complete with a DJ, dancing, food, and beverages.

During the dinner, ADS honors the hard work and dedication of a few standout individuals by issuing the ADS Employee of the Year awards. ADS proudly presents this year’s winners

The Service Technician of the Year is Eric Shepherd. Eric started working for ADS in 2007. He has worked extremely hard to become a top ADS technician. He is certified NICET Level I, but will soon be testing for Level II. Eric’s value, however, expands beyond his excellent technical skills. Eric demonstrated a work ethic and an ability to work well with customers that places him among the top service technicians at ADS. ADS truly appreciates the great work Eric did for ADS in 2009 and looks forward to a great 2010.

The Inspector of the Year is Lyndon Leisher. Lyndon has been with ADS since February of 2007. He came here with two years of experience testing sprinkler systems at Caterpillar Inc. He was named Inspector of the Quarter for the first time in 2009. Lyndon has continued to grow and adapt to the changing world of Fire Alarm Inspections. Since joining the inspections team Lyndon was the first Inspector to pass all the NICET elements necessary for level II certification. Not only has Lyndon added to his technical skills, but also he has also consistently demonstrated a welcoming and helpful attitude toward all of Alarm Detection’s customers. Through continuous customer feedback, it is apparent that Lyndon sees customer satisfaction as his number one goal.

The Salesperson of the Year for 2009 is Deric Wahlgren. He has over twelve years of experience with ADS. He spent the first seven years as a Service Technician. During those seven years, Deric won the Technician of the Year award an astonishing four (consecutive) times! For the past five years, Deric has been a very consistent performer in our sales department. He is regularly in the top five in sales and as been ranked as high as second. Deric’s consistency in sales can be attributed to his work ethic and his ability to design systems that meet our customers' needs. Congratulations and thanks for your continued hard work.

The Installer of the Year for 2009 is Jeff Geihm. Jeff has over 26 years of service with ADS and is a member of the Tech Team, which handles all installation add-ons to existing systems. His years of service have proven invaluable when dealing with older and obsolete equipment. His professionalism when dealing with customers and difficult technical problems is outstanding. Jeff is a trusted and valued employee of Alarm Detection System.

Congratulations to Eric, Lyndon, Deric, and Jeff, as well as the entire ADS family, which have worked so hard to grow ADS in 2009!

Morris Daily Herald Covers ADS Merger with MBN!

2009-12-17T10:19:00.000-06:00

http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2009/11/13/45568682/index.xml

Back to Basics With Your Home Alarm System

2009-11-30T10:20:00.004-06:00

I read about a fire at a Campton Hills home over the Thanksgiving weekend: http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/11/28/69193525/index.xml According to the story, a neighbor reported the fire, which is estimated to have caused $100,000 in damage.

Having a house fire is never a fortunate event and I'm sorry for the homeowner in the story.

Still, I think a story like the one above provides a moment to educate homeowners about fire protection and how we provide a service to homeowners that can help protect life and property.

Many people associate alarms only with "burglar alarms" and intruder protection. However, the fact is that residential alarms (at least those sold by Alarm Detection Systems) are as much fire alarms as burglar alarms.

When you get an ADS alarm, the core of the system is a panel/central unit that connects to various alarm devices (by wire or wireless depending on the system and homeowners' preferences). We are able to connect smoke and/or heat detectors in the same way as a burglar alarm device (e.g., motion detector). Unlike your burglar alarm, which is frequently turned on and off, your fire alarm devices remain active 24-7.

A substantial benefit of an ADS alarm is the monitoring aspect. Unlike battery operated devices found in retail stores, a monitored ADS alarm will quickly alert emergency personnel if a device is activated. The valuable minutes saved by a monitored alarm can make a huge difference in property or life loss. Moreover, ADS alarm devices can be "supervised" and can notify the user when there is an issue with the alarm system. This is much different than the retail smoke detector, which requires batteries and can be non-functioning without the user being aware.

Consider if the following examples are interesting to you:

A fire starts when you're not home. Nobody is home to do anything before its too late. A monitored ADS alarm will get help regardless of whether somebody is home. As a pet owner, I find it especially important to me that there is a monitored fire alarm. Even if you're not a pet owner, if you have valuables (think monetary and sentimental) that will be difficult to replace, a monitored fire alarm is difficult to beat.
A fire starts in your basement or garage, especially if you're sleeping. It may be minutes before you're awakened, confirm the fire, and contact for help. A properly monitored ADS fire alarm starts the process for getting help as soon as the fire is detected. People who have young children or newborn babies can really benefit from such protection. You may get more time to organize and escape during an emergency and help can get to you faster.
You are concerned about your ability to escape during an emergency. Perhaps your house is large or your bedroom is in a difficult location. Maybe, you don't get around like you used to. A fire alarm system may make you much safer.

