The HAWK Home Security Blog

Every family has their own way of celebrating July 4th. From hot dogs to fireworks or a trip to the beach, you’re likely planning many exciting festivities for the holiday weekend. But before you don your red, white, and blue, we want to remind you of some important safety precautions you should take at home. Here are three home safety tips to consider for Independence Day:

Use fireworks with extreme caution

Did you know that fireworks injured 12,884 people in the U.S. in 2017? And children under 15 years old accounted for 36% of those injuries. (NEISS) Fireworks are one of the most dangerous aspects of July 4th. From their extreme heat of 2,000 degrees to 150-decibel noise levels, they’re capable of damage in more ways than one.

To protect yourself and your children from firework accidents, use extreme caution when handling and lighting them. Never let children play with fireworks, and always ensure an adult is the one igniting them. FEMA warns that fireworks should never be lit inside a container, especially glass or metal. And when lighting any sort of firework or sparkler, keep plenty of water nearby to extinguish fires or stop any malfunctions.

Establish smart pet safety in advance

Your pets probably don’t share your love of July 4th. Big celebrations with fireworks and crowds make many animals anxious, leading them to potentially unsafe behavior. That’s why it’s important to prepare your pet and your home for the holiday weekend. Animal control reports a 30% increase in lost pets each year during this time. (Pet Amber Alert) The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) urges pet owners to check that pets’ identification tags and microchip information is up to date. Microchipped pets are much more likely to be returned if lost.

If you plan on going out to parties or parades on July 4th, leave your pet at home and safely inside. Take the time to check your fences, doggy doors, and windows for any weak areas. Pets who get spooked during fireworks may try to escape when you aren’t home. Don’t let that happen: Giving your pet a crate or other designated safe space they’ll stay in.

Protect your home when hosting and traveling

During the holiday weekend, you should take extra precaution when protecting your home. If you are the host, be careful when firing up the grill. The National Fire Protection Association reminds us that July is the peak month for grill fires, accounting for 17%, that includes structure, outdoor, and other types of fire. Move the grill so it’s far away from your house and any railings, trees, or structures, and always open the lid before lighting. It’s a good idea to set clear boundaries around the area where kids and pets cannot interfere, so they’ll be kept out of harm’s way while you cook.

There are also steps to take if you’re headed out of town. According to AAA’s July 4th Travel Report, 46.9 million Americans travel 50+ miles from home for the holiday. Such popular travel times also add risk. Criminals looking to break into homes know most families are away, making burglaries a common problem. Before leaving the house, make sure you have a dependable security system in place to keep watch when you’re not there.

Keep your friends, family, and pets safe this year while you celebrate July 4th! With these tips, you can sit back, relax, and make the most out of a favorite summer holiday. Learn More About Home Security, or give us a call at 844-344-0047.

The Amazon Echo products are an incredible device that can take home control and home automation security to another level, which can control your lighting, or make your home seem occupied while you’re away, all with a few simple commands

Did you know you can use the Echo Dot to integrate with your Hawk Security alarm system? Here’s how to do it:

Home Automation Benefits

With the versatility and amazing capabilities of the Echo Dot, you can do just about anything with this sophisticated device. Take a look at the home automation benefits of the Echo Dot below:

Lighting Control

No matter where in your home you want to adjust the lighting, the Echo Dot makes fine-tuning your lights simple and stress-free. You can create voice activated settings so you can go from bright work lights to crackling mood lighting. Or set your lights on a timer to save energy, act as an alarm clock, or make your home seem occupied when you’re away.

Temperature

The Echo Dot provides total control of your home temperature. You can even integrate your Echo Dot with local weather reports to automatically adjust your temperature, saving energy and keeping your home the perfect climate.

Entertainment

From heart-pumping music to exciting movies, the Echo Dot gives you total control at your fingertips. Set up voice activated or regularly scheduled playlists and watch lists for whatever mood you may be in, then play them in any room of your humble abode. Imagine waking up to your favorite song every morning. Now that’s an alarm clock.

Security Benefits

While the Echo Dot is great for playing music and is the ideal device for voice control, this amazing contraption also integrates with your security services, surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and security alerts. Be alerted when someone is at the door or if the system senses a leak in your pipes. If the system detects smoke or carbon monoxide, emergency services will be dispatched immediately. The Echo Dot can even call 911.

