Door Alarms 101: The Comprehensive Guide

These days, without a home security system, you stand a great risk of suffering break-ins. And in almost one-third of these cases, the burglars get in through your door.

But with advanced technology, we now have efficient door and window alarms that can keep your home safe. 

The global door alarm market is worth billions of US dollars and is projected to grow annually by 10.9% till 2030.

So, if you want to protect your household from intruders and burglars, you need to install door alarms in your home, even garage door alarms would be a good idea.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about choosing and installing the best door and window alarms.

First, consider some of the benefits of having security alarms for your doors.

Benefits of Door Alarms

Door alarms help to:

• Deter burglars and intruders
• Alert you of intruders
• Reduce your insurance costs
• Enjoy peace of mind

Deterring Burglars and Intruders

Door alarms will go off when they detect unauthorized movement through your doors. 

This loud sound helps in deterring thieves from attempting to enter your home. About 60% of convicted burglars claimed that the presence of a security alarm would prevent them from breaking into a home. 

Alerting You of Intruders

If someone breaks into your home, door alarms will go off. 

This loud alarm immediately alerts you of an intruder, giving you enough time to call the police or take other necessary protective measures.

Some door alarms can send notifications to your smartphone to alert you of a break-in even when you’re away from home.

Reducing Insurance Cost

A security system helps cut your home insurance cost, as insurance companies often offer up to 20% discounts for homes with security systems. 

Insurance providers do this because door alarms reduce your chances of break-ins, which means they’ll get fewer burglary claims from you. 

Enjoying Peace of Mind

The biggest advantage of having effective door alarms is the peace of mind and comfort that comes with knowing that your household is safe.  

According to National Council for Home Safety and Security, door alarms succeed 90% of the time when alerting you of unauthorized access.

With a security alarm in place, you can be anywhere in the world without worrying about your properties and family at home. 

Types of Door Alarms

Let’s see some of the door alarms you can get in the market today.

Wireless Door Alarms

In wireless door alarms, the sensors communicate with the control panel using radio signals or WiFi. 

These alarms don’t require any wiring before installation and are mostly battery-powered. 

Motion-Activated Door Alarms

These types of door alarms detect movement around your home through optical, microwave, or acoustic sensors, which send alerts to the desktop or mobile devices used for monitoring.

Vibration Door alarms

In vibration door alarms, the alarm sensors detect break-in attempts through the vibration that intruders may generate during any forced attempt to enter your building.  

Infrared Door Alarms

These alarms emit a light beam of infrared light from a transmitter to a receiver placed on opposite sides of a door. 

So, if someone passes through the door, it interrupts the light beam and this triggers the alarm.

Magnetic Door Alarms

Magnetic door alarms detect intrusion using magnetic fields and typically consist of a magnet and a sensor.

Usually, the magnet is attached to your door frame, while the sensor is attached to the door.

When your door is closed, the sensor is close enough to the magnet to detect its magnetic field. But if someone opens the door, the sensor moves away from the magnet such that it cannot detect the magnetic field from the magnet. This triggers the alarm, alerting you of an intruder.

Best Alarms for Doors and Windows

Check out some of the best door and window alarms. We’ll provide a mix of affordable, loud door alarms, and smart alarms.

Affordable Door Alarms

1 - GE Personal Security Window and Door Alarm

Price: 

• $12.62 for two packs
• $23.22 for six packs
• $37.99 for ten packs

You can set up the GE Personal Security Window and Door Alarm in a few minutes without using a professional. Just open the kit, peel off the stickers, and attach it to your door. 

This door alarm has a 120 dB siren that can travel for as far as 700 feet, and this is one of the main factors that makes it more effective for chasing intruders away. 

However, this security alarm cannot send alerts to your mobile device.

Pros:

• It is cheap
• You can customize the alarm
• It is easy to set up

Cons:

• Chime may be too loud for some people
• It is incompatible with smart homes
• Does not send notifications to your smartphone

2 - Noopel Magnetic Door and Window Alarms

Price: $15.99

Noopel Magnetic Door and Window Alarms is a wireless contact door alarm that gives off an alarm of up to 120 dB whenever it disconnects from its contact sensor. 

You can install this system in your home without hassle.

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Loud alarm makes it effective for large spaces
• Low-battery notifications

Cons:

• No smartphone alerts
• No pet setting

Loud Alarms for Doors

1 - Ring Alarm Security Kit

Price: $199.99

Ring Alarm Security Kit has a base station, a keypad controller, a range extender, and contact sensors. 

To set up this security kit in your home, you only need to download the Ring Always Home App, which will walk you through the installation process. 

This system has three alarm modes: 

• Home mode
• Away mode
• Disarmed mode

When you select Home mode, the contact sensor will continue to send alerts, but the motion detector will be turned off. In Away mode, the contact sensor and the motion detector will send alerts. You won't receive any alerts in Disarmed mode.

