The Informer, 1 B04418 | ACR–1750531 Spring 2013

The Trouble With False AlarmsThey are more than just an inconvenience. False alarms take a toll on the safety and budget of both you and your city.

They cost you. False alarms cost users money. In some municipalities, you can be fined each time your system sends a false alarm.

They waste resources and delay responses. Think about it. Responding to false alarms costs the city. Additionally, responding to false alarms results in slower response times to real alarms.

They cause complacency. You have heard the term “cry wolf”, right? It applies here. An alarm that is constantly going off desensitizes the community to actual incidents. Frequent false alarms tend to make responders complacent. Complacency leads to carelessness. Carelessness injures law enforcement and firefighters.

They discourage use of alarms. False alarms can make owners reluctant to use their system, exposing their home, facility or business to fire and property damage. Ener–Tel designs and installs systems that will keep your family safe but they only work when they are being used properly.

What Can You Do?Do not worry. Yes, false alarms are a problem. But there are easy steps you can take to reduce their likelihood. To save money, to ease the strain on San Angelo’s resources, and to protect your home and family, follow these steps. (Continued on page 2.)

Ener–Tel Services, Inc.

4512 Adobe Drive | PO Box 5290San Angelo, Texas 76902325-658-8375www.ProtectTexas.com

Provided as a public service by The False Alarm Reduction Assoc. & Ener–Tel Services, Inc.

THE INFORMER

Spring 2013

Each quarter, Ener–Tel Services generates a false alarm reduction newlsetter as a service to you, our customer. We hope to provide valuable information that will protect you and your home while adding value to your current home security system.

In this issue, look for:

Spring Break Vacation Checklist, p. 2

Featured Product, p. 3

Like us on Facebook for tips, information, product developments, specials and giveaways.

Leave comments, seek feedback, and learn about what we have been up to.

facebook.com/ProtectTexas

The Informer, 1

The Informer, 2 B04418 | ACR–1750531 Spring 2013

Train all users. Make sure that everyone who will be using the system knows the operating basics. If you are unsure of how to properly use your system, give us a call. We would be happy to show you.

Fix problems immediately. If your system is acting up, schedule a service call with us.

Got a key? Get a code. If you give someone a key to your home (house or pet sitters, cleaning crews, landscapers, extended family) give them the passcode as well.

Let us know about any environmental changes. Did you get a new puppy? Are you rearranging your furniture or hanging new drapes? All these factors could interfere with the operation of your motion detectors. Call us and one of our team members can quickly assess how your alarm system can best accomodate the changes in your home.

The Bottom Line... Your alarm system is your first line of defense. Each step you take toward reducing false alarms increases the value of your alarm system. Sure, it saves you money. But more importantly, it keeps you, your family and your belongings protected.

(Continued from page 1)

How Much Longer Until Spring Break?You’ve been counting the days until it is time to leave. You are certain you haven’t forgotten anything you need to do to ensure your home is secure and running smoothly while you’re gone. Right?

House and pet sitters hired

Arrange for mail and newspapers to be picked up daily

Arrange with the lawn service to care for the yard

Set timers on interior lighting. (Check out page 3 to see how you can skip this...)

Go make sure, then go make memories.

which days you will be gone

whether or not anyone is authorized to be in your home while you are away

your updated emergency contact information, including who has keys to your home

a number to reach you, should your system activate while you are away

Tell Ener–Tel:

Have a safe trip!The Informer, 2 B04418 | ACR–1750531 Spring 2013

The Informer, 3 B04418 | ACR–1750531 Spring 2013

Featured Product

Gone are the days when your cell phone just made calls. Browsing the web, taking high-quality pictures and videos, sending and receiving text messages... Your phone is pretty smart.

What if we told you we could make it smarter? Because we can. With a home automation system from Ener–Tel, you can lock and unlock doors, arm and disarm your alarm system, monitor the activity in your house, and adjust the thermostat all from your smartphone.

That means you can control what goes on in your home from wherever you are. Need to unlock the doors for the neighbor while you are at the gym? Done. Need to adjust the thermostat because a cold front is blowing in? Easy. Heading out of town and want to make sure you locked the doors? Check. Getting home after dark and want to turn on some exterior lights? Can do. With Ener–Tel’s home automation package, you can do all this and more.

The benefits are pretty extensive. Peace of mind when you can verify that your house is protected and your family is safe. Lower energy bills when you can remotely adjust the thermostat. Increased convenience when you can set schedules for lights, blinds, ceiling fans...

Your phone... Smarter.

Call us today to see how we can make your phone smarter, your bills lower, and your life easier with our home automation package.

(The list goes on...)

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Presorted Standard

U.S. Postage

PAID

San Angelo, Texas

Permit No. 240

Yard SignsThe SAPD recently interrogated an apprehended burglar. During his interrogation he revealed that he stayed away from homes with security systems.

How did he know which homes were armed with security systems? By their yard signs.

If your yard sign is faded (or blew away in one of these recent wind storms) give us a call. We will bring you a new one at no charge.

Our CustomersWe take pride in the relationships we build with our customers. They trust that we will protect their homes, families and businesses, and we take pride in proving them right, year after year.

If something is not working like it should, we want to know so we can make it right. And if something is working like it should, we don’t mind hearing that either.

Just wanted to say thank you for providing me and my family with a superior security system. Last night it gave me some peace of mind. We had a prowler trying to gain access to our home and the system provided me with comfort... knowing I could rely on emergency services being alerted if they gained access. They never made it into our home but while we waited on law enforcement to get there I knew that the system had watch on all my doors. Thanks to Ener–Tel I had some peace of mind in a scary situation.

Residential Customer