To fully understand how a fire alarm system works and can work for you at your house, you should contact Alarm Detection Systems. (If you're outside the Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, we may be able to recommend a reputable company in your area). Each house is different and each owner has different considerations. We can listen to your needs and provide recommendations to consider.

We are here to help you.

Working Hard To Be The Best

2009-11-19T11:05:00.004-06:00

At ADS, it is a priority that we be leaders in the alarm industry. At all levels of our company, we have people working to acheive new certifications and become active in various organizations.

One of the big alarm organizations is the Central Station Alarm Assocation (CSAA). CSAA is the international association representing security companies, alarm monitoring systems, services, and products.

Ed Bonifas, Vice President, Alarm Detection Systems, Inc. was recently appointed to a two-year term as President of the Central Station Alarm Association. The official commencement took place at the 2009 CSAA Annual Meeting in Athens, Greece.

Bonifas has been a fixture in the alarm industry for over 30 years. While still in high school, he started working for the family-owned ADS, founded by his father. He has been a CSAA board member for a number of years, chairing several committees during his tenure. His expertise in the security field has made him a sought-after speaker at various industry conferences as well as numerous life-safety and public-safety forums.

Our organization is full of people like Ed Bonifas, who are leaders and innovators in their respective fields. We are constantly looking to existing employees and for new people to take us to new heights. We are here to serve you and your alarm needs.

Activity Assurance

2009-11-03T08:51:00.010-06:00

Imagine a service where, every day, your parent or loved one is checked on to make sure they are OK. If everything is fine, you'll know. If something is wrong, you'll be contacted immediately. What is the value of this service to you?

At Alarm Detection Systems, we recently launched our eCare program. The eCare program provides numerous options for people looking for a PERS type service. We have a set of packages and options so that customers can chose the services they want and avoid paying for unwanted services.

One of the most exciting features of the eCare program is Activity Assurance. Activity Assurance is an option, which uses advanced sensors to make sure that a person is active and completing his/her routine.

Let's say that you have an elderly mother who lives alone. You enroll your mom in the eCare program and opt for the Activity Assurance feature:

Most Days: When your mom gets out of bed in the morning, her movement is detected by a small wireless motion detector. The eCare base unit "knows" that your mom is active and does nothing (after all, everything is fine). Even though you can't be there with your mom, you know that your mom got up that morning and started her day.

The Exceptional Day: Say there is the day where your mom does not get out of bed in the morning. The eCare base unit "knows" that there is no activity, which alerts ADS's Central Monitoring Station. The trained ADS operators immediately attempt to contact your mom through the base unit. (Assume that your mom does not respond to attempt to contact her). ADS's operators initiate phone calls to your mom's contact list, which includes you and a trusted neighbor. You receive a phone call from ADS's operators stating that your mom is not active, but that a trusted neighbor (who is also on the call list) has been contacted and is checking on her. Within minutes, you find out that your mom is in bed, immobile, with a terrible case of the flu.

These basic examples show how the eCare Activity Assurance service works. Every day that you don't receive a phone call from ADS, you know that your mom is active and going about her day. On the rare day when something is wrong, ADS operators begin to contact friends, family, and/or emergency personnel who can give assistance.

Activity Assurance is not limited to "getting out of bed" and can be used to verify activity in other aspects of a person's routine. For example, instead of getting out of bed, the eCare service can be set up to verify that a medicine cabinet or refrigerator door was opened on a given day. The beauty of it is that it provides exceptional piece of mind for you (and other loved ones), and it is passive and unobtrusive to the user.

At the beginning, I asked what the value of a service like this would be to you, a service that checks in on your mom, dad, grandparent, or friend every day (or twice/day) and verifies activity?

Is that kind of piece of mind worth $1.50/day? Through the ADS eCare program Activity Assurance costs $45 month with a $50 installation fee. Click here for a copy of our eCare brochure which shows options and pricing.

Keeping your pipes from freezing: Install a temperature sensor

2009-10-27T16:20:00.003-05:00

As far as weather is concerned, I think we've skipped October in Chicagoland. With cold weather here already, it's a good time to talk about how your alarm system can protect you from the freezing cold.

If you have an alarm system, there is a good chance that you can equip your system with a low-temperature device. In its simplest form, the temperature device measures air temperature and will alert you if your air temperature falls below a specified temperature.

There are various levels of sophistication when it comes to a temperature sensor. Often, for one's home, you just need the basic temperature sensor that notifies you if the premises drops below a pre-determined temperature (e.g., 40 degrees). These devices can be very inexpensive.

