Honeywell’s Tuxedo Touch

At Alcom, we love Honeywell, as well as other manufacturers as well. 

With Honeywell’s Tuxedo Touch, you get a 7", high-resolution graphic touchscreen and controller. It integrates security with voice commands, video viewing and recording, and a host of other features.

Consumers can now utilize groundbreaking voice control in everyday living. By speaking commands such as “leaving the house” or “returning home”, users can perform a range of tasks, such as arming their systems, and more.

You can also view cameras, control their security system, lights, locks and thermostats, and receive email and video alerts remotely.

This is a superior system, but there are other systems that can fit into your lifestyle.  If you’re interested, please speak with Ernesto at (416) 798 7721.

How do you stay in touch?

Alcom’s at the front of the latest technology to connect you with your home, even when you’re away from home.

You can use an app on your phone to view the status of your home, arm or disarm your system as well.  (Great for to confirm when the kids really come home). If you didn’t want to use an app, there’s SMS text messaging, as well as viewing the status of your home security on a webpage.

If you’re interested in these options, please speak with Ernesto can customize a system for you, please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

Smartphone Features

A while back, we discussed our new system that where you can view the status of your home, all on our new app.

Here’s what the app can do:

  • Monitoring of the alarm panels'  status
  • Real-time push, text or email notifications
  • Events log available up to one year back in time
  • Remote Arming/Disarming of the alarm system
  • Secured remote access with personalized user codes

Phone Cut Technology

Phone Cut Technology

No phone line? Worried about cut phone lines? No problem!

You may have heard ads frightening customers into thinking that phone lines can get cut, leaving alarms at risk.  As our tech guru Danny says, the best systems have failsafe technologies, so if something fails, you’re backed up.

We’re adjusting with the times too, when some talk about line cutting, we know that some customers don’t even have a landline.  For our customers, we have the ability to wirelessly connect to our systems, or access it via SMS (text) messaging (a special type of messaging).  GSM cellular also backs up some of our systems.

Worried about power loss? Some of our systems have a backup battery to help in case of a power outage. 

This is where Alcom’s personal service comes in.  Tell Ernesto what you need and he’ll come up with a system for you. Please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

Keeping Up to Code

Keeping Up to Code

At Alcom, we provide fire alarm and fire sprinkler system for many commercial and non-profit organizations.

Parts of our knowledge is in knowing the Ontario fire code, but ask anyone doing a renovation the difference between doing it to code and doing it right.

For industrial and commercial buildings, where hundreds of people can occupy the building, there’s many reasons why you want the best fire and fire sprinkler alarm system.

Protecting your Investment

You spent years of effort on your business, and a fire can wipe it out at any time for any reason, so why not protect it with the best fire protection possible?  You didn’t put minimal effort to build your business, so why put minimal efforts to protect your business.

Protecting People

Fire alarms are how the fire department is called to the source of your fire. If your alarm is not performing as expected, the employees, customers and visitors to your premises will not be as protected.

Save on Insurance

Failing to meet your insurance requirements by not having fire and sprinkler monitoring could lead to claims not being paid in the event of a fire.

Meet Fire Protection Codes

Meeting municipal fire protection codes can be confusing, that’s why you would want to rely on our experts to navigate these waters. While you need protection to protect your investment, people and customers, you also don’t need the expense and costs (of time and hassle) to deal with fire infractions. The specialists here at Alcom have the ability to translate complicated fire codes into peace of mind for you.

Which all leads back to protecting your investment. Few companies that suffer from a severe fire where human life is damaged return.

 

If you want to reinforce your fire and sprinkler alarm protection, Ernesto can customize a system for you, please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

Planning to Close the Cottage?

Thanksgiving is a traditional time to close up the cottage.  If you’re like us, we usually have the big Thanksgiving dinner before we close up. 

There’s some concern, however, about leaving your cottage closed for six months.  The best part of your security system with Alcom is that it not only covers your home, but any second home as well.

Hooking up a system is as easy as hooking into your phone system.  No landline at the cottage? No worries, we can use a GSM or even SMS text to keep your cottage secure during the winter months.

While they may be predicting an equally cold winter to match our very warm summer, in a few months, we will be back enjoying the great weather.   