Pros:

• Deafening alarm to scare off intruders
• Motion detection
• Controllable from phone and keypad
• Real-time alerts to your smartphone in cases of breach

Cons:

• It is expensive
• It does not support IFTTT and Homekit
• Bulky contact sensor

2 - Lewis N. Clark door alarm

Price: $12.00

Lewis N. Clark door alarm is a security door alarm capable of emitting up to 91 dB of sound that startles intruders trying to break into your home.

The contact sensor operates differently from other contact sensors, using a cord connecting to the top of the sensor at two points. 

One end of the cord on the left side of the sensor can be detached with two steel prongs. The alarm remains silent as long as the two prongs are in contact, but the siren activates when they separate.

Pros:

• It is very portable
• It is very loud

Cons:

• Cannot send alerts to your smartphone
• It is not compatible with smart homes

Smart Door Alarms 

1 - YoLink Smart Home Starter Kit

Price: $75.99

The YoLink Smart Home Starter Kit wireless door alarm system uses a radio signal to alert you of any detected intrusion into your home by sending a notification to your mobile phone. 

It is compatible with smart homes, and you can use mobile devices to control the device. The smart home hub of the system works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. 

All these allow you to check the status of your sensor and set up your smart devices, such as smart lights, to react whenever there is any unauthorized access to your home.

Pros:

• Long range sensors
• Affordable, considering the available features 
• Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT

Cons:

• Not suitable for outdoors
• No siren

2 - Aqara Door and Window Sensor Plus Aqara Hub

Price: $24.99

Aqara Door and Window Sensor Plus Aqara Hub are one of the most portable smart door alarms you can get in the market for your apartment, where bulky alarms may not fit in. 

It has a hub that can manage multiple doors and windows and a battery that lasts up to two years. Although the hub does not have sensors, you can buy Aqara door sensors for about $18 each. 

Apart from having a siren, it can be integrated with many other smart devices, making it suitable for a smart home.

Pros:

• Very portable
• Cheap add-on sensors
• Compatible with many smart home platforms

Cons:

• It is expensive 
• Not compatible with other Zigbee hubs

Choosing the Right Door Alarm

Some of the crucial factors to consider before buying a door alarm are:

• Type of door
• Power source
• Installation process
• Sensitivity
• Volume

Type of Door

If you are installing the alarm on a metallic door, you may need to get an alarm with a strong magnetic force to ensure the alarm is activated whenever there is an intrusion.

Power Source

Consider if your door alarm uses battery power or not. If your alarm is battery-powered, check the lifespan of the battery to see if it can last as long as needed while you’re away.

For example, if you expect regular power outages, you will be better off with battery-powered door alarms. 

Installation Process

Some alarm systems are easy to install on your own, while others require hiring a professional to install.

If you’re not tech-savvy or don’t have enough time to install your alarm system, you will need professional installation. 

Sensitivity

Consider how quickly you want the alarm triggered when it detects an intrusion. 

For instance, if you want to install your alarm in a high-risk area, you will need an alarm with high sensitivity.

Volume

Determine how loud you want your alarm to sound when triggered. For instance, a loud door alarm suits a noisy area.

Budget

The price of a door or window alarm varies depending on the features, quality, and manufacturer. Check if your budget can accommodate the features you need.

Installing Alarms for Doors

Follow these tips when installing your alarm systems, whether you’re doing it yourself or using professional installers:

DIY Installation

• Select the right alarm: The first step is to choose an alarm that best fits the type of door and window you want to secure. 
• Test the door alarm: Before installation, test all the components of the door alarm to ascertain that it works properly.
• Clean the area: Ensure that the area you want to install the alarm on is properly cleaned and free of dirt to ensure proper adhesion.
• Install the alarm: Install the door and window alarm as laid down by the manufacturer in the instruction manual or setup video. DIY alarms are easy to install, and you can finish them in less than 20 minutes.

Professional Installation

• Get an estimate: Request an estimate of the installation process from professional installers. The estimate should include all costs related to the installation process.
• Hire a professional: Look for a reputable installer experienced in installing door and window alarms and hire them to handle the installation.
• Schedule the installation: Choose a good time when you will be around to test the system. The installation should be done in a few hours.
• Test the alarm: After installing the door alarm, test the alarm to ensure it is working properly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong installation: If you install your door alarm wrongly, it may not work at all or fail you when you need it most. Ensure the alarm is installed in the proper area. The alarm must be mounted on the door or window frame, not the glass.
• Failure to test the alarm: Check the alarm's performance before and after installation.
• Installing the wrong alarm: Be careful you pick the appropriate alarm for the window or door you wish to secure.
• Not adhering to manufacturer's guidelines: Strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing the alarm. If you don't, the alarm might not function correctly.

What if you live in an apartment?

You can install door alarms for apartments. They might be some factors to consider, but peace of mind will let you sleep well at night.

Monitor Your Home Without Breaking the Bank

Scare away intruders and burglars from your home today by installing effective and affordable windows and door alarms for your home.

Follow the tips outlined in this article to decide the best window and door alarms that will provide your desired features without going beyond your budget.