Whether you’re concerned about your personal safety and the safety of your family or you simply want to keep an eye on things while you’re not around, security cameras can help you monitor your home.
Deciding how many cameras you’ll need and where to place them, though, can raise some questions. Following a few simple steps can make placing security cameras much simpler.
How many security cameras do I need?
Exactly how many security cameras you need depends on how big your home is, how large your front and back yards are, whether you have outbuildings, and what areas you want to cover inside the home.
In general, you’ll most likely want to start with four security cameras. There should be a camera at the front door, which can help you keep track of visitors, a camera inside the house, and a camera in the front and backyard.
You can always add more cameras to your setup if you want a little extra coverage in any area. For example, if your backyard is quite large, you might want to install two or three cameras there, particularly at any gates.
You may also want to post a camera on the back door or at any other entrances to the house, such as garage doors or patios. Many people also choose to put security cameras in the garage itself, and if you have a shed or barn, you might also want to install a camera or two in those outbuildings.
For indoor cameras, you might want to add extras in children’s rooms or communal areas. You can also add security cameras to any rooms that contain valuable items.
Why should I use security cameras?
Security cameras are an excellent way to deter crime such as theft. Homes with security cameras are much less likely to be broken into, and in the event that a theft does occur, the footage can be caught on tape.
In addition, security cameras are a good way to monitor your home, even when you’re not there. Cameras can help you stay connected to family, and they make it easy to monitor children or pets when you’re out of the house.
A security camera at the front door can alert you to visitors or keep track of who has stopped by. By using a camera at the door, you can also see if any packages have been delivered. Security cameras are also a great way to monitor buildings, such as barns, sheds, or garages, that are removed from the house.
Finally, if an alarm, such as a smoke alarm, goes off, you can also use your security cameras to remotely view the house and determine what the situation is.
What kind of cameras should I use?
There are many different security cameras to choose from, and the options can sometimes seem overwhelming. When it comes to choosing outdoor security cameras, pick cameras that have high-clarity resolution and night vision.
This helps to ensure that you can easily view everything that’s going on, no matter the time of day. You’ll also want outdoor cameras that can stand up to a range of weather conditions without losing power or picture quality. Outdoor cameras should also have motion detection triggers that can turn on auto-recording.
For indoor security cameras, you’ll also want night-vision and motion detection capabilities. The resolution should be high and the picture should be as clear as possible. Indoor cameras with a wide field of view can also help you monitor an entire room without missing anything.
Many indoor cameras also have two-way audio features, which make it much simpler to check in on kids or pets when you’re out of the house. You may also want to select indoor and outdoor cameras that connect to an app, which can make it much easier to check your cameras from your car, office, or anywhere else.
Wired vs. Wireless Security Cameras
Security cameras are available either as wired or wireless, and both options have their pros and cons. Wired cameras don’t usually experience interference or interruptions in signal as often as wireless cameras can.
However, wired cameras have a more complicated setup, and because they have to be connected directly to the ethernet, where they can be placed is often limited.
Wireless security cameras, on the other hand, may sometimes experience a signal loss due to interference, but they can be placed nearly anywhere, and the lack of wires makes it easier to blend these cameras into your home décor.
The setup for wireless cameras is also often much simpler. If you have a large property, your wireless cameras may sometimes be out of range of your home Wi-Fi signal, so a Wi-Fi extender may be necessary.
Many people opt for a combination of wired and wireless cameras inside and outside the home in order to provide an uninterrupted signal.