More sophisticated temperature sensors contain programmable lower and upper temperature limits. These sensors can be set to delay any warnings. For example, you could program the sensor to activate when the temperature is below 27 degrees for 5 continuous minutes. Some sophisticated sensors are weather resistant and can read temperatures from remote locations.

You may find a temperature sensor beneficial if....

You live in a cold climate. If your furnace quits, it will not be long before temperatures plummet to below freezing, which can spell disaster for your plumbing.
You own a vacant house or a rental house. Many people have vacation homes, cottages, apartments or residences for sale that are regularly vacant for periods of time. A temperature sensor will provide peace-of-mind that your furnace is working and that your house is an acceptable temperature.
You have a refrigerator or freezer with valuable items in it. I have relatives with a meat freezer that stopped working. Before they knew what happened, all of the meat had been ruined and the smell was horrible. A simple remote temperature sensor could have detected an unacceptable elevation in temperature and notified my relatives immediately.
You own a business. Say you have a room where it is critical that you maintain a certain temperature (for example a room that houses computer servers). You don't want that room getting too hot or too cold. Many businesses have areas where temperatures must be maintained in a specific range and a temperature sensor would be ideal.

Keep in mind that when you use a temperature sensor with a monitored alarm, the results are much more beneficial. If your alarm is not monitored, what good would an alarm buzzer going off do for you when your house is vacant? On the other hand, a quality monitoring alarm company will instantly be notified and follow a specified call list to notify you or other delegates.

In short, temperature sensors can alert you of increases or decreases in temperature. While most commonly used to detect freezing temperatures in the home, you can use them in almost any situation, location or application where temperature change can cause a significant property loss.

Wii Bowling, "cane-fu-fighting" and Alarms

2009-10-20T08:20:00.005-05:00

This morning, I read an article on CNN.com about the world's largest senior citizen Wii bowling tournament. In addition to 600 senior bowlers participating, the event addressed senior health and safety at home. While there are numerous ways to make yourself safer, apparently some seniors have turned to "cane-fu-fighting", which is self-defense using one's cane.

Importantly, the article highlighted the fact that falls are the leading cause of injury related death for seniors. There are three recommendations for reducing falls. First, make sure your home is safe. Second, talk with your doctor. Third, get your body in shape.

From an alarm perspective, let me add one way to make your home safer from the harm of falls: Add a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System). While it may not make you less likely to fall, a PERS can mitigate the risk of serious injuries resulting from a fall.

I have had numerous people tell me about how a relative fell and remained on the floor unable to contact help. I believe this is a situation that occurs regularly. It's sad, because it is a situation that can be avoided.

A PERS (which you can get for about $30/mo) can significantly reduce the chances that a loved one will remain on the floor injured. As long as the person who falls is in range of the PERS base unit and is able to push the pendant button, a person will not have to lie on the floor injured.

My company, Alarm Detection Systems, has its eCare service. We provide PERS systems to homes across Chicagoland. I have seen the eCare do its job and help people truly in need. If you're interested in our eCare program, I will be happy to provide you with information, prices, and options. Just send me an email, Security@adsalarm.com.

We're growing.

2009-10-19T15:36:00.005-05:00

On October 1, 2009, Alarm Detection Systems announced its merger with the security segment of M.B.N. Home Theater & Security Systems located in Morris, Illinois. ADS will provide monitoring, repair, and inspection of alarms for the majority of M.B.N.’s customers.

Already the largest security company headquartered in Illinois, the merger increases the number of Alarm Detection Systems accounts to over 27,000. Additionally, ADS has launched new program services tailored to the specific needs of its customers.

One new service is Alarm Detection Systems’ “OREO” (Other Real Estate Owned property) program. The OREO program is ADS’s solution to vacant residential and commercial properties. A lot of vacant properties are at risk of intruders, failing furnaces, and flooding. The OREO program is a temporary, cost-effective solution to help vacant property owners.

In addition to the OREO program, Alarm Detection Systems recently initiated its eCare program. At the core of the program is a personal emergency response system (PERS), which consists of a base unit and wireless pendant that can be activated during an emergency.

Many people associate PERS with the commercial where a person falls and cannot get up, but the technology has become much more sophisticated and valuable. The eCare program is designed to pass along the new PERS advancements to our customers because they really help out the user, friends, and family.

Alarm Tip: Test Your Alarm System Monthly

2009-10-12T10:13:00.001-05:00

If you have an ADS monitored alarm, simply call ADS at 630-844-6302 and tell us that you want to test your system. You will need to provide your passcode along with your first and last name. Conduct your test by arming your system and “tripping” the alarm (e.g., open an entry door and leave it open). Let the alarm sound for at least 15 seconds. Turn your alarm off at your keypad/control panel to stop the buzzers or sirens. Call our operators back, confirm that we received the alarm signals, and tell us that the test is over.

