Window contacts on the upper level?

[mrshanes]

If there is very limited access to the upper level of your home (i.e. only accessible with a ladder), do you put contacts on all the upper level windows? My home will have no access to any second story windows other than with a ladder. Should I hardwire for window contacts?
Thanks,
Shane

 

[inline]

If there is very limited access to the upper level of your home (i.e. only accessible with a ladder), do you put contacts on all the upper level windows? My home will have no access to any second story windows other than with a ladder. Should I hardwire for window contacts?
Thanks,
Shane

I would put contacts on all the windows including the 2nd floor. Burglars have been known to disguise themselves as satellite tv installers, window cleaners, etc. They pull up in a "work" truck, pull out their ladder and go to town... All my windows are sensored (wireless though).

 

[sic0048]

I would agree. You system is only as secure as the weakest link. Burglars are not dumb. They know where most of the weaknesses are in a typical system and will try to exploit them any chance they get.

 

[Steve]

As long as its easy and cheap during a prewire, I would definitely wire them. If its a retrofit and difficult to wire you can go wireless or just use a few PIR's as a backup upstairs. But in general I agree and would do it.

 

[signal15]

At a minimum, put in glass break sensors and motions for backup.

 

[hucker]

I had easy access during the construction phase and I wired everything I could including the upstairs. The low voltage inspector told me that he had never seen the upstairs windows wired. I told that I might have teenagers that I'm are trying to keep in

 

[Dave X10]

If there is very limited access to the upper level of your home (i.e. only accessible with a ladder), do you put contacts on all the upper level windows? My home will have no access to any second story windows other than with a ladder. Should I hardwire for window contacts?

My dad was a career cop so.... I chain and lock my extension ladder to my shed in the backyard. It seems all of us guys in the neighborhood have aluminum extension ladders hanging on the side of our little lawn barns... its very common. I talked to neighbors about locking up their ladders... but no one seems to see the need.

I would guess your upper level or second story windows are easily accessible.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I would do it from an automation point of view, i.e. know if the windows are closed before you leave the house, stuff like that...

 

[mrshanes]

They are easily accessible, but only by ladder. Do criminals take time to put ladders to second story windows? I'm sure it happens, but not nearly so much as one kicking in a door or lower level window. I think I'll go ahead and do them while the walls are open. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[johnboy70_99]

They are easily accessible, but only by ladder. Do criminals take time to put ladders to second story windows? I'm sure it happens, but not nearly so much as one kicking in a door or lower level window. I think I'll go ahead and do them while the walls are open. Thanks for the opinions.

I was thinking of putting some in for another reason as well -

In my old house I used a script to control a window fan in my basement. It used inside temp, outside temp, time of day (I lived near a highway and only wanted to pull in air when traffic was light), and the window sensor to determine whether to switch off the AC and turn on the fan.

If I put in a whole house fan I could monitor a couple of outside windows and add it to the logic, so if the temperature and time was right, and a couple of windows were open, off goes the AC and on goes the fan.

 

[Dave X10]

They are easily accessible, but only by ladder. Do criminals take time to put ladders to second story windows? I'm sure it happens, but not nearly so much as one kicking in a door or lower level window. I think I'll go ahead and do them while the walls are open. Thanks for the opinions.

Kicking in basement windows is very comman.... I would think if basement windows haven't been replaced with glass block.... they would have bars. Using your (or your neighbors) ladder isn't as common as the basement window entry. But more common than than breaking down a locked door.

Most break-ins actually involve no breaking to gain entry. The most common point of entry is unlocked doors or windows.