5 Best Window Sensors to Up Your Home Security

Window sensors play a huge role in boosting your home’s security. These little devices stick to window and door frames to alert you immediately in case of any break-ins. Or, if your kid aims to become an escape artist, these devices will alert you immediately of their attempt to exit for any adventures. The best part is that some of these window sensors integrate with smart home ecosystem like the Apple HomeKit or smart assistants Amazon Alexa. Apart from notifying you whenever a particular sensor trips, you can use them to set up security routines using your smart home automation setup.

Door and window sensors are quite easy to install. Stick them on the door or window frames. As long as the frames are wider than an inch and have no trim, you will be in the clear. Besides that, such sensors are highly versatile and can be used in garage doors and outhouses.

More importantly, these sensors do not cost a bomb. Of course, the situation changes if you want to add other smart home devices to the setup.

Now that’s settled, let’s look at some of the best window sensors to up your home security. Before that,

1. Noopel Home Security Magnetic Sensor

The Noopel home security magnetic sensor is a small battery-powered window/door sensor. The highlight of this sensor is its loud and sharp noise. And if you have a large house, the shrill noise will come in handy. It’s a small device with an easy installation process. A user mentions in the Amazon review that the alarm was audible from the floor above.

At the same time, it’s easy to manage. There’s a small on or off switch on the side to let you manually turn off the sensor during the day time. And when you need it back up, toggle the switch on the side. However, it’s easy for a teenager or a young adult to switch it off accidentally.

As noted earlier, it’s easy to install, and the company provides the double-sided tape needed for attaching them to window frames. However, you will have to ensure that the window surface is flat, and without any trim. Both sensor and the circuit have to sit within 0.39-inch of each other.

2. YoLink Smart Home Starter Kit

Another window sensor that you can buy is from YoLink. This sensor works a bit differently. Firstly, it doesn’t chime. Instead, it sends notifications to your phone. Secondly, it needs a hub to function. This YoLink sensor supports Alexa and IFTTT integration. The latter comes into the picture if you want it to execute specific functions or notifications by crafting a “recipe” or choosing specific conditions. It uses LoRa (Long Range) technology which can communicate with devices over long distances.

The alarms are instantaneous. Several users have admired this feature in their reviews on Amazon. Plus, the app keeps track of all the time when the sensors are triggered.

It’s a little expensive compared to the one above, but on the bright side, you get the advantage of receiving alerts even when you are not home. Installation is easy and pain-free, and the battery lasts a long time. However, note that if your windows have trim or a slim frame, then these sensors might not fit well.

The YoLink door sensors are popular on Amazon and have more than 1,000 user ratings. The devices are easy to monitor and are a good value-for-money proposition.

3. Ring Alarm Contact Sensor (2nd Gen)

If you are already in the Ring ecosystem (security camera, video doorbells, glass break sensors, etc), you may check out the Ring contact sensor. It’s affordable, sleek, and compact enough to fit into most door and window frames. That said, it is not an independent system and needs the Ring Alarm Base Station to connect to the internet and send you appropriate notifications.

One of the major advantages of the smart ecosystem is that you can set up the app to send you named notifications. For example, you can assign a name to the sensor for your nursery’s windows and doors. So that when they trip, you will receive a notification on your phone about the same.

The best part is that you can also set up a delay notification. As per the folks at The Ambient, you can set up some sensors to go after 10 seconds if you require it. For instance, if you open a particular window for only a few seconds every day, you can set it up so that it won’t send out an unnecessary alarm when opened for a short duration.

The addition of the hub makes it future proof, and you can boost the security of your home by connecting security cameras in the future.

The installation is plain and simple. Ring provides adhesive-backed sensors, and you’ll need to stick them to window frames. Apart from that, you will need to ensure that the hub has a strong Wi-Fi connection.

The Ring contact sensors are popular on Amazon since they are future-proof. You can add additional devices in the future. It’s compatible with Alexa (no Google Assistant in this one), and you can integrate it with Alexa’s Guard feature to amp up your house’s security.

4. Ecolink Rare Earth Magnets Door & Window Sensor

Do you have a Z Wave hub or a Hubitat hub? If yes, you may want to try out the window sensors by Ecolink. These sensors have a slim build and easily fit into window frames. The highlight of these sensors is the inclusion of Z Wave wireless tech. They can communicate over long distances. Even if you’ve set up the hub inside your home’s basement, it’ll function seamlessly.

As you may have already guessed, the Ecolink sensor is not an independent device and needs a hub to function. But unlike the Ring sensor, it works with several hubs like SmartThings, Hubitat, and Home Assistant, among others. The workings are fairly simple. Whenever the sensor triggers, you receive a text message or an email (no siren). One of the advantages of Z Wave devices is that you can link them with other Z Wave devices, like sirens and lights.

These are popular sensors and have received their share of love from users, especially from Hubitat hub users. The alarms are instant. Lastly, these are versatile devices. The high range of communication means you can use them on entrance gates, mailboxes, and garage doors.

5. Eve Door & Window Sensor

If you have an Apple HomeKit-based smart home, you can’t go wrong with the Eve Door & Window sensors. Together with the in-house Eve app, you can create automation. And it’s just not about alerting you when the sensors trip. For example, you can program it to switch off your smart AC when you open the window. Or, you can set the smart lights to switch on.

The sensors are slim, making them perfect for windows with thin frames. The installation process is simple and plain and gets wrapped up in a couple of minutes. The Eve app doesn’t require any separate log-ins. If you have added to Apple Home, the devices will show automatically under the Eve App.

The Home gives you plenty of customization options and removes the hassle of manually switching the sensors off or on. The app takes care of everything. You can schedule the time you want the sensors to be active or choose the time for the notifications. Cool, right?

As you might have already guessed, the Eve door & window sensors are a little expensive compared to some of their counterparts. However, they bring you some smart features, which is a huge plus. They are super responsive, and the minimal delay – the reason why they’re popular than their competitors. However, note that one of the pieces has a square form factor. If you have a slim window frame, you may want to reconsider this home security device.

A Window of Opportunity

These are some of the door and window sensors you can buy to improve your home security. While independent sensors are affordable, the lack of a hub means you will miss out on phone notifications and alerts when you are not home. But then again, if you already have a robust home security camera, the additional alerts can be chaotic. However, if you want smart windows sensors to integrate with your smart home, the one by Ring, YoLink, and Eve is your best bet.

Last updated on 22 July, 2022

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