Call Alarm Detection Systems before Remodeling, Save Money and Headaches

2009-10-12T10:04:00.003-05:00

Remodeling can be stressful. Scheduling, rearranging your life, and figuring out the finances can be among some of the issues that weigh heavily during a remodel. You certainly don’t want extra headaches. Take this advice: Call Alarm Detection Systems before remodeling to make sure that your alarm system will not be adversely affected.

Likely, your alarm system has considerable wiring run throughout the walls, attic, and basement of your house. Many windows and doors have integrated alarm devices. When a home is remodeled, the alarm system is frequently disturbed.

Many remodeling projects can have implications on your alarm system. However, we see the most problems when a customer has windows replaced. Here is what happens:

The window company removes the windows…sometimes dozens of windows. In removing the windows, the existing alarm devices and wiring around every window are torn out. The window company installs beautiful new windows, but the alarm system does not work.

Unfortunately, with the windows already installed, repairing the alarm system becomes significantly more difficult. Often, the windows cannot be drilled to run new wiring or install new devices because it voids the manufacture’s warranty. This may force the homeowner (and alarm company) to take costly corrective measures to restore the alarm system.

You can avoid numerous, significant issues by calling Alarm Detection Systems before you begin your remodeling.

For free, Alarm Detection Systems will discuss your remodeling project, and even come to your house if necessary. We will work with you or your subcontractors to minimize the disruption and damage to your alarm system. Often with a little communication and planning, we save a lot of headache because there are things that can be done to minimize alarm damage from remodeling.

We understand that it is an extra effort to contact Alarm Detection Systems. However, we see remodeling problems over and over and over. Please do not remodel without calling us first. We are here to help!

"Worst Fear" Solutions: A loved-one who needs help and can't get it

2009-09-28T10:29:00.008-05:00

A woman lives alone at home. She is autonomous and strong. She mows the lawn, cooks, and manages her daily life like she has done for decades. She rejects the idea she needs any special considerations. She is 75 years old.

Her family observes the same thing, but has a slightly different perspective. They see the woman as strong and autonomous. But, they are worried for her safety. "What if" they often think about falls, emergencies, and unexpected medical conditions. Whether the dangers are real or perceived they worry about who will be there to help.

Many people find that a PERS or "Personal Emergency Response System" is a solution to the above concerns: A loved one wants to live at home/the family is concerned about that person's well-being. Its a natural and common situation.

At the core, a PERS is a link between the user and fast (possibly emergency) assistance. The user wears a small pendant, wrist band or belt clip with a button. When the button is pressed, the user is put in contact with a central station, which can contact friends, family, or emergency services depending on the situation. While you will see differences in prices and customer service, many companies (including my company) out there offer something close to this core package.

Most people are unaware that there are companies out there that offer services beyond the base level PERS.

At my company, we are able to add on additional features such as "activity monitoring" where family and friends are given piece of mind knowledge that the user is active and completing his/her daily routine. We offer programmable reminders for things like medication. We even offer fall detection, where if the user falls down and is unable to activate her emergency button, the system detects the fall and still treats the event as an emergency.

A "PERS" may be just the thing that you need to strike a balance between autonomy and safety/piece of mind.

If you have any question about PERS or how they work, please contact (Security@adsalarm.com) me and I'll be happy to help!

Adding an Alarm System Increases Your Home's Value

2009-09-08T15:33:00.005-05:00

The alarm industry is a unique industry, especially in times of difficult economic conditions. Here are two general rules that highlight the problem.

When the economy is poor, people tend to have less money and look to cut back costs.
When the economy is poor, crime increases.

For the person considering an alarm, but having difficulty justifying the cost, here are two important monetary factors to consider.

Consider that adding an alarm system increases your home's value. (Check out the following webpages: http://www.realestateproarticles.com/Art/7660/271/Better-home-security-can-increase-house-value.html http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/77155/america_properties/increasing_the_value_of_a_home_in_chicago.html). Conversely, consider the potential home devaluation of a home theft. With the Internet and surplus of information, people are able to search for occurrences in the police blotter at specific addresses. Burglar alarms, which operate as theft deterrents, can help keep your house out of the police blotter, which may be especially helpful if you go to sell your home.
Consider the cost of a potential theft. This is especially true when you store important equipment (e.g., power tools, parts, etc) at your home. I have met people who were devastated by the business disruption and problems caused by having important items stolen from their home or garage. When economic times are good, replacing household items may be easier. When times are tough, it may be impossible to replace your most important goods.

