Monitored vs bells-only alarms: what is the difference?
A bells-only alarm sounds a siren at the property and relies on someone nearby hearing it and acting. A monitored alarm also sends a signal, to an app on your phone, or to a receiving centre that follows an agreed response plan. The difference is what happens after activation: noise alone, or noise plus a notification. A quote for either type is decided when an engineer visits.
How does a bells-only alarm work?
A bells-only alarm, sometimes called audible-only, sounds an external siren and internal sounder when a detector is triggered. Nothing else happens automatically. It works by drawing attention: the intruder knows the property is alarmed, and neighbours may hear it. Whether anyone responds depends on who is within earshot.
That makes bells-only suited to properties with neighbours close by, or where the owner mainly wants a deterrent. Its ongoing requirements are the alarm itself, servicing and battery checks, with no signalling arrangement to maintain.
How does a monitored alarm work?
A monitored alarm sends a signal when it activates, as well as sounding the siren. Self-monitored systems notify your phone through an app, and you decide what to do. Professionally monitored systems signal an alarm receiving centre, where staff follow an agreed plan, typically contacting nominated keyholders and, where the contract includes it, requesting a police response.
Monitoring adds a response path for the times nobody is near the property. It relies on a communication link, a phone line, mobile signal or internet connection, so the reliability of that link matters, and monitored contracts carry ongoing terms that bells-only systems do not.
Which one do I need?
It depends on how the property is used. A home with neighbours close by may be well served by bells-only. A property that stands empty for long periods, or that holds stock or equipment, gains more from monitoring, because an activation is seen even when nobody is around to hear the siren.
Locks & Alarms Ltd confirms the right setup for your property, and the quote, when an engineer visits.
Related service: Intruder Alarms