DIY House Alarm System

Count up the total number of doors and windows that you need to protect. You don't need to alarm a door that leads to a basement without windows.

Purchase a wireless alarm receiver kit. Purchase additional window and door components, depending on how many windows and doors you need to protect and how many window and door components come in the kit.

Open one of the doors you plan to alarm. Screw a magnetic switch plate to the bottom edge of the door using wood screws and a Phillips screwdriver.

Screw a magnetic switch to the bottom edge of the door frame using wood screws and a Phillips screwdriver. Close the door to confirm that the switch and plate touch each other; if the two do not touch, remove the screws, realign the positions of both and screw them back into the door and door frame.

Open the battery compartment lid on the back of the wireless transmitter attached by wires to the magnetic switch. Insert batteries into the battery compartment and close the lid.

Place the wireless transmitter against the wall, just above the baseboard, next to the door frame. Screw wood screws through the holes in the transmitter and into the wall using the Phillips screwdriver.

Repeat this procedure, using magnetic switches, magnetic switch plates and wireless transmitters, with all of the other doors that you plan to alarm.

Remove the paper from the back of a vibration sensor. Stick the adhesive side of the sensor against the glass of a window that you plan to alarm; place the sensor near the center of the window if you want anyone on the outside to know it is there, and by a corner edge of the window if you do not want anyone on the outside to know.

Open the battery compartment lid on the back of the wireless transmitter attached by wires to the vibration sensor. Insert batteries into the battery compartment and close the lid.

Place the wireless transmitter on the wall to the side of the window, beneath the window sill. Screw wood screws through the holes in the transmitter and into the wall using the Phillips screwdriver.

Repeat this procedure, using vibration sensors and wireless transmitters, with all of the other windows that you plan to alarm.

Place the wireless alarm receiver in your bedroom, on a night table, so that you can monitor the house during the night -- this is especially helpful if you are a sound sleeper, as the alarm will wake you up if it goes off.

Open the battery backup compartment lid on the back of the receiver and insert batteries. Close the lid. Insert the power cord from the power supply into the power input socket on the receiver. Insert the power plug from the power supply into a wall outlet.

Have family members or other helpers press the "Sync" or similarly named tabs on the side of the wireless transmitters. Press the corresponding tab on the receiver after the helpers have pressed all of the transmitter tabs. The wireless alarm system is now ready to protect the house.