If you are considering getting home security cameras to protect your property and give you peace of mind when you are out at work or away on holiday picking the perfect location for their installation is vital.

Unfortunately, so many people simply install one camera at the front door, sometimes in the form of a doorbell Ring camera, and leave things at that.

Sure it is a lot better than nothing, but these sort of systems are pretty common these days and the modern burglar will have no problems avoiding the front entrance when picking their next target.

The truth is that a single CCTV camera can only do so much. No matter how wide the lens is, or how impressive the zoom may be, if you truly want to protect your home in an effective way, multiple CCTV cameras are simply a must have.

What are some of the best places to install CCTV cameras?

At the front and back doors

Ok, we said that the front door should not be the ONLY place that you install CCTV, but it certainly is one of the most important. In fact any door connecting the inside of your home with the outside is a potential vulnerability and ensuring that each is covered by a camera should be your starting point when building a CCTV system.

Covering the driveway and in the garage

Your car is one of the most attractive assets you have for any burglar and probably the most valuabl you own outside of the house itself.

Install security cameras that cover not only the vehicle/s themselves, but also the garage door. Another good idea is to install a motion detection alarm or lighting system on the outside of the garage to deter anyone who comes a bit too close.

Windows that cannot be seen from the street

Windows are another popular point of entry for a burglar, particularly if they are hidden from sight and the risk of being seen is minimal.

If you have any large windows around the back of your property, these are another key location that you should be protecting with security cameras.

Top Security tips

• Keep your security cameras within sight to act as deterrent, yet high enough that they cannot be tampered with.
• Ensure that your attach your cameras securely so they cannot easily be removed and will not be disturbed in high winds or other inclement weather.

What about commercial CCTV?

Protecting a large scale commercial premises is a whole different level to a domestic home and you will almost certainly need to call in a professional security company if you want to do so effectively.

Do your research and find yourself a well known supplier of commercial CCTV systems who will be able to advise you on the best places to install your cameras around the premises.

They will also be able to help you combine your CCTV with other commercial security tools such as alarm systems and access control gates.

Installing new windows and doors is a big commitment, one that can bring a huge number of benefits to homeowners, but not one to be entered into lightly.

Once you have finally made the decision to go ahead with your window and door replacement, the next decision you need to make is the material and style of the new units that you have installed.

uPVC is by far the most popular of these and is well known across the world for its fantastic durability, energy efficiency, low maintenance, and weather resistance.

With a bit of luck, and research, you will be able to enjoy your new windows and doors for decades to come so it is important to understand all the pros and cons before making any final decision.

In this article, we will do just that, walking you through the top reasons you might want to install uPVC units as well as looking at a few potential drawbacks.

Pros of uPVC installation

Low Maintenance

You will never been to paint your uPVC windows or have to maintain them regularly like you would with a wooden frame. Simply wipe them down with soap and water every now and then and your windows will be in absolutely stunning condition for many years.

Energy Efficiency

uPVC offers excellent energy efficiency ratings due to its insulating qualities and will help you regulate the temperature of your home, staying comfortable throughout the summer and winter months.

Quick Tip: Look for windows that are rated A or A+ for energy efficiency when conducting your research.

Fantastic Durability

It is no fluke that uPVC is the UK’s go-to choice for windows and doors. This material is flexible enough to resist warping or cracking and will last many many years before it needs to be replaced.

If you are looking for durability and security at a great price and with a huge selection of different styles on offer, uPVC is the perfect choice for you.

Cons of uPVC

Like with any other building material there are a few potential downsides of uPVC that you do need to consider.

Limited aesthetics

Nowadays there are an almost unlimited number of different styles and colours of uPVC windows on the market. However, whilst wood effect and brushed metal effect windows are more realistic now than they have ever been before, some people still insist that there is nothing quite like the look of the real thing.

Strength

uPVC windows and doors are pretty tough, but they can’t quite match the strength of solid wood or a composite material. If they are damaged during a storm or hit by an object, they are more likely to be damaged and require repairs.

Overall, uPVC is a fantastic option for anyone looking to replace their existing windows and doors. Get in touch with the Advanced group to learn more about the benefits of uPVC and get a free quote for new windows and doors on your property.

Solar panels will still function in bad weather such as rain and snow, although their efficiency will understandably be reduced.

This means that solar scotland is far from a seasonal energy source and you can enjoy year round clean energy completely free following installation.

How do solar panels cope with bad weather?

Given that over their lifetime, solar panels will be exposed to all forms of different weather conditions, manufacturers design their panels specifically to deal with them.

When looking for a solar panel installer make sure that the products they provide are water-proof, corrosion-proof, and dust-proof to ensure maximum performance for decades to come.

You should also check that the panels come with a warranty of at least 25 years.

What is the impact of different weather conditions on solar panel performance?