Whether you’re looking for better home control or you want to step up your home security game, the Amazon Echo Dot is the perfect device for your whole family. Now, for a limited time, you could win an Echo Dot or a Hawk Security Pet Camera simply by entering the Hawk Security “Pose With Paws” Giveaway! There’s more than one chance to win, don’t miss out!

We love our teachers and veterans, and we’re happy to offer them home security and home automation solutions for them at a lower cost! With our top of the line motion sensors and high definition video surveillance with two-way audio, teachers and veterans in our community have everything they need to monitor and protect their home no matter where they are or how busy they may be.

The Low-Down On How Home Security And Home Automation Works

It’s easy to worry about home if you’ve been gone for long periods of time. Especially if you have pets and children at home that you want to protect while you are working or running errands. That’s where our cellular home security and home automation comes in.

When your security system registers an alarm, you will be notified immediately by the 24-hour UL Listed Central Station monitoring center that watches over your home. Hawk then notifies your local authorities to dispatch a police officer or firefighters to your home. Our systems also run on a backup battery so if your utilities were to ever go down for any reason, Hawk Security will still be able to keep you safe and get you the help you need. If your battery does run low, you will be notified by our Central Station immediately.

If you have further questions about Hawk Security upon installation, our installers are there to answer questions and go over the home security system manual with you. Hawk Security also has excellent video resources on your home security and further answers can be found on our FAQ page.

Everyday Veteran’s Discount On Home Automation And Security Systems

If you are or once were a member of the military, Hawk Security wants you to know how important you are to us and to this country. At Hawk Security, you’ll receive nothing but support. By providing a military discount to our veterans and their families, we recognize the benefits and loyalty that you deserve. We appreciate our vets. That’s why our military discount is available every day.

Everyday Teacher’s Discount On Home Security And Home Automation

If ever there were someone to thank, it would be our teachers. If you value education and are loyal to your educators, you already know this. Let us provide security for you like you do for our children. Every day is Teacher Appreciation Day at Hawk Security. Get your discount on home automation and security today.

Security for the home is a high priority all year long. But did you know that most crimes occur during the warm weather? How can you better protect your home during the springtime?

Light All Areas of Your Property

Well-lit property is a vital factor in dissuading potential burglars. Keep your property lit and bushes and hedges maintained so they don’t afford good hiding places for criminals to lurk unnoticed.

Remember to utilize smart bulbs applied to smart lamps compatible with our Home Automation system. You can set automation rules, schedule, and/or send commands right from your phone to change the lighting around your home.

Mow The Lawn and Organize the Outdoors

A clean and organized house can help deter potential burglars, as it tells them the house is not vacant. This could be crucial for your outdoor security equipment too, as debris might have built on your cameras and sensors during the winter months. Cleaning them for spring can help keep your security alerts accurate.

Secure Your Home While You’re Away

Warm weather also means plenty of people will be on vacation, which can induce burglars. Make sure to take the necessary security precautions before you travel.

Invest In High-Quality Locks and Deadbolts

Deadbolts should be used for all doorway entrances. Inside chains or latches help protect from potential invaders.

Go Through Local Yard Sales for Cheap Security Items

New lamps, storage solutions, and even outdoor signs found in yard sales can go a long way in helping secure your home.

Hire a Reputable Security Firm

The most effective security investment you can make is to hire a reputable, knowledgeable security firm. The best security firm can help protect your home 24/7. Entrances, windows, and other vulnerable areas can be continuously monitored by security cameras. Home security and safety can be checked from anywhere, at any time, by computer, laptop, or cell phone. A wireless cellular system also helps protect from the communication disruptions common in disasters. Response time for security emergencies can be much reduced. One security firm fulfills all these requirements: Hawk Security Services.

A Glance at Our Additional Security and Safety Features

Hawk Security’s Central Alarm Monitoring Station can also track smoke and carbon monoxide levels in the home. The GoHawk security app can enable other desired home activities, such as climate control, remote viewing, remote arming and disarming, and remote lighting control. These features offer additional levels of convenience, security, and protection. Hawk Security Services is a leading home and business security provider in Texas. Enjoy the spring season with full confidence in your security this year. Contact Hawk Security Services today to protect your home or business!

Are you planning a big move? Nearly 40 million people move each year in the United States. You probably have a lot on your plate, but don’t forget about one of the most important things: home security. Moving without a security plan could put you and your belongings at risk. This is why it’s worth working out the details ahead of time. Here are seven important questions to ask.

What does your security contract say? Some policies may require that you’ve had an active contract for a certain amount of time before moving. Our Move Program ensures that you can take your existing security plan with you at your new home.

