Well, since we don’t want to wake up in the night and end up paying a visit to our local fire department, what can driveway alarms do?
First of all, they will give you peace of mind because they are made to prevent accidents from happening. Secondly, when someone comes onto your property without permission or ringing a doorbell (or knocking on your door), an alarm sounds to notify you of their presence. It also sends an alert, usually called the “intruder signal” or “panic button,” that tells law enforcement agencies there is a neighborhood problem.
Types of driveway alarms
There are many different driveway alarms, but they all have the same primary function and goal; to detect unauthorized entry into a property.
The driveway alarm can be installed in many different ways. It can either be a wireless or wired device.
Wireless driveway alarms
The wireless devices transmit and receive alerts using radio waves, like a cell phone or other mobile communication device. It allows the person to freely move about without being tied down to a specific physical spot. Some people prefer this type of system because it is more convenient for their lifestyle or more cost-effective. After all, they will not have to pay a company technician to install and maintain the equipment.
Wired driveway alarms
On the other hand, there are some benefits of installing wired systems. They are more reliable and secure than wireless ones. They can be connected to your house alarm system.Â
If you’ve ever wanted an early warning system for when people come to your house, then driveway alarms are the best option. From scared spouses to neighborhood watch programs, these alarms provide many different ways to warn people approaching their homes. Read below for the most common types of driveway alarms!
- Driveway Alarms That Detect Vehicles – These types of alarms typically use a magnetic sensor or magnetometer to detect metallic objects in motion at ranges typically up to 30 feet or meters away. This is ideal for protecting driveways where cars enter and exit the home because it will detect any vehicle approaching at any angle around the property.
- Driveway Alarms That Detect People – These alarms are designed to detect motion from any objects moving in the driveway. They do this using one or more sensors, typically magnetic or infrared-based. The great thing about these alarms is that they can detect people and small animals as well as cars and trucks. This is ideal for protecting entryways to the home, like a patio door or gate, because anyone approaching could be identified without the need for a car.
- Driveway Alarms With Both Vehicles And People Detection – The best driveway alarms have both types of detection, so the homeowner gets double protection no matter what area or zone they are protecting.
How Driveway Alarms Work
The driveway alarm is designed to detect motion, so it senses anything approaching the home, typically in a 30-foot range. When someone approaches the driveway and triggers the alarm, a loud siren goes off as well as either a strobe light or an LED light to warn people that they need to stop and identify themselves. These alarms can also be customized with several different features, including:
- Chime – It warns the intruder that they’ve triggered the alarm
- Strobe Light – It warns the intruder from walking up to the home, scaring them away. It can be customized with different light color combinations or patterns to fit your landscape and decor.Â
- Panic Button – Best driveway alarms have a panic button that anyone can press in case of an emergency, like a fire or robbery. When pushed, it alerts a monitoring facility that an alarm has been triggered and calls 911 immediately.
- Alert/Status Lights – These are LED lights that illuminate when someone triggers the siren. These can be customized to different colors or shades and are typically found near the driveway alarm itself.
- Voice Alerts – They are optional voice alert devices that alert you when someone enters your property, like when you are on vacation or not at home.
- Keypads – Most driveway alarms have a keypad to arm and disarm the system so only approved individuals can enter or leave home while the alarm is armed. Some systems also include panic buttons that can be used any time of day to help protect against intruders and threats when you’re at home, not just at night.
Conclusion
Many homeowners and business owners have invested in a driveway alarm system for additional security. If the driveway alarm is wireless, it can be hidden anywhere in or around the house.
Wireless driveway alarms are popular today because they do not come with an installation cost, which is excellent for people who rent and cannot install anything on their rented property without prior permission from their landlords or renters insurance.