Of all weather conditions cloud is by far the one which will impact on the efficiency of your solar panels the most.

Your solar panels will still generate some amount of energy when under cloud cover but significantly less than when in direct sunlight, operating at around 10-25% of clear day productivity.

When designing their solar panels, however, cloud is only one weather state that needs to be considered by manufacturers.

Rain

Solar panel electricity production when it is raining will depend more upon the nature of the rain clouds than the rain itself and you can generally expect similar efficiency to that of an overcast day.

However, rain can actually be quite beneficial to solar panel owners as it can wash away any dirt and debris that has built up over time.

This means that once the rain has subsided and the clouds cleared away, your solar panels could end up being even more efficient than they were previously.

Snow

If snow accumulates on top of your solar panels, electricity production will stop as light is unable to reach the solar cells.

Luckily though, snow will do no damage to your solar panels, and they will return to a fully operational state once the snow melts away.

Often, the warm electrical components within solar panels mean that snow does not settle, so unless a significant amount falls in a short period your solar panels will remain working.

Extreme Cold

There is a common misconception that solar panels work better in the warmer months of summer, but this is not always the case as cold weather is actually ideal for maximum performance of the components within.

The key element of a solar panel’s operation is light, not heat, so for those in a cold climate who may have dismissed solar panels as a viable option, it is time to reconsider.

In fact, you should be more concerned if you live in a climate that gets extremely warm as the moment that the outside temperature exceeds 25 degrees Celsius, the panels will begin to lose their efficiency.

Why is installation so important to solar panels withstanding bad weather?

With the correct installation, your solar panels will be more than capable of surviving and producing electricity in all forms of extreme weather.

However, with so many companies now offering solar panel installation in the UK, it is not always easy to go about finding yourself the best installer to do this.

Before proceeding with any installation, make sure to check the credentials, online reviews, and previous customer accounts of the services offered by the company in question.

You should also look for a company that offers the longest possible warranty so that if something does go wrong as a result of bad weather, or for any other reason, you will be able to have it fixed without additional costs.

Is it worth it?

With so many different weather conditions impacting on the operation of solar panels are they really worth the effort?

Well, if you listen to financial advisors and customers who already have solar panels installed – ABSOLUTELY!

Solar panels are one of the best investments you can make for the future, helping you do your bit to help save the planet, whilst immediately slashing your energy bills and protecting you against any future price hikes.

For those looking to go completely off-grid with their energy production, significant investment in solar panels really is a must, but even if you are just looking to take some of the pressure off your monthly energy bills and live a cleaner lifestyle a few carefully positioned panels can make all the difference.

There are many benefits to solar panel ownership that you can enjoy from the moment of installation right up until you decide to move on with solar panel installation proven to increase the price of property, with valuers and potential buyers both seeing the benefits of their presence.

Boilers benefit hugely from having an annual service – but does it really matter when the boiler is serviced if it’s done yearly? On a purely functional point of view, there is arguably no different – but there is the major question of convivence that make it significantly better to get the boiler serviced during the summer.

Many people don’t think too much about their boiler servicing, tending to have it done around the time the boiler was installed or around the time of a previous breakdown. In most cases, to comply with a warranty you’ll have to ensure the boiler is serviced every year.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the reasons it is best to have the boiler serviced during the summer.

It is Cheaper

It is usually a lot cheaper to pay for a service during summer, because engineers are not nearly as busy. There is a lot more downtime – most of which is unproductive for the engineers.

How much it will cost to discount the boiler will depend on whether you are using an independent heating engineer or firm. Furthermore, whether you’re having a one-off service or using a service plan is important to consider. In most cases, a one-off service will be far more expensive than a

During the winter there tend to be significantly more breakdowns and as a result engineers tend to be much, much busier. As a result, services are usually discounted during the summer.

It’s far more efficient

Boiler efficiency is checked as part of an annual boiler service. Boilers which aren’t running efficiently are likely to be using more fuel than necessary – resulting in much higher fuel bills – which is a serious problem for anyone.

A properly qualified Gas Safe (or OFTEC) registered heating engineer will always check the boilers efficiency to ensure it is running at maximum efficiency. This means that when the winter comes, you’ll have a far more efficient, far more reliable boiler – ensuring you are prepared for winter.

Early Fault Detection

Boilers require regular maintenance or risk suffering serious faults and failures. If you do not use your boiler during the summer, there is the possibility of important components of the boiler seizing up – and even corroding through lack of use. Boilers which aren’t used periodically are liable to suffer serious issues with internal components

By having a boiler serviced during the summer, you can identify potentially serious problems early on – allowing you to avoid the issues before they happen. Furthermore, because the issues can be handled during the summer months, it’ll be much easier to get them repaired (or potentially replaced). Furthermore, unlike during the summer, you won’t be as affected by the temporary loss of the boilers functions as it is being repaired.