Are there any moving fees in the contract? These fees may be on a sliding scale depending on how long you’ve been a customer. If you continue to secure your home with Hawk Security, you can actually receive $100 credit, on us!

Can you take the security equipment with you? If not, what happens to items left behind? Our technicians can transfer your old security equipment into your new location, and even provide an upgrade!

Do you need to drop off key fobs and change your security passwords? This might be an important step in this transition. Experts recommend changing your key fob battery every three or four years, and the BBB recommends changing your password every month.

Does your new home have an existing security system? Find out from the home owner or realtor if existing security equipment or components is compatible with ours.

When can you get a security consultation for your new property? The new home may have different security risks that require different measures or equipment. We provide free security consultation with your move.

Finally, how will the timing work out? Your security system needs to be transferred and up and running before family and valuables move in. We we can help you schedule before the big move in case there are complications.

Watching Over You Like A Hawk

You can learn more about how, at Hawk Security, we can help our customers during their move. In fact, not only can Hawk have your security set up before you move in, but if you stay with Hawk when you move, we’ll credit $100 to your account! If you’d like to talk about your options during this transition, give us a call at 888-257-2446.

Some thieves… are in the wrong line of work. It’s tempting to document everything, but definitely not any of these. Here are our awards for the funniest theft fails from criminals who really need to find a steady day job:

The Award for Worst Facebook Update Goes To…

This daring intruder clearly doesn’t have a fear of heights, but after this attempted break-in he may get a fear of small spaces instead. The criminal in question tried to climb through a second story bathroom window but couldn’t make the squeeze. This meant that his rear half was dangling outside the building, making it easy for the police to catch him. They grabbed a few unflattering photos along the way.

The Award for Worst Attempt to Bring Holiday Cheer Goes To…

There’s a trend here of intruders who don’t realize how out of shape they’ve gotten. In this story, the intruder tried to pull a Santa Clause and enter by the chimney. He got stuck and had to call 911 on himself.

The Award for Biggest Cheapskates Goes To…

Two would-be robbers were too cheap to buy a pair of pantyhose or a party mask as a disguise. Instead, they used a dried-up sharpie to scribble masks on their faces. Sharpie is hard to remove from the skin, which certainly made things easier for the police!

The Award for Most Considerate Intruder Goes To…

In the U.K., one inept intruder planned to get in and get out quickly. However, he found the home so quaint and charming that he decided to spend a little time there. He brought in the mail, cooked and cleaned, and even took a nap. The startled homeowners came back to find him still in bed and notified the police.

Not all thieves are the bumbling fools you see here. Have an advantage over the criminals out there with a Hawk Security state-of-the-art surveillance system. To learn more or get a quote, call us at (844) 344-0047.

In our two previous Connected Living Solutions blogs, we explored how smart home technology offers safe and effective solutions to enable independent living for seniors. We also described game-changing features that can help identify potential issues before they become emergencies. Here, we’ll tackle the very practical side of senior care – relative cost and affordability.

Nothing is more precious than your family’s safety and security.  And if we’re fortunate enough to have parents who live long lives, we certainly want to ensure their wellbeing as they age. This often becomes more difficult to do. As parents get older, our lives tend to get busier. Many of us juggle work and family responsibilities of our own, and finding the time to check in on our parents can be a challenge. Today’s seniors are living longer and staying healthier, but they also want to remain in their own homes longer. As their adult children, it’s hard not to feel conflicted.

How we do respect our parents’ need for independence and achieve peace of mind regarding their wellbeing—all without breaking the bank?

Connected Senior Living quite possibly offers the solution to three seemingly conflicting issues.

An Age-in-Place Solution

Smart home technology enables seniors to live in their own home longer by offering security to keep them safe and smart home automation to simplify daily routines. With smart home technology, it’s possible to adjust the thermostat, lighting, and locks all from one convenient app.

Peace of Mind for Adult Children

Through the same app used to track your own home security and home automation system, you can monitor daily activities that indicate well-being. Intelligence-based daily activity tracking and alerts for things like time in/out of bed and vital usage of items like refrigerators and medicine cabinets provide insight into daily routines that can impact health and wellbeing. The game-changer is the ability to receive alerts that can identify potential issues before they become emergencies.

An Affordable Alternative

While peace of mind may be priceless, let’s face it: real-world budgets have their limits. The cost of senior care in this country is significant as demonstrated in this average cost comparison of Nursing Homes versus Assisted Living versus In-Home Care:

You may be surprised to learn that Connected Living Solutions for Seniors starts at a fraction of this cost. While actual fees for the service vary depending on the security system and sensors you choose, costs for equipment, monitoring, alerts, and daily updates even for the most advanced packages run as little as 5% of the cost of these other options!

As older Americans remain healthy and active longer, it’s no surprise they want to maintain an independent lifestyle as they age. Staying in their own home often affords the best opportunity to achieve this. Connected Living Solutions for Seniors not only enables independence, but it also gives caregivers—usually their adult children—the peace of mind that comes from insight into their parents’ wellbeing. Just as important Connecting Living Solutions for Seniors offers one of the most affordable senior care options available.

Interested in learning more? Please give us a call at 855-442-0027.

Connected Living Solutions for Seniors is available exclusively for Hawk Security customers.

“I really want more paper in my life.” Said no one. Ever. Reduce the hassle of paper invoices, along with the likelihood of not being able to locate a bill when you need it, in a few easy steps.

Did you know you can set up automatic monthly bill payments for your Hawk Security Services? Automatic bill payments are a convenient and secure way to pay your bills.

You can set up your automatic payments by navigating your cursor to the top right-hand corner of the home page on desktop, and by clicking on Register Now.

Completing Your Registration Form

You will only need to provide basic information, such as your name, mailing address, and email address. You should also establish a strong and secure password as well as a security question. We provide a choice of several security questions from a drop-down box; enter the answer twice to ensure its accuracy. Please note, you will need your Hawk Security account number to register your account online. You can find it on the top right-hand corner of any invoice.

Signing Up for Automatic Bill Pay

Once you have established your online account, look for the My Account tab on the home page. It is the fourth option from the left, shaded in gray. Hover your cursor over the My Account tab until it displays several options.

Select the fourth option labeled Set Up Automatic Bill Pay.

After entering your login name, password, account number, and some other basic information choose how you would like to pay your Hawk Security bill. Enter the account information for the checking, savings, or credit card from which the funds will be drawn each month. You will need to type the account number twice for verification purposes.

Upon submission, the system will confirm when we will withdraw your first payment. You should continue to make payments as you regularly would in the meantime. You can change your settings any time by going to the fifth box under My Account and selecting  Manage Auto Bill Pay Preferences.

Contact Hawk Security at 1-855-442-0022 if you have difficulty setting up your account or schedule automatic bill payment. We are always happy to help!

The word is getting out there about home automation and smart homes. There are nearly 17 million smart homes in the United States as of November 2018, and that number is expected to triple by 2023. Smart home and automation expansion call for more automation options, so here are just a few home automation devices you didn’t know existed. Will you have any of these in your next smart home?

Do Your Business In Style With The Smart Toilet!

These high-tech toilets come with motion-activated lids, heated seats (for maximum comfort), retractable bidets, air dryers, deodorizers, foot warmers, fancy lights, and even Bluetooth speakers! They even sync with your phone so you can flush it from afar.

Even Pets Have Smart Home Appliances

Wi-fi connected pet feeders are controlled with smartphone apps so you can feed your furry friend from anywhere! Smart pet feeders allow you to schedule meals and slow dispense times to prevent pets from overeating.

Have A Perfect Night’s Sleep With A Smart Bed

What if your bed could track your nightly sleeping patterns, adjust the firmness of your mattress, and even fine-tune the temperature accordingly? The smart bed can do all that.

These Two Smart Products Might Keep The Dentist at Bay!

Connect your smartphone to your smart toothbrush and use facial recognition to track where you’ve brushed so you don’t miss a spot. This smart toothbrush even provides real-time coaching on brushing time and pressure. It’s so smart that pressure sensors will automatically slow down its brush speed to protect you from excessive brushing. It’s like having a dentist in the palm of your hand!

In addition to the blue-toothbrush, an automated floss dispenser will help you get the perfect amount of floss every time and it will frown if you neglect to floss your teeth.

Take Your Time Eating With A Smart Fork

Studies support eating slowly can be a part of a healthier lifestyle. This smart utensil buzzes when you’re literally biting off more than you can chew. It connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone and even shows you eating statistics.

A Perfect Tool For The Home Chef

Using built-in sensors, this interactive frying pan tracks the weight of the ingredients as you drop them into the pan, perfect for measuring out the optimal portion size. It also has built-in temperature sensors that ensure you have the perfect level of heat for whatever you may be cooking. It can track the nutritional value of what you’re cooking so you know if you’re eating right. This smart pan can even give you step-by-step cooking instructions and save your own recipes as you come up with them.

An Automatic Green Thumb

This smart pot monitors your house plant and relays the plant’s vitals back to your smartphone. The smart sensors monitor a range of metrics like soil moisture, room temperature, light levels, and even fertilization. However, hands down, the best feature is the automated watering system. You can store up to two liters and water a plant for an entire month.

Even Your Trash Can Get Smart!

When you throw products away, this smart trash can scans the barcodes and adds the items to a shopping list. This list is then compiled on a dedicated app which arranges delivery for all the items from a supermarket of your choice.

Stay Connected To Your Home 24/7

You can have peace of mind when you’re on a business trip or vacation by using an app that’s tied to a smart home automation security system. This type of system lets you know when:

• The alarm system is turned on or off and by whom.
• Motion is detected at your home.
• A certain cabinet or door is opened or closed.

If you add a smart home automation system to a cellular monitoring plan, you can:

• Let others enter your home, even if you’re miles away.
• View live video feeds of cameras inside and outside your house.
• Get alerts if a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm goes off or a water sensor is triggered.

Smart Home Devices For Smarter Living

Not only can home automation help you feel safer, but it can also make your daily life more comfortable and convenient. For example, you can use a “smart” plug to make your “dumb” devices, like a lamp, smarter. A smart plug can be as cheap as around $20 and plugs into an electrical outlet. Just plug a lamp into the smart plug and via Wi-Fi and an app, you can control lighting with a home automation system.

Ready To Get Started With A Home Automation System?

If you’re in the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Plano or Tyler areas, Hawk Security Services is a full-service home automation and security service provider. You can call us at (844) 344-0047 to speak with a specialist to answer your questions and get a quote for a system.

In our first Connected Living Solutions blog, we explored how smart home technology offers safe and effective options to enable independent living for seniors. Here we provide additional detail around the specific solutions, including a description of the service, how it works and the intelligence behind it all.

Today’s seniors clearly have the desire to age in place. And while many seniors are able to live independently, their caregivers still need reassurance that their loved ones are safe in their own home. With many adult children of aging parents working full time and raising their own children, there simply isn’t the time to check in on mom and dad as often as they would like. Smart home technology is evolving to support both healthy and safe independent senior living and bring peace of mind to family members.

Identify Potential Issues Before they Become Emergencies

The technology has evolved from simply responding to a crisis (think: I’ve fallen and I can’t get up) to intelligence-based tools that alert caregivers to changes in established activity patterns (think: hours in bed, trips to the refrigerator).

Truly a game changer, notifying caregivers of these atypical behaviors can help identify potential issues before they become emergencies. For example, with the help of an interior door sensor, when a refrigerator that is typically opened 10 times each day, is suddenly opened once, an alert is triggered. Plus, specific rules can be established for triggering alerts. Night time safety is a primary concern for seniors, with falls often occurring during overnight trips to the bathroom. Bed sensors can detect if a senior gets up at night and doesn’t return with a reasonable time.

Perhaps most importantly, this information is available to the caregiver in the same app used for their own home security system. So staying connected to aging parents is as easy as toggling between two accounts.

Security and Home Automation: Still at the Heart of the System

The first step towards a cohesive solution is the installation of a Hawk Security monitored security system to cover the basics of protection. From there, the system’s capabilities are customizable based on your needs.

Security – Keeps Them Safe

Keypad, door/window sensors, fire/CO detectors, and keyfob

• 24/7 best-in-class monitoring
• Monitored fire & CO detection

Home Automation – Simplifies Daily Routines

Locks, Lights & Thermostat

• Remote lock/unlock
• Remote thermostat control & scheduling
• Remote light control & scheduling

Connected Living Solutions – Protect and Connect

Motion Sensor, Interior Door Sensor, Bed Sensor, Pendant, Camera

• Intelligence-based daily activity tracking and alerts
• Time in/out of bed monitoring and alerts
• Trend tracking and alerts of vital area usage such as trips to the refrigerator and medicine cabinets
• View loved ones in real time via video
• Wearable monitored emergency response

The combination of home security, home automation, and connected living solutions all accessible through one easy-to-use app provides caregivers control and access to keep loved ones safe, healthy, protected and, most importantly, happy as they continue living their lives at home.

Interested in learning more? Please give us a call at 855-442-0027.

Connected Living Solutions for Seniors is available exclusively for Hawk Security customers.