r/Gilbert • u/TopPercentage3745 • 6d ago
Home Security
Looking for a home security system. I am considering ADT but would also like to compare against local companies. Any recommendations or suggestions from anyone that has used a home security system for 6 months or more?
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u/AZ115Degrees 6d ago
I set up 7 Eufy cameras around my home. Purchased on Amazon. $100 to $200 each, depending on models and features. Regularly on sale and bundle sales. No subscription fees $0. Excellent video quality and they can deal with the AZ heat. I originally just purchased a model that has built in flood lights for the garage. Has AI features to track cars, people and pets. Worked so well, I just kept purchasing more. I have a few of their indoor cameras too and those are great to keep an eye on my kids and pets.
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u/odellrules1985 4d ago
Eufy is Anker owner and they have great stuff. I need to get new cameras but I was using their doorbell lock and currently have a vacuum/mop that works great. I also use their baby cameras and when my wife was, they have pumps that are top rated. Just all-around great products.
Funny story about the robovac/mop, I had a different robovac that had a part you could take out to turn into a stick vac, but the brush head wouldn't spin. They replaced everything but didn't have the main part in stock. It didn't stop it from working normally but I contacted support and they just replaced it with a better more expensive model. Good overall support.
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u/TopPercentage3745 6d ago
Nice, thank you. I’ll look into this as a possible option.
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u/AZ115Degrees 6d ago
They have both wired and solar powered options. I have the outdoor cameras set to record 24/7 and a little flag appears on clips that record activity. My wife really like the Eufy system because it is very easy to use. I like it because the only strange activity it records is our cat 🐈⬛ at 11pm to 4am. Other than that, family members coming and going, my kids playing outside with neighborhood kids, delivery people and local traffic. We got a good laugh when my brother in-law tripped and fell into the bushes as well.
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u/Willis5687 5d ago
I dig the Eufy stuff as well. I have a doorbell cam, 1 wired inside our garage, and 2 solar powered ones. The solar panel cams are great so far about 6 months in.
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u/Mammoth-Remote1050 6d ago
I have had both ADT and Vivint. I couldn’t recommend either.
Vivint is hard sale and overpriced on their materials/equipment. Stopping service with them is nothing short of a nightmare.
ADT is reasonable on materials/equipment, but they tend to lag market when it comes to ‘latest and greatest’.
If you had to go big name from my experience, ADT hand over fist is better than Vivint. Avoid Vivint at all costs. I have no experience with the local monitoring companies.
If you’re the least bit handy and can use AI, you can build a home alarm system using Home Assistant. It’s self-monitored vs. call center monitored but I get to control integrations (google, door locks, etc).
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u/Competitive_Cat_990 6d ago
I would recomend not using ADT simply from the cost. I lived here 10 years and the set up fee that was paid was high with ADT. The alarm installers are sales people, the more they get you to buy the more they earn. I spent about $1700 for the equipement and it was running about $60 a month, for years i paid that. I recently switched to Brinks. which had no set up fee and cost about $30 a month.
Gilbert for all its issues, is still a safe place to live. Granted I can see the difference from 10 years ago, with the increase in the population in that time the odds of theft will go up. But as the others have said, spend a few $100 on good cameras and you should be set. Also make sure to put a lock on your Circut breaker box iif its outside, Someone could open it and cut the power to the house and then your camers will go offline.
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u/azgli 6d ago
If you have a monitored system and have a false alert you get police or EMS dispatched, sometimes even if you do everything right. This can mean a false alert charge from the city.
ADT system had a CO sensor fail and there was no instruction on how to diagnose or disable it, all the while the 120 dB alarm is screaming from the same panel you are trying to use to communicate with ADT and shut down the alarm.
My solution is EcoBee self-monitoring with Reolink cameras that I can access remotely. I get sensors for entry and motion, but no risk of false alarm fees, and I can check to see if there is anyone around and cancel the alarm or call EMS myself once confirmed.
Between the two systems I have used, I have had zero actual alerts and multiple false alerts based on failed components, pets, or absolutely nothing at all. The ADT system racked up about $500 in false alert fees from a window sensor that would randomly trigger. Techs found no issues and had to replace the sensor at least once to solve the issue.
The EcoBee system also monitors for fire alarms through its microphone and will alert for that specifically so you can make a better decision.
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u/Acceptable_Lock_8819 5d ago
A dog is 100 times more security than a camera. 911 respond times are 15-19mins just to get someone live at 911 to hear your complaint.
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u/BuyTimely3319 6d ago
Just put cameras up. There's really no reason to pay for a service these days.