It may be more difficult to say yes to a burglar alarm when times are tough. Yet, a burglar alarm is an investment--in your home and in your life. It can protect your property in difficult economic times and add value to a very important asset, your home.

Annual Fire Alarm Testing and Inspections: Are You In Compliance?

2009-09-01T08:21:00.004-05:00

A lot of businesses do not annually inspect or test their fire alarm systems. The obvious reasons for inspecting and testing a fire alarm system are to make sure the system is working properly, protect lives, and protect property. Aside from these basic reasons, there are many reasons for inspections and testing that you may not be aware of:

You may be under the rules of NFPA 72. The National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) requires all commercial fire alarm systems to be inspected and tested annually. Many municiple and state governments have adopted NFPA 72. In the Chicagoland area, a great many of the AHJ's (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) have adopted some version of NFPA 72.

You may be under the rules of NFPA 101. The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) requires repair and testing in accordance with NFPA 72.

It may be a requirement of OSHA. OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.164-1910.165) require annual inspections and testing of fire alarm systems if you or your system is governed by the applicable OSHA standards.

Your insurance company may require compliance with certain fire codes and regulations as a condition of insurance. Consult your insurance policy and/or contact your insurance company for information regarding conditions of insurance.

You may be concerned about your liability in the event that a fire occurs and your system in not inspected or tested consistent with the applicable laws of your jurisdiction.

If you are concerned about inspections and testing for your fire alarm system, you should contact your alarm company. If you're an existing ADS customer or would like information on becoming one, please contact us at 630-844-6300. We are here to help.

Is there such a thing as a "basic" house/residential alarm?

2009-08-31T08:32:00.003-05:00

You may be considering an alarm for your home. Like most products, you have a number of different options to consider. For example, you can have a system that is hardwired or wireless. You can have a system that monitors for burglars only or monitors a number of different home risks such as burglars, fire, flood, temperature, carbon monoxide, etc.

When it comes to selecting an alarm for your house, many alarm companies offer residential packages. Often, the package will include something like an alarm panel, keypad, (2) door/window contacts, a motion detector, an audible sounder, and alarm monitoring. You may say that this list of items constitutes a "basic" system.

Still, "basic" does not always mean adequate. Take my house, for example. My house is a ranch of approximately 1500 square feet. I have four exterior doors, 12 first floor windows and a partially above-grade foundation with 6 basement windows. Finally, I have a detached garage.

The alarm package that I described above, while better than nothing, does not provide the kind of coverage that I would prefer. The two door/window contacts leave at least two doors and 18 windows unprotected. While the motion detector is useful, it only covers about one room/hallway. If I put the motion detector on the main floor of my house (as well as the two door/window contacts), my basement is entirely unprotected. Also, my detached garage (where I store valuable tools and machinery) is not protected at all. Finally, the single keypad is not ideal because I use multiple doors to enter my home. Also, I want a keypad in my bedroom where I can arm the system before going to bed.

Your home may be like mine and you may want more than what a "base" kind of package can provide. This is where working with some people with knowledge in the alarm industry can really be beneficial. Here are some solutions to my home that could be utilized at yours:

Increase the number of motion detectors and door/window contacts.
Place physical barriers to entry at likely entry points. For example, my basement provides numerous, easy access points to my house. Mounting a rigid metal bar across the windows makes entry through the windows almost impossible.
Utilize alarm screens. An alarm screen looks like and functions like a normal window screen. However, it also will activate the burglar alarm if it is cut/torn/removed.
Utilize an "overhead door contact" for the garage. Like a door contact, which activates an alarm if a door is opened by an intruder, the overhead door contact activates an alarm if the garage door is opened. You can't get big ticket items out of my garage easily unless you open the garage. With the overhead door contact, I'm really adding a lot of protection.
Motion sensitive exterior lights. Make an intruder a lot less comfortable at night by shining light on his/her activities.
Window stickers/yard signs. Sure a lot of people use alarm stickers/signs when they don't have an alarm. But, it is a very cheap and easy way to make a potential intruder think twice.

Again, these are just some ideas that you may want to incorporate into your own home. I cannot emphasize enough how working with someone who does this for a living (i.e., a knowledgeable alarm expert) can help you. An alarm expert can identify your areas of risk, provide recommendations (and different cost option), and help to make your alarm as user friendly as possible.

Interesting Video From The NFPA

2009-07-22T10:53:00.004-05:00

The really interesting part, I think, is at about 1:20 when the structure becomes engulfed in flames. Wikipedia has an interesting page dedicated to flashover, which is when a fire becomes hot enough to ignite most/all of the combustible materials in a confined space. Pretty cool, interesting and frightening.

