Do-it-yourself house alarm systems sound very intimidating, but in fact they're quite simple to set up and install. Most of them use wireless components which communicate with each other via radio signals. That means there's no cables or wiring to link up. You simply mount each component in position and turn it on. The key is identifying all the requirements for your particular home, then buying a system which accounts for them.

Before You Purchase

Before buying a do-it-yourself alarm system, you need to perform a few basic measurements on your house. Check the square footage on the outside perimeter, then measure each individual room that you want to cover. If you want to cover your front and/or back yard, measure those as well. Ideally, check your house's blueprints for precise footage. Otherwise, use a tape measure along with stakes and twine to measure each spot. In addition, you'll need to count every entryway on the ground floor of your house---doors and windows alike---and determine any rooms you'd like to cover with a motion sensor. (This usually means rooms containing valuables or centralized points such as stairways that burglars must pass through.) Finally, find a spot for the central control box---somewhere near a main door, but hidden from view (like a closet). It may also need access to an electrical plug, depending on the model you buy.

Purchase and Set-Up

Once you have all the specifics of your home, it's time to purchase and set up your system. Make sure you get a model which has all the components you need, and which has a listed range that encompasses the parameters of your house. Setting up and mounting each component is usually just a matter of screwing a mounting plate into position, then screwing each component into its appropriate mounting plate. Door and window sensors usually consist of two components: a receiver connected to the door or window frame and a magnet mounted to the door or window itself. When the door or window is closed, the magnet is in contact with the receiver; when it opens, the magnet is removed, setting off the alarm. As for motion sensors, they should be mounted high in a corner of the room with a commanding view of the entire space you wish to protect (watch for furniture or other obstacles that may obstruct its signal). Finally, check to ensure there are no metal grates or similar elements near any component that may interfere with the system. Turn on each component and check to see that it works before moving on to the next one. Once the entire system is enabled, check it again to ensure that it all works.

Maintenance

Because do-it-yourself alarms are, well, do it yourself, you need to pay additional attention in order to maintain your system. Tell you neighbors to listen for your home alarm and call the police if they hear it. Test each component regularly and replace the batteries when they wear out (once every six months or so is a good rule of thumb). Don't distribute your activation code: keep it limited to members of your family and instruct them not to share it with anyone else.

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Buying an Alarm System

Choosing Your Home Alarm System