Monitored alarm systems.
A modern alarm is more than a beeping siren — it's a coordinated system of sensors that knows the difference between someone walking past a window and someone breaking through it. Every system we install is monitored 24/7 by a local ULC-listed station, with smartphone control and live notifications.
What goes into an alarm system.
A typical residential system has four parts. Commercial systems add more sensors and zones, but the core architecture is the same.
Control panel
The brain of the system. Lives in a closet, garage, or utility space. Coordinates every sensor, communicates with the monitoring station over cellular and (optionally) internet, and stores the system's history. Backup battery keeps it running through power outages.
Sensors
Door and window contacts (small magnetic sensors, mostly wireless), motion detectors (passive infrared, pet-immune options available), glass-break sensors (acoustic — they listen for the specific sound of breaking glass), and environmental sensors (smoke, carbon monoxide, water leak, temperature).
Keypads & controls
Physical keypads (one near each main entry), wireless key fobs, and the smartphone app. Most users never touch the keypad after installation — arming and disarming happens automatically based on location, schedule, or app.
Monitoring
Our local ULC-listed monitoring station watches the system 24/7. Alarm signals are answered within 30 seconds on average. Trained operators verify the alarm with you (call your registered phone first), then dispatch police, fire, or medical as appropriate.
Sensor types we install.
Door & window contacts
Magnetic sensors that trigger when a door or window opens. Wireless, battery-powered, paint-matched to the trim. The most common alarm sensor.
Motion detectors
Passive infrared (PIR) sensors that detect heat-and-movement together. Pet-immune options ignore movement under 40 lbs, so dogs and cats don't trigger false alarms. Indoor and outdoor variants.
Glass-break sensors
Acoustic sensors that listen for the distinct frequency pattern of breaking glass. Useful when intruders bypass the door contact by smashing a window.
Smoke & carbon monoxide
Monitored smoke detectors (different from the standard 9-volt off-the-shelf type — these report to the monitoring station and dispatch fire automatically) and carbon monoxide sensors.
Water-leak & freeze sensors
Especially relevant on Vancouver Island. Place under washing machines, water heaters, and near plumbing. Catches leaks early and protects against frozen-pipe damage in cold snaps.
Panic buttons
Discreet panic buttons (wall-mounted or wireless pendant) that trigger an immediate alarm with no countdown. Useful for vulnerable residents and commercial cash-handling locations.
What an alarm system costs.
Every property is different. These are typical Vancouver Island ranges based on size and complexity.
All prices include installation, programming, and training. Monitoring is month-to-month after the first year — no long-term contract lock-in.
Common questions.
How does a monitored alarm actually work?
When a sensor triggers (door opens, motion detected, glass breaks), the control panel sends a signal to our local ULC-listed monitoring station within seconds. A dispatcher tries to reach you on your registered phones; if there's no all-clear or the situation looks real, they dispatch police, fire, or medical as appropriate.
What's the difference between local and ULC-listed monitoring?
ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada) certifies monitoring stations against strict standards for response time, redundancy, and operator training. Most insurance discounts for monitored alarms require ULC-listed monitoring. Wenner SmartSecure uses a ULC-listed local station — the team that monitors your alarm is on Vancouver Island.
Wired or wireless sensors?
For most homes today: wireless. Modern wireless sensors run on long-life batteries, communicate encrypted over a dedicated frequency, and self-report low battery. Wired makes sense in new construction where you can pull cable during framing — slightly more reliable, no batteries to replace. We recommend based on the property.
Can I arm and disarm from my phone?
Yes. Standard on every system we install. iOS, Android, and web. You also get push notifications on alarm events and can grant access to family or staff with their own logins.
What if the power goes out?
Control panels have a backup battery (typically 24–48 hours of armed runtime). The cellular reporting unit also runs on battery. Power-restoration is logged. If you have a Wenner-installed standby generator, the system stays online indefinitely.
Will my insurance company give me a discount?
Most do. Typically 5–15% on home insurance premiums for a monitored alarm with ULC certification. We provide the certification letter your insurer will ask for.
Can you take over my existing alarm contract?
In many cases, yes. We come look at the equipment, confirm what we can keep working with, and if everything is current we can take over monitoring without replacing hardware. Saves you the install cost and makes the switch invisible from a use perspective.
What about smoke and carbon monoxide?
Standard on most installations. Monitored smoke and CO sensors call the fire department directly when triggered, even if no one is home. Combined with the structural alarm, that's a single integrated system covering intrusion, fire, and CO.
Get a free assessment.
We come look at the property, recommend a system that fits, and quote it before any work begins.
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