At ADS, we have donated at least one house/structure on our corporate property to the local fire department for practice. I was not here when the fire department burned the house. However, I'm hopeful that in the near future, we'll donate another one so I can see it. If we do, I'll be posting pictures. Maybe even some cool video.

Cleaning Smoke Detectors Can Reduce Nuisance Fire Alarms

2009-07-21T10:41:00.011-05:00

The Kane County Chronicle has recently run two articles (6/10/09 & 7/6/09) and one op-ed (7/21/09) regarding the problems with nuisance fire alarms in Batavia and St. Charles, Illinois. False alarms have been mentioned before on this blog, and I have briefly talked about the problems they can cause: drain on municipal resources, trouble with the government, and headaches for the owners and occupiers of the buildings. It is not just Batavia and St. Charles that have issues with false alarms. It's a wide-spread problem.

So the question that I want to address is, "What is one step can you can take to reduce or eliminate nuisance fire alarms at your building?"

A great way to reduce nuisance, nuisance fire alarms is to regularly inspect, test and clean your fire smoke detectors. Dust and dirt can (and do) infiltrate smoke detectors inhibiting performance and cause nuisance fire alarms. Even if you think your work environment is clean, dust and dirt accumulate considerably on surfaces that aren't routinely cleaned. (I am reminded of this when I look on top of my kitchen cabinets.)

Moreover, the studies vary, but smoke detectors do fail. I have heard that any where from 3% to .33% of smoke detectors will fail when tested. Regular, competent testing can substantially reduce your nuisance alarms and increase fire alarm reliability.

At ADS, we annually inspect and test thousands of fire alarm systems. One part of our annual inspection includes disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling smoke detectors consistent with National Fire Protection Association Codes. We routinely find smoke detectors that are dirty, non-performing, and/or broken. If you want to take one step towards reducing false alarms, you should have your fire system regularly tested and inspected by a professional company in accordance with your jurisdiction's laws and/or national standards. Doing so may save lives and prevent nuisance alarms.

It is your responsibility to check the laws and regulations that govern you and/or your building to determine if annual testing (or more frequent testing) is required by law. If you live in the Chicagoland area, ADS can help. We are familiar with the various codes and standards. We can make recommendations on services to help reduce false alarms and comply with your jurisdiction's laws and regulations. Contact me at security@adsalarm.com if you would like more information!

Congratulations to Jamie Fatout for Winning The Annual ADS Scholarship!

2009-07-01T13:30:00.012-05:00

Every year, ADS (via a scholarship/qualifications competition judged by an impartial selection committee) awards one college-bound child of an ADS employee a $1000 scholarship, renewable for up to three additional years. This year, the winner of the scholarship is Jamie Fatout! Jamie is the daughter of long-time ADS employee Mike Fatout.

Jamie Fatout is a very bright and pleasant graduate of Aurora Christian High School. It took only a few moments to discover one of Jamie's passions in life: Dancing. Jamie has been dancing since 5th grade and currently dances at Stephanie's Academy of Dance in Montgomery. There she learns numerous dancing styles, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, modern, point, aerial, and acrobatics to name a few. When you talk to Jamie about dancing, it is clear that she loves it and is considering some aspect of dancing for her career.

This Fall, Jamie will be attending Waubonsee Community College (a wonderful, local institution) with the plan of getting some of her core classes completed before springing onto a four-year university or other dance program. Jamie is excited for the transition from Aurora Christian to Waubonsee. She views Waubonsee as a place where she will feel comfortable due to its close proximity to home and where she can meet tons of new people and make new friends.

In order to win the ADS scholarship, Jamie had to submit an essay addressing the topic of how the U.S. economy is supported by family business. Jamie's essay focused on the importance such businesses have on the local community and economy. Considering Jamie's past academic performance (high honor role during her senior year) and insightful essay, it is clear that Jamie will excel in all areas of college including dancing.

Good luck, Jamie! We are confident that you will be successful in whatever endeavors you undertake. We are very happy for you and thankful that you participated in the scholarship program!

Note: ADS's scholarship program is currently open only to current ADS employees. Scholarship rules and conditions available to current employees upon request.

We LOVE Positive Feedback!

2009-06-30T15:24:00.004-05:00

We love to get positive feedback from our customers! Here is an email our CEO received on June 17, 2009. I've eliminated the last names of individuals to respect their privacy:

This morning your tech Paul T. (I'm fairly certain that is his name, my memory is a bit bad) was out at my home to transition my alarm system to work with my Vonage/IP based phone service from the legacy AT&T analog line that was in the home. He was prompt (actually arrived early!), courteous and I could tell he really wanted to do the job right! He was actually concerned about how the new wiring, etc. looked in my house so as not to be an eyesore! He spent a lot of extra time troubleshooting, testing and making certain that everything worked before he left.
Most of the time when I have technicians in for various work, be it cable TV or some other maintenance, it is always a hassle. Paul T. made certain your service was exactly the opposite--no problems! You've got an excellent employee there, thanks for the good service!
Todd S. (Indian Head Park, IL)

Todd, thank you so much for your kind words and for letting us share them on our blog! I also hate when the wiring in my house is messy and unprofessional. Glad that we could help!

