Technology article
7 Best Locations for Security Cameras in Home
Are you planning to install security surveillance cameras in your home because of the increasing cases of burglaries and thefts in your neighborhood? Or do you already have existing cameras in your home? Having security cameras to serve as protection and deterrence against potential criminals is already proven as an effective strategy as reflected in the millions of homeowners and businessmen who installed them to monitor their properties and businesses around the world. To maximize their effectiveness, however, your cameras should be installed in strategic areas in your home.
In this article, we offer tips on how to properly install security cameras, as well as discuss where to position them to maximize their field of view for optimum coverage.
Questions to Ask to Ensure Appropriate Security Camera Placement
To effectively determine the positions of the security cameras of your home surveillance system, you should survey your house and its surrounding areas. In conducting a survey to identify the appropriate camera placement, you should ask yourself several questions. These questions include:
Where are the most vulnerable areas of your property?
Where do you think you really need security cameras?
Does your house or property have entrances that are obscured like windows or doors that would be particularly appealing to thieves or burglars?
Does your home have a history of break-ins?
If your house was already assaulted in the past, where did the intruders entered?
What are the security camera placement tools that you will need in the installation process?
Do you want to have a sign informing the presence of the security cameras as a deterrent to prospective intruders or not?
Common Security Camera Installation Errors/Mistakes That Should Be Avoided
There are common errors or mistakes that should be avoided when deciding where to position your security cameras. By avoiding these mistakes, you can guarantee that your cameras’ effectiveness in deterring potential intruders will be maximized. These common errors include:
Failure to secure both indoor and outdoor security cameras – To avoid being vandalized and tampered, you should provide protection to your cameras. Focus on the outdoor cameras because they are vulnerable to harsh weather conditions, as well as theft and vandalism.
Positioning the cameras at the highest point possible – This practice is due to the belief that placing the cameras at the highest possible position will allow the cameras to cover the widest area. While this is true, you may not be able to identify the criminals even if they are captured by the cameras. To resolve this issue, however, you should install a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera model.
Thinking that cameras can be used anywhere – Every camera model is designed for a certain purpose. You should make sure that the right camera is positioned at the right place.
Installing cameras with no wide dynamic range (WDR) feature in doorways and windows – Installing cameras with no WDR feature will result in an obscured or blurred footage. The WDR feature allows the camera to balance the lighting hitting an approaching object or person in order to capture a clear image.
Recommended Positions for Security Cameras in Homes
To provide optimum surveillance in your abode, the cameras should be located in strategic areas. Here are some of the recommended placements of your security cameras to achieve the best results:
1. Front doors – Based on statistics, the front door is among the main entry points of intruders. To effectively monitor this area, you should install a camera in your front door. You should make sure that the camera is installed in an area that cannot be reached by burglars and thieves. You should also protect the camera with a wire mesh so that it will not be tampered with or knocked out.
2. Off-street or rear windows – Intruders also love to enter through the rear windows because they will not be seen by passersby. Be sure to install a camera that will monitor your off-street windows to protect them against criminals.
3. Backdoors – Data show that up to 22% of house intrusions were made through the back doors so placing a camera to monitor your back door is recommended. Because visible cameras at back doors are likely to be broken by the intruders, you should hide the cameras or provide them with sufficient protection to avoid destruction.
4. First-floor windows – Because they can be easily accessed by intruders, first-floor windows should be sufficiently protected. You can install window grills, as well as security cameras as added protection. You should also provide curtains in your windows so that the criminals cannot see your valuables that may attract them to ransack your home. It is recommended that the cameras should be installed outside with a clear view of the windows.
5. Garage – Because criminals expect that expensive objects like tools, as well as bikes and cars are in your garage, it is one of their main targets when planning to intrude your house. To effectively monitor this area, you should install a camera with night vision capability so that it can capture a clear footage of the criminals.
6. Stairways – You should install a camera in your stairways whether they are located inside or outside your home. Stairways located outside your house can be among the entry points of the intruders so be sure to install a camera to monitor it. Interior stairways, meanwhile, are among the perfect areas to videotape burglars and thieves because they will be forced to slow down, particularly while descending.
7. Backyard – A camera should also be installed to monitor your backyard because of its major benefits. Aside from monitoring possible intruders, it can also be used to protect pets and record weather events that affect your property. A backyard camera will also protect you from possible visits by dangerous animals like bears, coyotes, and mountain lions. You can also use the footage as evidence when claiming insurance for natural disasters like floods and hurricanes.
Conclusion:
Security cameras are already proven to be effective in deterring crimes. However, the improper placement of your cameras can make them ineffective or their effectiveness is minimized. To ensure that their areas of coverage are optimized, you should place them in the recommended strategic locations in your home.
References:
https://blog.cammy.com/where-to-place-security-cameras 
https://reolink.com/where-to-place-home-security-cameras/ 
https://amcrest.com/articles/6-prime-locations-to-place-your-security-cameras-at-home/