Corporate Fire Prevention Tips

Corporate Fire Prevention Tips

At Alcom, we are all about protection, but the best thing would be to prevent a fire from breaking out of your business. We’ve assembled some tips to help some common tips to help prevent fires.

Housekeeping

Keeping a clean (work) house is key. Ensuring dust, hazards, and garbage is removed every day prevents hazards that can cause fires in companies.

Training

Clean desk policies, and a culture of tidiness will impact fire protection. If a company has a culture of cleanliness, this helps everyone out. On the other hand, if employees are used to piling paper boxes in front of outlets, that is a recipe for disaster. 

Inspection

Performing a monthly health and safety inspection is a good idea for the larger good of the company. Having a separate set of eyes, not used to how things are normally done, is a good way of pointing our hazards that everyone else is used to.

As well, inspect your firefighting equipment to ensure you have support when needed.

View Your Security Status Remotely

  • Remotely control your system from a smartphone.
  • Get real-time notifications wherever you go.
  • View images of alarm events or make snapshots on demand.

This sounds amazing!

Our new app allows your to view, from your smartphone, any image of any alarm events, take snapshots on depend, and arm and disarm your system, upon demand.

This system can take any alarm, no matter how old, into a SMART alarm.

With the SMART app, you can always stay connected, and disarm your system when you need to.

Repairing the Roof

Repairing the Roof

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. ― John F. Kennedy

We’re approaching fall, and as much as we may want to deny it, it is coming.  There’s some things we can do now to help prepare you for autumn.  Before we start the fireplace, let’s look to some things that can keep safe during the fall and into winter.

Check your carbon monoxide alarm system.  Gas can be emitted from fireplaces, furnace or space heaters, and carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless, so your alarm system is the best way to detect gas.

Speaking of batteries, please test your smoke alarm, and ensure that there are alarms on every floor of your house. 

When starting your gas fireplace, and the pilot light or flame goes out, turn off the gas, wait five minutes for the gas to clear, and restart it according to the manufacturer instructions.

At the beginning of every furnace season, have a heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and vent system. Sometimes, this can be requested by the company providing your heating. When testing, ensure your filter is cleaned or replaced.

We hope, that by getting these tasks out of the way now, you can have a great, worry-free autumn.  

Preparing for Back to School

Preparing for Back to School

We’re approaching the end of summer, and a new type of busy is upon us, a type away from the cottage and road trips to far off beaches to the regular life of watching over children or grandchildren as they now enter school.  Letting your tween or teenager stay home from school can be a lesson in trust.

So that you feel secure (hey, that’s what we do), we’ve prepared some tips to make that transition easier:

Doors should be locked when opened, as soon as it’s closed behind them, and as soon as they enter the code in your security system.
A friendly and trusting neighbor should be used as a safe space in case your child does not feel safe.
Front doors should never be opened, if a person needs to come in, they will have a key.

Keep in mind, that with Alcom, you can see when your child leaves and enters via your phone. Viewing this history ensures that your children are safe as well as honest. We hope you have a great back to school season, as we enter into fall.

Protecting Your Home When Away

When heading off to the cottage for the weekend, packing up the car with tents and marshmallows, I noticed that we did have a lot of traffic pass by.

So I thought to myself, what if one of these people knew that we were away, and wanted to use that as an opportunity to break and enter?

Of course, while I’m protected by Alcom, and would receive an alert if something were to happen, I would prefer that nothing would happen.  What can we do to help prevent a break and enter when on a road trip?

1.       Don’t advertise your vacation. Adding your vacation plans and pictures on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter can let people know when you’re away and when you will return.  Save adding your photos until after you return.

2.       Get a trusted neighbor. Let a friendly, and trusted, neighbor know that you’re away, and to check in and remove flyers from your home.

3.       Remove your spare key. Normally, you will need to have your child or in-law periodic access to your house. During your vacation, give the key to your trusted neighbor.

4.       Pretend someone is home.  Using inexpensive timers can give the impression that someone is home when they are not.

5.       Turn off water and lock the windows.  Turning off the water to your home protects you against flooding, and double-checking your locked windows and doors gives you peace of mind.

Replace Your Batteries

As you may know, almost all municipalities charge for false alarms. The biggest reason for false alarms is simple, the power goes out of the alarm system, and a call is made.