It’s a lot more Convenient

Getting your boiler serviced during the winter can prove incredibly inconvenient due to how busy engineers are during this period.

Not only are they also handling other servicing jobs, but they are often handling a huge number of repairs and installations as well (due to the increased number of breakdowns that happen during the winter). Furthermore, engineers will NOT prioritise you during the winter. They will be prioritising emergency repairs. This means you will often have to pick a time which is very inconvenient for you to get a boiler assessed.

During the summer, many heating engineers are effectively short of work. This is largely because there’s just not as much boiler use during the summer and so fewer breakdowns or issues to deal with. Whether an engineer is part of a firm or is just an independent contractor, they’re far more likely to be able to give you both a time and a date for a boiler service appointment during the summer.

This means it’s much easier to book a servicing for a boiler during the summer than it is the winter, and ultimately much more time convenient.

Avoiding Christmas

Having to deal with a boiler servicing is already a pain – but having to do with it around Christmas is often a serious pain – especially if you’re trying to save money. By getting your boiler serviced in the summer, you can easily circumvent this pain.

In Summary

Boilers benefit massively from being serviced during the summer. Not only can you avoid a huge amount of hassle, but you can much more easily secure the services of an expert engineer at CHS Glasgow and reduce costs. Furthermore, you are liable to avoid serious potential issues with your boiler – well before they emerge.

The key to avoiding being the victim of burglary is understanding exactly what these criminals are looking for, and how to make your home a less attractive prospect.

Here are some of the common signs a burglar may look for when choosing a property to target.

Attractive gardens

When you look at that large tree or beautifully manicured hedge in your front garden, you see an attractive addition to your property, but a burglar sees opportunity.

Bushes and trees are ideal hiding spots for burglars, letting them approach your property without detection, not to mention that signs that you have put a lot of time and money into carefully manicuring your garden could be taken as a sign that the inside of your home will be just as luxurious.

Keep your garden well-trimmed and limiting the number of large bushes and shrubbery to reduce the number of hiding spots on your property.

Visible valuables

The advanced surveillance technology you have seen burglars use in movies is actually extremely rare and most opportunist criminals will do no more than taking a peek through windows in the hope of seeing valuable items left lying around.

Keeping your curtains closed at night and ensuring that you store all the valuable items you can out of sight of ground floor windows is an easy and effective way to put off burglars.

Routine

As creatures of habit, we all have our own routine, leaving and returning from work at a similar time every day, and this routine can help burglars plan their moves.

Burglars will pay attention to the small things such as whether or not you lock the door when leaving for a short while so make sure to never compromise or slacken off when it comes to home security.

How to tell if you’re being targeted

By paying close attention to the immediate surroundings of your home, keeping an eye out for suspicious behaviour, you will be able to notice the small signs that a burglar may be casing the property.

Thieves will often leave a mark on the side of homes they are considering targeting in the form of a chalk symbol, or a miscellaneous item left outside your front door.

They will then return later on and if the sign has not been removed they will see this as a sign that no-one is home and seize the moment to make their move.

If you see anything out of place, make sure to check with your neighbours to see if they have seen any suspicious individuals nearby and inform the police if you are concerned.

What are thieves looking for?

Burglars care about two things, stealing valuable items, and avoiding being caught.

They too spend as little time as possible in each property they target, meaning they will normally have identified specific items before they enter.

The following items are some of the most commonly looked for by thieves when inside your home:

1. ID

Identity information can be extremely valuable in the wrong hands and a thief can do a huge amount of damage with your sensitive data.

2. Decorations

Antiques and decorative pieces with value are often highly visible, for obvious reasons, and offer an attractive fast steal and turnover sale.

3. Cash

An obvious one. Hard to track and 0 effort involved in terms of finding a buyer burglars will look in all the obvious hiding places for physical money.

4. Electronic

Computers, tablets, smartphones etc. will be the first items out the door in a burglary.

5. Tools

Your shed or garage may not have the same security measures as the rest of your home and the expensive tools inside may be seen as a quicker and less risky target.

How to prevent burglary

Here are some of the best possible anti-burglary defences you can put in place in your home.

Security Cameras

CCTV from CCTV Installers Glasgow acts as a powerful deterrent to criminals, allowing you to keep an eye on your home from anywhere in the world, and the recorded footage will be invaluable in helping the police find and convict the culprit should the worst happen.

Don’t advertise your absence

Plastering your social media with pictures from your holiday abroad is a great way to let everyone in your area know that your home is going to be empty for a prolonged period.

If you are going away, install a timed lighting system or ask a neighbour to park on your driveway to give the appearance of activity.

Always lock windows and doors

Opportunistic burglars may not concern themselves with casing a property and will simply roam a neighbourhood looking for unlocked windows and doors.

Don’t let your home be target of burglary as a result of carelessness and ensure you secure all doors and windows before leaving your home, even for a short period.