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Window Sensors vs Glass Break Sensors vs Motion Sensors

Window Sensors vs Glass Break Sensors vs Motion Sensors

By Tamás Ő. Tamás Ő. Verified by Sander D. Sander D. Last updated: July 22, 2024 (1)

The idea of arming the house with different safety sensors is undoubtedly popular among house owners, since no one want’s to find a rummaged house upon arriving home. However, most of them argue on the actual level of protection. You see, most homeowners are satisfied with placing one or two alarms around the doors, as investing in more equipment is not only expensive, but also disfigures the house design. Unfortunately such barebones defense proves to be useless during a well-planned home intrusion.

The clever choice lays in a strategic selection of the three main detector types: window/door sensors, glass break sensors and motion sensors. Variety is encouraged even by the home security companies themselves, who present carefully assembled packages with diverse alarm equipment.

Door/window sensors

These kinds of detectors are the most popular house defense solutions, and you find a large supply of them with local hardware stores and national alarm companies alike. They use a magnet and a sensor: the former is attached to the window, while the latter is installed on the frame. In alarmed state there is a circuit between the two, and if it’s disturbed by moving the window – prompting a break-in – the sensor signals it and sounds the alarm. It’s important to know that you don’t need to put sensors on every single window and door in your house – it would bleed your wallet dry – only the important ones, like the main entrance, or a window that opens to the balcony.

Alarm equipment by Protect America

In case you wish to make the sensor less visible, choose equipment from the “recessed” or “vanishing” types: they cost more, but they are thinner, less detectable, and synergize better with the interior. There are also vented window sensors that can protect opened windows.

Glass break sensors

“Why would I need a glass break sensor when I already have window sensors?” one might ask. The answer is simple: as we explained above, magnetic systems are only sensing the trajectory of the object they are attached to, and they cannot do anything when someone skillfully breaks the glace. This is where the similarly dubbed detector comes in, which uses an audio microphone, allowing it to “hear” loud noises. In case your home has large windows, or doors with decorative glass panels on them, such sensor offers complementary protection, alongside the normal alarms.

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Motion sensors

The last group of detectors is quite self-explanatory. While glass break and window sensors prevent burglars from crossing the lines of your home, motion sensors offer valuable service once they are in. These are your second-line fighters, offering a nasty surprise for criminals who entered the building through the chimney, like an evil Santa Claus. Jokes aside, lots of thieves consider themselves winners after bypassing the perimeter alarms, and they don’t suspect an interior sensor, craftily hidden in a shadowy corner. Although motion detectors seem to offer more complex protection, we don’t recommend relying only on interior sensors. They are only triggered if the interlopers enter their range, not to mention the false alarms caused by careless family members. Luckily your household animals won’t become prime suspects, since there are now pet-sensitive motion sensors.


Editors' choice
Vivint logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
24/7 monitoring
60-month interest-free financing
Wide variety of equipment
Home automation
Simple home security
Frontpoint Security logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
100% cellular/wireless equipment
Easy to set up and world class support
Reliable monitoring service
30-day risk-free trial
Smart home features
ADT logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Polished mobile apps
Extensive home automation
High-quality equipment
Alexa integration
Professional monitoring
Deep Sentinel  logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Fast response time
Easy setup
1080p HD camera
24/7 live monitoring
Flexible pricing
abode logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Comprehensive device list
No contracts or mandatory monitoring fee
Wide range of customization possibilities
Amazon Echo compatible
Self-monitoring
Blink Home Security logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Smart cameras and video doorbell
Amazon Echo compatible
Refurbished products available
Self-monitoring without contracts
User Feedback
  1. Hyder Ali Khan

    My glass break sensors keep being tripped. A loud thunder on a stormy night; a tiny rock, set in motion by lawn mower, hitting the window; a dish slipped from hand while dish washing; even a loud sneeze.
    So we have to turn it off when we are not home because once police came when the alarm went off (it was false alarm) and since nobody was home we could not silence it and the security company called the police.
    However, this is not a good solution because our house is unprotected when we are not at home. Alarm should be turned on when we are not home.
    I am thinking of switching to motion detector.
    Any advice?

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