The Best Locations and Positions to Place Security Camera Systems

The Best Locations and Positions to Place Security Camera Systems

If you are reading this article, then chances are you already know or want to know about the importance of security camera systems. Security camera systems keep your property safe from burglars and other mischievous perpetrators who damage or vandalize your property. They have become very much prevalent and you can find its usage in both residential and commercial purposes. Whichever security camera system you choose for yourself, placing it correctly is the primary aspect that will define its effectiveness. While installing the security cameras, one of the key factors that you need to take into consideration is that it should be placed well so that it covers the maximum area.  This article will summarize the best locations and positions to place your security camera system to maximize its effectiveness.

Right Place to Install A Security Camera System:

#1. Near the windows that are situated off-street - Place a security camera system near the windows that are facing towards the street, it will deter the burglars who mostly prefer to use a rear window that is cut off from the view from the street that protects them from getting caught. A security camera system will keep those windows and thereby your home safe from thieves and vandals.

#2. Near the main door - The most important placement for your security camera systems is the main door of your home. Not only does it saves you from burglars entering through the front door, it can also act as a peephole and let you know who is at the door so that you can get some time and safe distance to decide whether or not you want to open the door for the visitor.

#3. Near the back door - It is one of the most vulnerable areas where the burglars are going to enter your home. Hence, you must also take this place into consideration. Installing security camera systems at the back door is a must for the independent homeowners. As suggested before, keep your cameras out of human reach and keep it protected from the possibilities of things being thrown at them.

#4. Other places to cover - After you have protected the front and back door and the off-street windows, you may consider making your house even safe by placing your security camera system in some other places in your property’s vicinity.

• The garage

• Driveways

• Second floor

• The basement

Common Mistakes That Should Be Avoided While Placing Your Security Camera Systems

#1. Do not forget to secure your security camera systems - Security camera systems can be easily tampered, stolen with or even damaged by perpetrators if not secured properly. The camera should ideally be placed 9 feet above the ground to keep it out of trouble’s reach. Also, make sure that the outside cameras are well protected from the harsh weather conditions.

#2. Avoid choosing the highest point for camera placement - Although placing the security camera systems at the highest point in your property will give it a better view, a detailed look of a perpetrator’s feature will not be evident from such heights. You might not be able to identify the criminal at all. To know the best place to install the cameras, you  must consult the seller . They will assess the place and will also help you in the placement of cameras.

#3. Do not forget to provide proper lighting - Irrespective of how well your security cameras systems are placed, they will be rendered useless in dark places or during the night without proper lighting. There must be ample lighting such that the security camera systems can get a clear recording and picture. Security camera systems are fast becoming a necessity of every household given the increase in crimes in recent years. Keep this article in mind while placing your security camera systems for them to work effectively and you to have peace of mind.

Guest Contributor, Jessica Curry

Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Great architecture and clever design has always been on high demand, but what if now we can take the best practices of residential design and apply them with sustainability principles? Many local governments are supporting eco house designs and floor plans that allow homebuilders to use advanced construction technology and create sustainable and low-impact homes. Eco-friendly practices can be applied in a variety of ways – through reducing waste during the construction, choosing sustainable and locally sourced materials, or even orienting your home to make the most out of passive cooling and heating. If you want to make your new home more sustainable, here are some ideas to consider.

Designs that Reduce Energy Use

A well-designed home has many ways of reducing its dependence on coal-powered electricity. This may include increasing the natural light with skylights or highlight windows, using energy-efficient LED fixtures, as well as WELS rated water fixtures and hot water-saving systems. Also, no matter how sustainable your building materials, a larger home will always have a worse energy footprint. This doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself at all costs, just be more thoughtful about the space that is available and that you need. Planning your eco house design with your lifestyle in mind is probably the best way when shopping for the design.

Make Your Roof Cooler

The materials you use for the roof can make a huge difference in your homes energy dependence. You should choose a product that reflects the suns energy from the roof, cools faster at night, and holds less heat for less time. Slate, terra cotta, white tiles, and special reflecting membranes, as well as metal roofing, are often cited as popular eco-friendly options. They are typically more expensive upfront, but you’ll recoup those costs through energy savings. A living roof allows you to hold plants that grow on the roof to catch and filter rainwater while providing excellent insulation to your home. While these green roofs are nowadays mostly used in commercial buildings, they are suitable for residential roofs as well.