 

While lots of actions can cut power to the alarm system (like home renovations), the most common cause is replacing batteries.  If you’re unsure on how to do this, check your manual, or give us a call for help.

Help… My Kids are Home!

With summer vacation approaching, we know kids are constantly coming in and out of the house. Kids are playing outside or at the park or friend’s house. How can you tell if your kids are in your house, or someone you don’t want in your house.

Our security systems can tell which person entered in their alarm code, so you know who’s in and who is not in. 

With continual monitoring, you know if your teen or tween is safe during the summer.

If you want to know more about how Ernesto can customize a system for you, please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

Securing Your Investment

Securing Your Investment

We hope that you’re enjoying the warm, and not so warm, weekends at your cottage. We wanted to offer some tips to allow your to enjoy your property, safe from any thieves or even kids just looking for fun.

1.       Don’t look like a target. Lock up all of your valuables, and things that can be used to break into your cottage. Lock away tools and ever wheelbarrows.

2.       Don’t provide cover. Large bushes covering thieves entering your home can give thieves protection while trying to enter.

3.       Secure everything. Even your air conditioner, ensure that doors are locked, windows closed, patio doors have the old hockey stick added.

4.       Secure everything, including the door. Use double deadlocks, secured with reinforcing plates on both ends, in the door and frame.

5.       Put away the liquor, as this is most likely to be stolen.

6.       Know your neighbors. Making friends with local, year round neighbors will ensure that they know when a suspicious truck pulls up in your driveway.

7.       Automatic lights on timers are great ways to prevent opportunistic thieves.

8.       Get an alarm system. We’re big on ensuring your security, both preventing and capturing thieves.  Call Ernesto at (416) 798 7721 to get a system set up.

Protecting Your Cottage

Protecting Your Cottage

As you can imagine, there is nothing worse than investing in a cottage, putting in the work to make it your second home, arriving on Friday night to a ransacked home.  Even if it’s “kids” looking for beer or someone stealing the TV, the effects are the same, it’s an invasion of your personal property.

Getting Up to Code

If you’re a property owner, it’s important to ensure that you are “up to code” when is comes to fire protection.  That’s why Alcom is important partner for your property services, we handle it so you don’t have to.  


For those who do it themselves, there are risks.  The Ontario Fire Service keeps a list of fines related to fire protection here (http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/FireMarshal/FireServiceResources/messenger/OFM_2013_Code_Violations.html) 


The point is not to scare you, the point is to let you know that we’re here to help.  You wouldn’t handle your plumbing, taxes, dentistry and groceries by yourself.  Like your dentist, you can partner with us, so it’s one less thing off of your to-do list.


We can’t stop property standards from being enforced; we can make it a bit easier.

Welcome to Our New Website

We redesigned our website to give it a better look and show off more
of our services


We’re also relaunching our blog, which will give you news on how we
work, our systems and even our hobbies or charitable causes.


A great feature of the website is our blog, which you’re reading right
now.  Please take a minute to add a comment to this (or any!) post.

The Importance of ULC

The Importance of ULC

Alcom is proud to work on our relationship with ULC.  Our employees become recertified twice a year.

If you're a property manager, working with a ULC company allows you to have:

  • Insurance for your Sprinkler Room
  • A discount off of your insurance.

Also some insurance companies or municipalities mandate use of a ULC-certified company, like Alcom.

To view ULC's exacting criteria, please click here.

Metro Toronto Bylaw No. 371-2010

The city of Toronto has enacted Bylaw No. 371-2010 (Municipal Code, Chapter 442) that allows The Toronto Fire Department to charge Toronto residences a high administration fee to respond to false fire alarms. The fee is $ 410.00 per Fire Truck and often up to three fire crews and trucks are dispatched to each call.

The truth about VoIP

Alarm Systems and other Emergency devices work by delivering important digital data via a communication conduit to the Monitoring Station and if necessary then the appropriate response team such as the police or guards are dispatched.

In order to do so, alarm panels and other emergency equipment require stable and reliable modes of communication in order to relay that digital signal such as diagnostic information or breaches of security. Some VoIP service conduits may fail to deliver these vital digital signals because VoIP bandwidth is much poorer than that which alarms and emergency communicators are designed for.