Alarm Detection and Ed Bonifas Featured in SDM Magazine!

2009-06-29T14:47:00.027-05:00

Most companies are unable to say that they have been the cover feature in one of their industry's leading magazines. However, once again, Alarm Detection and Vice-President Ed Bonifas have done so, being featured in the June 2009 edition of SDM Magazine.

To understand why ADS is featured, some background information on the security industry is necessary.

Most fire/burglar alarms operate through the phone line for monitoring. This means that when an alarm is activated at your home or business, a signal is sent through phone lines to a monitoring service (a.k.a. Central Station). The Central Station then assesses the situation and if the right conditions exists, dispatches emergency service. Simple enough?

Now, what happens if your phone line is cut or compromised? Or, what if you do not even have a phone line? This is where wireless monitoring is essential. Wireless monitoring can be used as the primary method of alarm monitoring (instead of landline phone service) or as backup (which would function if the phone lines are compromised). SDM Magazine's cover story features two different methods of wireless monitoring: Wireless mesh and cellular monitoring.

Alarm Detection uses both methods of wireless monitoring but is featured in SDM Magazine for its robust wireless mesh. The wireless mesh is an "in-house" network of transceiver radios, which transmit alarm signals to the Central Station. You can see ADS's network here. Here's how it works: When an alarm signal is activated at a customer's location (lets say a fire at your business), the wireless transceiver broadcasts a unique signal, which is received and rebroadcast by other transceivers in the network until it reaches the Central Station. Quickly, the Central Station receives the message that there is a fire alarm and takes an appropriate response.

Wireless monitoring is something that may be right for your home or business. Be sure to discuss it with your alarm company!

EMERGENCY!!!!!!!! (Not.) Has your alarm company shown its dedication to reducing false alarms??

2009-06-23T11:43:00.013-05:00

As a customer, you want to be secure at your home or business. Yet, you don't want to be hassled and annoyed with repeated false alarms. If you've ever experienced false alarm issues, then you know what I'm talking about.

Enter: Your alarm company. Your alarm company should be committed (not to mention dedicated, focused, passionate, and obsessed) about reducing false alarms. For so many reasons, false alarms are bad for everyone involved: customer, alarm company and emergency services.

As a customer, there are some helpful questions that you can ask yourself

Does my alarm company have a false alarm reduction program?
Has your alarm company been responsive to identifying the causes of false alarms and recommending solutions?
Has your alarm company demonstrated the technical competence to fix your problems?
When you call your alarm company to discuss your concerns, do they handle your call promptly and professionally?

Companies such as Custom Alarm (Minnesota), Vector Security (Pennsylvania), and Alarm Detection Systems (Illinois), have been recognized in the industry for their commitment to false alarm reduction. Each has won the Police Dispatch Quality Award (PDQ) Award, which recognizes alarm companies that are leaders in alarm monitoring and false alarm reduction.

Here is an interesting article written about Alarm Detection after it won the PDQ Award in 2007. The article discusses the PDQ award and Alarm Detection's commitment (not to mention dedication, focus, passion and obsession) with preventing false alarms. Make sure your alarm company is equally committed!

Trust

2009-06-16T10:25:00.009-05:00

We had a 401k presentation at the office this morning. The nice lady from the bank gave some very helpful information regarding investing, retirement, and taxes. There was one part of the presentation where the presenter dedicated a few moments to alleviate those in our group who may be afraid give money to a bank. This was an obvious attempt to address recent concerns in the financial market and concerns over the health of banks. At the most basic level, she was talking about trust. She was saying, "you can trust us with your money."

This got me thinking about how the alarm business is one of trust. It also got me thinking about the difficulties that alarm businesses face in gaining and holding consumer trust.

I'm not sure what some of the other companies out there do. Here at ADS we rely on a few key facts and principles to earn that important trust:

We promote our corporate heritage. ADS has been in the business for over 40 years. It started as a small family business run by only a couple of individuals and has grown to over 200 employees. We are proud of who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. We try to convey our pride to our customers.
We promote our customer service. I can already see that this may become a broken record on this blog: We work really, really hard at customer service. It's not always perfect, but that doesn't mean that we don't strive for it. We try to be as responsive as possible at all times. When a customer has a concern or problem, we take it very seriously.
We differentiate ourselves from the competitors. We talk about how we're a local company when the competitor is not. We talk about how we have an award winning, five-diamond certified central station when our competitor does not. We talk about how we do not use automated customer service machines, when our competitors do.
We strive for professionalism. Whether it is an ADS employee, an ADS car, or our ADS corporate building, we want the customer to know that we have it together.

