One of the best deterrents a person can install in order to help improve security on their home is lights. You have the choice of either mounting floodlights, or spotlights at each corner of your home, which will then flood the walls of the property and provide no shadow or area where a burglar can sit or stand undetected.
All lights are relatively easy to install, and can be quite inexpensive to buy, but they are an extremely effective way of helping to prevent a break in from occurring at your home.
Spotlights
These can either be single or double models, but generally most security consultants will suggest that you have the double versions installed.
Floodlights
Again, as with the spotlights, these come in single and double models, and again it is recommended that if you are going to install floodlights, you install those which have a double floodlight on them. This type of light actually provides more light around a property than a spotlight, as spotlights are directed towards a particular area.
But which ever kind of light you decide to install outside your home, it is best that you place them high enough so that they burglar can not gain access to them easily. Generally, spotlights are mounted around about half way up the sides of a home, while a floodlight can be mounted much higher up and at the end of the house.
When installing your lights, you should mount them at the corners, or ends, of your home, and should placed in such a way that they illuminate the various areas of your garden where a burglar is likely to hide. So aim them towards bushes, walls, screens and trees. Also, mount the lights in those locations around your home which you feel are going to provide any would be burglar with a place that they can hide. Say, for example, your garage is separate from your home, and there is a walk way in between, make sure to mount one to illuminate this space. Also, if you have any form of shed or gazebo in your garden, then arrange to have a light mounted that is directed towards this area.
Today, most spotlights and floodlights can actually be directly wired into the wiring system that you already have in your home. If you are unsure what you need to do, you can hire a qualified electrician who will be able to carry out the wiring for you.
When it actually comes to installing any kind of external lighting, you should install as many as you possibly can without actually causing a nuisance to your neighbors. Certainly, the more lighting, the more effective it will be at helping to prevent the possibility of a burglar breaking into your home. Also, use plug in timers which can then turn the lights on and off while you are away from the property (say on vacation). But as well as using timers for external lighting, you can also use them on internal lights as well. However, when using timers, it is best to ensure that you set them so that they do not all come on at the same time and at the same time each day. Instead, set them at various intervals. Say you set one to come on at 8 in the evening, then you can set the next one to come on at, say, 11 at night. By using these variations, it provides any casual observer with an idea that there is someone in the home at all times.
Or if you want, with the outside lights, especially if you use spotlights, you can get automatic timers installed into the main power line to your home. Through these timers, a person can then set the lights to come on at set intervals. However, these kinds of timers can only be installed by a qualified electrician.
Certainly, installing good quality lighting to the outside of your home is one of the most inexpensive, yet very effective ways, of helping to reduce the chances of a break in occurring in your home. However, it is important that any time any of the bulbs burn out, they should be replaced immediately, or else your lighting will become completely ineffective in helping to prevent a break in.
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