Choose an Optimum Insurance Package

Although sustainable homes are in many ways different from regular ones, they are still liable to more-less the same insurance obligations. Some argue that finding the right home insurance is even more important in passive homes, as the value of advanced products such as smart home technology, and even rooftop solar panels need to be covered. Much of the sustainable materials you’ll use inside are naturally-sourced, which are often neither fire-proof nor watertight. When shopping for the right insurance package for your passive home, choose a provider that allows you to tailor your policy to your needs and budget.

Apply Passive Design Principles

Passive design refers to a set of sustainable building measures that rely on local climate and site conditions to maintain a comfortable temperature at home. While in traditional homes about 40% of the household’s entire energy usage is dedicated to heating and cooling, with passive design principles, this amount can be reduced to almost zero. This means that first and foremost, careful attention is given to the home’s position and orientation. In the southern hemisphere, eco houses designs and floorplans make most of the north aspect, harnessing the power of the sun. While in the summer this can be moderated with various shadings and overhangs, in winter this orientation allows deep sun penetration. To keep inside temperatures more stable, homeowners might use elements of higher thermal insulation, such as double- or triple-glazed windows, or natural cross-ventilation.

Use Sustainable Materials

To build and furnish a more sustainable home, you should consider materials that are recyclable, reconstituted, or sustainably harvested/produced. Aluminum takes a lot of energy to produce but can be recycled over and over again. It’s important to extend the sustainable theme beyond the construction and make sure that every part of your house including cabinets, counters, insulation, floor covering, and even furniture is environmentally friendly. Some eco-conscious furniture manufacturers use reclaimed or recycled wood, glass, and iron. Wood is a popular reclaimed material as it retains its durability over the years even if mishandled. Other sustainable materials include bamboo, cork, and linoleum, all of which are natural, highly-renewable materials.

By their very nature, homes aren’t very environmentally friendly – a lot of energy is wasted in hauling the materials to the site, not to mention the construction waste, and all the industrial-grade materials that go into an average home. However, each of us can make an impact and minimize our footprint by using design, products, and practices that are sustainable, and created with water and energy saving in mind while reducing wastage and pollution.

Guest Contributor, Tracy Clayton

Make Plumbing More Eco-Friendly With These New Technologies

Make Plumbing More Eco-Friendly With These New Technologies

As all of the world’s industries tend to shift to a more eco-friendly approach, it is logical to expect that plumbing jumps on the “green train” too.

Besides the obvious benefits for the environment, greener technologies are in high demand. So if you’re a plumber, working with them will give you a competitive edge over companies who don’t.

On the other hand, if you’re a homeowner who wants to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint, you too will like what you’re about to read.

Today, I’m going to discuss how you can make plumbing greener and why you should do it. If this is something that you might be interested in, please, read on.

The Benefits of Greener Plumbing

In this section, I’m going to try to explain just how exactly can optimized plumbing be good for the environment.

You see, new technologies in this field focus on two interconnected things: energy efficiency and reduced water consumption. What many folks don’t realize is that using less water also means using less electricity or gas, which is a great way to cut one’s energy bills. However, there is another, more significant impact of green plumbing. As fossil fuels are required for water processing and delivery, reducing the amount of water we use will automatically lower the usage of the fuels that we extract from the Earth. To sum up, eco-friendly plumbing means less energy use, which results in lower bills and reduced fossil fuel expenditure. It is a win-win situation for you and the planet.

The Leading Green Plumbing Technologies of 2019

Now that you’ve realized the value that greener plumbing could provide you with it’s time to check out some of the latest technologies that plumbers use to achieve this goal. Let’s put those wrenches to good use!

Optimized Sprinklers

It is impossible to imagine having a green and enjoyable yard without a sprinkler system, so you know just how important these things are. However, sprinklers use up a lot of water, and the new technologies aim to change that. The new systems are all about efficiency, and they manage to use less water due to their optimized water delivery methods designed in a way that’ll spread water more evenly across your lawn. As I’ve mentioned earlier, this decreases your water and energy bills and has a positive impact on the environment.

Solar-powered Water Heaters

This is a big one, as all of us need large amounts of hot water every single day. In case you haven’t known, standard water heaters use up quite a lot of electricity, and solar- powered heaters are the polar opposite. The latter presents one of the most energy-efficient technologies utilized by plumbers today. To be frank, some parts of the world do not get a lot of sun, except maybe in the summer, so they might not experience great benefits from these systems. However, those who live in warm and sunny places should not think twice about using solar energy to heat up their water.