Building and sustaining trust is at the core of any business, but especially when your industry involves protecting people and property. We work hard at it, though I know there's room for improvement.

Providing Solutions for a Homeowner’s Worst Fears: FLOODING.

2009-06-15T13:24:00.006-05:00

I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Jamaica over the winter. I happily boarded a plane and left the cold, snowy Chicago weather behind. In fact, on the day I left, it snowed a ton.

Fast forward a few days into the vacation. I was talking to some other vacationers who were from the Chicagoland area. Unfortunately, they were not enjoying the Jamaican weather. Instead, they were terribly worried about their home and weather in Chicago. As they explained to me, all of the snow that we left in Chicago had melted due to a combination of warm weather and very heavy rain. Their worry? “Is my house flooding?”

There are solutions that every homeowner can utilize to avoid worries like my new vacation friends. I’m not talking about cleaning your gutters or maintaining a proper slope away from your house, which do little to alleviate concerns when you are not at home. I’m talking about solutions that act as your eyes and deliver peace-of-mind: water detectors.

A water detector is a device that can be easily installed on the floor of your basement or in your sump pump hole. If water touches the device or reaches a specified level, then the device is activated. The devices are simple and can warn of water issues from rain, sewer backup, broken water pipes, and any other potential water hazard that you, your family or your business may face.

To gain the full utility of the water detector, however, you need to connect the water detector to a monitored alarm system (traditionally these are called “burglar alarms” but today’s alarms do much more than monitor for intruders). When the detector is monitored and triggered by water, the alarm panel in your house immediately notifies a 24-hour emergency dispatch call center. Trained call center personnel immediately contact the alarm subscriber and/or specified contacts (e.g., relative, business partner, neighbor) of the water issue. All this happens in a matter of minutes, so that corrective action can be taken immediately.

So, as I sat in the Jamaican sands, I knew that I did not have any flooding issues with my house. If I had, I would have been notified by Alarm Detection Systems, which installed and now monitors my alarm system and flood detector. If my new friends would have had similar protection, they would have been able to enjoy the sun with me, instead of worrying about the condition of their house. For me, the price of that peace-of-mind is entirely worth it.

ADS stays “old school” when it comes to customer service

2009-06-15T13:21:00.004-05:00

“Thank you for calling Blankety Blank. Your call is very important to us. Your wait time is 24 minutes.”! Automated phone operators. It is hard to believe that most corporations see this as “doing business.” The Alarm Guru at ADS University, for one, HATES automated phone operators, especially when I regularly pay hard-earned money to the business putting me through the ropes.

Everyone has had the experience. I had it last week. You need help from a business and pick up the phone. Likely, you make the call during your lunch break or between errands since the business is open during limited hours and you have limited opportunities to call. You hope that it will go smoothly and quickly. Above all else, you hope that the business can assist you with your issue. Then it happens: You get the dreaded automated phone operator! Frustrated, you navigate through a series of voice menus, often with no options fitting the reason for your call. Eventually, you get through the voice menus. “Success!” you think. Wrong, now you are just on hold for a live-operator.

Fortunately, there are still companies out there that do it differently. These companies may be considered “old school” because they have held on to the notion that customers are important and should be treated with respect. Alarm Detection Systems is one of those companies.

I sat down and spoke to Ken Wright, ADS’s Customer Service Manager to learn about what sets ADS apart from other businesses. Ken told me that it’s all about respect for customers. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, when you call Alarm Detection Systems' main number (630-844-6300), a live person will answer the phone to help you. No automated operators or voicemails. No long waits on hold. I don’t think many companies (in the alarm industry or otherwise) offer such service.

Further, I was surprised to learn that Ken and other customer service representatives often go out on the road and make face-to-face contact with customers, large or small. Ken said that sometimes a face-to-face meeting with a customer is needed to understand or resolve a customer’s issue—whether the issue is a billing, service, product or some other issue that the customer has. Whether an in-person visit is necessary, what is important to Ken and his customer service colleagues is that the customer’s issues are addressed quickly, competently, and with a personal touch.

If “old school” means respect for customers, no automated operators, and professional service, then ADS is certainly a throw-back. Rather than just saying that customer service is important, Alarm Detection Systems puts it into action. I just hope that more companies go back to the days when customer satisfaction was more important than the bottom line.