What's new?
Apps: Be in control, even when you're far away
If you have recently installed a new security system or are planning to upgrade an older system, be sure to ask us about an exciting new technology -- Apps! Your account specialist can advise you on incorporating Iphone- or Android-compatible Apps to allow you to remotely arm and disarm your security system -- as well as control lighting and thermostats.
Q: My system connects to your central station over phone lines. Will the Apps work over phone lines?
No. Apps require that your system has a cellular or internet connection to our central station. In most cases, it just involves adding an extra communication piece to your current system.
Q: How do I know if my current system is App ready?
Apps are currently available for Honeywell and DMP alarm control panels. Contact our office and ask for your account representative. He or she can verify your system controls and determine if any upgrades are needed to enable you to take advantage of our new remote Apps.
Q: How does the App work to control lights and thermostats?
Your App communicates wirelessly to specific thermostats or light switches in your house. It requires that we replace those devices with ones that have the wireless technology built in. You then will have
direct control to turn lights on and off and to adjust the temperature in
a specific heating zone of your home.
Iced in
Prevent FROZEN PIPES
While there might be blue skies today, the Northeast is still in the
midst of winter's deep freeze. Fulfilling meteorological predictions, this winter has been one of the coldest and snowiest on record, with sustained periods of below zero temperatures. This extreme cold combined with wind chill creates a substantial risk for frozen or burst pipes. As freezing water turns to ice inside a pipe, the blockage exerts pressure throughout the system which can lead to pipe failure in vulnerable areas. All piping systems - plastic, copper and steel - can
be at risk.
Once a pipe is compromised, flooding follows -- damage can be messy, and repairs can be expensive. According to plumbing experts, just one small crack in a pipe can unleash more than 250 gallons of water in one day.
To minimize the risk of frozen pipes, follow these precautions:
- Open cabinet doors under sinks and in storage areas to allow heat from the room to circulate around uninsulated pipes. Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip overnight; however, be careful not to run the water into a drain line that is exposed to the extreme cold because that line might freeze.
- Insulate all pipes in unheated areas or against uninsulated outside walls, such as in garages or crawl spaces. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed and prone to freezing.
- Heat should always be on in colder months, set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you are going to be away from your house, keep a watchful eye on your property with a temperature sensor and/or a water sensor. These devices will give you peace of mind that your home is being monitored for environmental hazards. Ask a Scarsdale Security consultant for details.
I think my pipes are frozen! What should I do?
- Slow water flow may indicate frozen pipes. If this is the case, contact a plumber for professional help immediately.
- Shut off the water main leading into the house to reduce pressure on frozen pipes and minimize flooding if the pipes burst.
Use a hair dryer to thaw ice blockages if the frozen pipe is exposed and visible. Do not use an open flame to thaw frozen pipes. If frozen pipes are not visible, a licensed plumbing contractor with professional pipe-thawing equipment is necessary. |
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In This Issue
•
New Apps, FAQs
• Prevent frozen pipes
• Online billing & customer care
Put your trust in us
Happy New Year from our family
to yours!
With the turn of the calendar comes reflection and resolve. With gratitude for your business during the last year, we sincerely thank you for letting us be part of your security needs, and we look forward to continuing that relationship in the future. These are exciting times. As the months unfold,we look forward to bringing you new technologies -- delivered the old fashioned way,
with personalized service and hands-on involvement from real people who care. Isn't this the way everyone should do business?
With that thought in mind, we wish you good health and prosperity in 2014.
As always, we look forward to
seeing you in the neighborhood,
and we welcome your questions, comments and suggestions at:
newsletter@scarsdalesecurity.com. — Traci Dutton Ludwig, editor
Connections
Online for your convenience
Did you know you can now pay your bill and review your account online? That's not all; you can also
review invoices, update billing information, view service history, request appointments and contact security consultants for all your monitoring needs. Efficiency is just
a click away. We are here for you
24 hours a day, 7 days
a week.
To register for online services, please click HERE
- or -
-
Visit our home page at www.scarsdalesecurity.com.
- Go to the drop-down menu
in the upper right corner labeled "Pull Down for
Client Services."
- Select "WebAccess Service
& Payments." This will
direct you to a login page.
- On the login page, select
"Set Up New Account."
- You will need to enter your "customer number" and "billing zip code" which can
be found on your bill.
Need Help?
Click to watch the
Create your Online Account (Video) instructions.
Newsletter Archives & Newsletter Sharing
If you'd like a copy of a prior newsletter, they are archived on our website, under
SAFETY MATTERS, at:
www.scarsdalesecurity.com.
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