Water Heating Without a Tank

The usual water heaters with a storage tank require a lot more energy than their tankless counterparts. As a matter of fact, some estimates have shown that, in the long run, tankless heaters could lower energy use for more than 30%. This is a huge number, and although installing these systems is more expensive than going for a traditional tank, it pays off. If you want to know how they work, these systems use a device called a heat exchanger to provide your home with hot running water, thus removing the need for water storage.

Recycling of Greywater

Take a moment to think about how much greywater you produce every day. Now imagine if all that water could be recycled and repurposed, instead of just going down the drain. Well, this can be done with some of the latest plumbing technologies. Water from our showers, sinks, and appliances doesn’t contain as many dangerous bacteria as the water from the toilet, so it doesn’t require a lot of treatment to be suitable for reuse. Sounds great, right? It sure is, and the only problem with these systems is pinpointing the exact cost, as it depends on a lot of factors.

Conclusion

As you can see, you have a lot of options on how to use up less water in your household and become more responsible towards our planet. Having all four systems installed right away might be too much of a financial hit for some, but I’m sure that most of the readers could start with at least one. Like I mentioned earlier, these might seem like big investments in the beginning, but be absolutely certain that they will all pay off in the long run.

About Ethan: Ethan Johnson is a mechanical engineer with a passion for all things DIY. He is the mastermind behind Manoffamily.com, a blog that’s going to teach you anything you want to know about home renovation, woodworking, gardening and more.

Guest Contributor, Ethan Johnson

Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

There’s no denying that older homes have their own charm and character that makes them attractive to a wide range of buyers. However, they often come with a number of issues that need to be tackled in order to be kept practical, functional, and more importantly, safe. Some problems may pose minor inconveniences or slightly affect the cost of your monthly utilities. On the other hand, serious issues such as aging pipes, leaking roofs, bad repairs, or outdated wiring are just accidents waiting to happen. While tackling both major and minor issues is a must, it’s important to prioritize. Here’s a list of four life-changing upgrades that will make your home look and feel as good as new while also saving you money in the long run.

Updating the old and dated plumbing

The thing about old homes is that they were built using materials that aren’t used nowadays or the pipe system isn’t configured in the most optimal way. Some materials that were used in the past may even cause harm (e.g. lead pipes that were used to carry waste from the house) which calls for modern and safe replacements. Also, to be able to meet modern-day building codes, vents need to be installed near drains, which usually isn’t the case with old homes. To prevent any plumbing disaster from causing damage to your household (and making a dent in your wallet), be sure to update the old, out-of-date plumbing as soon as possible. Rely on experienced, licensed professionals to do the work properly and ensure your plumbing is modernized and brought up to date.

Having your roof repaired

Having a roof over your head is a necessity, but what’s even more important is keeping that roof functional. There is no point in upgrading your interiors if the old, worn-out roof fails and destroys all the items you’ve invested your hard-earned money into. Roofs, like all things, have their lifespan, and it’s important to keep them up-to-date in order to get the most out of them. Extreme weather changes that are more apparent in countries like Australia have many homeowners updating their roofs to ensure durability and resilience, with many turning to experts for roof repairs in Sydney as a way of providing a safe structure for themselves. With the help of these roof specialists, they manage to preserve the existing structure for years to come.

Bringing your insulation up to date

Another important aspect of functional home is proper insulation. Heat loss during colder months translates to higher utility bills, which is why you need to bring insulation of your old home up to date and into the 21st century. Old houses often have unfinished or unconditioned attics, so consider laying insulation batts and combine them with blown-in cellulose insulation for maximum effectiveness. If there is a basement, you can use the same method to insulate the floors above. By applying the same insulating technique on the stud bays of the floor joists, you’ll ensure your floors feel more comfortable throughout the year.

Upgrading old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones

In addition to insulating the attic and the floors, some other areas that may require insulation are doors and windows. Old ones often leak air and the result is cold air sweeping through the house, thus increasing your heating bill. Not only will you have to pay more, but you will also be letting in moisture as well as uninvited guests and critters through these uninsulated spaces. Upgrading your old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones will help save some money during heating and cooling seasons, but you can also try weatherstripping, re-caulking, or applying window film to draught-proof your existing doors and windows.

Charming, quirky period details and attractive, rich architecture – there are many reasons why many people fall in love with pre-war homes and decide to move into one. However, there are a couple of nuisances that come with moving into an old house, but if you manage to resolve these issues effectively, not only will you be able to trim the costs of living in an old home, but you’ll also help bring it up to standards needed for a modern lifestyle while still preserving a piece of history, which is in itself priceless.

 Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor