Home security system installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What home security system installation is

Home security system installation mounts door and window sensors, motion detectors, a control panel, sirens and any optional cameras, then connects the system and shows the household how to arm and disarm it. People install one after a break-in attempt, when they move, or when they want an alarm that covers the entries they use most.

Signs you need it

  • You want sensors on the doors and windows people use most, such as the front, back and garage entries
  • A break-in attempt or a suspicious visit has made you want an alarm you can arm at night
  • Your current system is old, has dead sensors, or no longer reports to the panel
  • You want motion detection in the main living areas, the hallway or the stairs
  • You are moving into a home with no alarm and want one set up before the first night

What the pro does

  • Walk the home to map the entry points, the rooms that need motion coverage and the best panel location
  • Mount the door and window contact sensors, aligning the magnet and the sensor gap
  • Mount the motion detectors at the height and angle that covers the room without blind spots for pets
  • Install the control panel and the siren, then run the wiring or pair the wireless devices
  • Connect the panel to the monitoring service or the phone app, and test each zone
  • Teach the household how to arm, disarm, add users and handle false alarms

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of doors and windows, and how many zones the system needs
  • Wired or wireless system, and how much wire must be run through walls and attics
  • Number and type of motion detectors, glass break sensors and sirens
  • Whether cameras are included, and how many and where they go
  • Panel location, and whether a power outlet or network connection is needed nearby
  • Monitoring plan and app setup, where the monitoring plan is billed separately by the monitoring company
  • Access to attics, crawl spaces and finished walls for wiring

What a written quote should spell out

  • The system brand, the panel model and the number of zones
  • Each sensor, detector, siren and camera, listed by type and quantity
  • Wiring length, and whether the install is wired, wireless or mixed
  • The monitoring plan, if one is chosen, and who bills for it
  • Setup, zone testing and user training, shown as separate lines
  • Warranty on the hardware and the labor, and how to get service if the system fails

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is the system wired, wireless or mixed, and where do the wires run?
  • Who monitors the alarm, and what monitoring plan do I need?
  • How many zones will I have, and does the panel cover every door and window?
  • Will the motion detectors work around pets, and where do you mount them?
  • How do I add or remove users and change codes?
  • What happens if the power or the internet goes out?
  • What warranty covers the panel, the sensors and the labor?

Red flags

  • They install the system without a zone map or a walkthrough of the home
  • They place motion detectors where they will trigger on pets or heat vents, without warning you
  • They do not test each sensor and zone before they leave
  • They will not show you the monitoring plan terms or who bills for them
  • They leave without teaching the household how to use the panel

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can plan the sensor layout, mount the window and door contacts with the included adhesive or screws, and test each sensor with the panel. Do not run new power to the panel or change the wiring of a powered system, and do not cut into walls to run cable yourself. Call a pro for panel wiring, any hardwired sensor, and cameras that need outdoor power or network work.

Licenses and permits

Home security installation is often done by security installers without a separate license, but some states and local areas license alarm or security work, and wiring to the building's power often calls for a licensed electrician. Check with your state or local licensing agency for the requirements that apply.

Home security system installation questions

How many sensors do I need?

Most homes cover the entry doors and the windows that can be reached from the ground or a roof, then add motion detection in the main living areas. Ask the installer to walk the home and recommend a count for your layout.

Do I need a monitoring plan?

A monitoring plan sends alerts to a monitoring company, which can contact you and, when needed, the appropriate responders. Ask what the plan includes, how it is billed and how to cancel. Some systems can send alerts to your phone without a monitoring plan, depending on the system.

Will a pet set off the motion detector?

It can, depending on the detector type, the mounting height and the pet's size. Ask the installer for a pet-tolerant detector, and test the mount in the room where the pet spends most of its time.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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