Choosing and installing a residential security system requires more than a snap decision about what measures are best. You'll want to consider everything from the contents of your home to its accessibility. Tenants on the upper floors of a 20-story high rise, for example, have little need to secure their windows with entry alarms.

You'll also want to factor your budget into any decision you make. For those who have the means, residential security systems are available with sophisticated anti-theft measures and "marking" devices that coat aspiring burglars with light-sensitive sprays and liquids. Needless to say, this makes it much easier to prosecute criminals trying to breach your security system.

How Residential Security Systems Work

The standard residential security system uses a closed-circuit alarm that sounds whenever that circuit has been "opened." Electrical impulses flow continuously throughout the cycle until that circle is broken at any point along the path, which is exactly what happens when you open a secure door. That alert is then sent to a separate call box that's built with a delay intended to give the rightful owner time to enter the combination, which tells the call box not to dial the police.

Each residential security system has its own unique quirks and particulars, but all revolve around this same central principle. You may, for instance, wire your ground-floor windows with similar circuitry that's also linked to your system's call box. Or you may add exterior flood lights or sirens as additional home protection measures. Fully deployed home alarm systems can run a bundle, however, so you may want to choose your specs carefully and only order those you really need.