How to handle open windows at night

[kzboray]

What is the preferred method to handle windows left open at night in the summer for a cool evening breeze and still being able to set the alarm to home but not in away mode?

[apostolakisl]

depending on the type of window and how the magnetic reed switch is installed, you can put two magnets on the window sash so there are two locations that the alarm is satisfied.  For example, you could have a contact for fully closed and a contact for 12 inches open.  Anyone trying to crawl through a window only opened 12 inches is going to end up opening it more so the alarm will trip.  Certainly not as secure as actually having the window closed, but not unreasonable if your in a low crime area.

They also make screens with a wire that loops through them.  If the screen is slashed, the wire is cut and that triggers the alarm.

Another option is installing shutters (the indoor type).  You can alarm the shutter instead of the window.  Shutters of course are pricey and offer a pleasing design element, in the right decorating style, otherwise they are out of place.

Or you can just bypass that one zone on your alarm panel.

Be aware, if you implement these sorts of things, you might have an open window and forget about it.  Then you get a storm and a bunch of water blows in.

[jfai]

No need for bypassing the zone. Elk has zone types with different arming semantics depending on arm state. For example, there is a "Burglar" type that only arms in any of the Away modes, but does not arm in any of the Stay modes. I'm doing that for 4 patio doors to an atrium that is only accessible from the interior.

Having said that, if the window is on a ground floor, I would think twice about leaving the window unsecured. @apostolakisl made some great suggestions. Maybe you can use an interior motion sensor to cover the window(s).

[Mustang65]

I have SimpliSafe, but the same goes for most other setups. The bedroom windows are on the ground floor so I only allow them to open 4". I have 2 sets of 1/4" metal pins that I slide into place so the window can not be opened any higher. I have 1 magnet in the closed position and one in the open position. Should that breeze get toooo cold (not here) you would have to shut down the alarm system to close the window. To much of a pain. We do leave them open during the day when we happen to get a COOL day.

The only problem is that here in Central Florida we may get 5-10 days out of the year (if we are lucky) that the windows can be opened at night, AC runs 99.999% of the time.

[TrojanHorse]

What is the preferred method to handle windows left open at night in the summer for a cool evening breeze and still being able to set the alarm to home but not in away mode?

Might need more detail to understand this better but a separate yet related piece of advice is to set these zones for entry (door) zones rather than the instant (perimeter?) zone (forget exact naming). But the idea is that if you open a window when the system is armed you have 30 seconds or whatever you’ve set it to before full alarm. Depends on your needs and window locations but that’s been preference for some windows here.


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