{"id":9536,"date":"2026-05-08T11:33:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T08:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valve.local.navirec.com\/alarm-system-without-security-company\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T11:32:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:32:58","slug":"alarm-system-without-security-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valve.ee\/en\/alarm-system-without-security-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Alarm system without a security company: is it enough?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In short<\/p>\n

An alarm system without a security company sends the alarm straight to your phone and your family\u2019s phones, and you decide what to do. With a classic contract, the alarm goes to the security company\u2019s monitoring centre and a patrol drives over. The GSMvalve Start package costs 385 \u20ac to buy or 17.36 \u20ac\/month to rent. If you need a patrol, you can add one through a partner. The price depends on the area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

In 2025, 12,563 thefts<\/a> were registered in Estonia, the highest number in ten years (Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, crime statistics). No wonder people are interested in home alarms. The first question is usually the same: does an alarm system have to be linked to a security company, or is it enough for the alarm to come straight to your phone? The answer depends on who responds to the alarm, how quickly, and how much you pay for it every month.<\/p>\n

How does an alarm system without a security company work?<\/h2>\n

A self-monitored alarm system sends the alarm straight to your phone. The GSMvalve hub sounds the siren (indoor siren 110 dB, outdoor siren with flashing light 110 dB) and sends a notification to all users at once: you, your partner, your grown-up children or a neighbour. The app shows which sensor went off and when. A motion sensor with camera adds a series of photos, even in the dark, so you can see straight away whether it is a stranger or a false alarm.<\/p>\n

Then you decide: cancel a false alarm, ask a neighbour to check, or call the emergency number. The hub has a backup battery and a SIM card, so the notification reaches you even if the power or internet has been cut.<\/p>\n

When you are at home, you use night mode: doors, windows and outdoor sensors are armed, but you can move freely indoors. The app also shows who armed or disarmed the system and when, so you can see, for example, when your child got home from school.<\/p>\n

How does a classic security company contract work?<\/h2>\n

With a classic contract, the alarm system is connected to the security company\u2019s monitoring centre. When an alarm goes off, an operator sees it, usually contacts the customer and, if needed, sends a patrol to the site. The monthly fee covers the monitoring centre service and the patrol being on standby. The exact terms, the call-out price and the contract length depend on the company and the area, so it is worth asking about them before you sign.<\/p>\n

The advantage is that someone responds even if you don\u2019t answer your phone. The downside is that you pay for the service every month, including the months when there are no alarms at all.<\/p>\n

Alarm system without a security company or a monitoring contract: what is the difference?<\/h2>\n
<\/th>Without a security company (GSMvalve)<\/th>Classic monitoring contract<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Where the alarm goes<\/td>to your phone and all users\u2019 phones<\/td>to the security company\u2019s monitoring centre<\/td><\/tr>
Who decides<\/td>you<\/td>the operator, following the agreed procedure<\/td><\/tr>
Checking for false alarms<\/td>series of photos from the camera sensor<\/td>the operator contacts you<\/td><\/tr>
Patrol<\/td>optional, through a partner, price depends on the area<\/td>part of the contract<\/td><\/tr>
Devices and price<\/td>Start 385 \u20ac + 9.18 \u20ac\/month or rent 17.36 \u20ac\/month<\/td>depends on the company and area<\/td><\/tr>
Installation<\/td>one visit, 150 \u20ac across Estonia<\/td>depends on the company<\/td><\/tr>
Contract<\/td>rent at least 3 months, 3 months\u2019 notice; if you buy, the devices stay yours<\/td>depends on the company<\/td><\/tr>
Power cut and internet outage<\/td>hub has a backup battery and SIM card<\/td>depends on the system<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n

All GSMvalve prices include VAT. The 9.18 \u20ac monthly fee when buying covers the app, mobile connection and customer support, and extra devices don\u2019t raise it. You can also add a smoke detector (56 \u20ac), a smoke, carbon monoxide and temperature detector (82 \u20ac) or a water leak sensor (37 \u20ac) to the same system, and they send alarms to the same app.<\/p>\n

When is an alarm system without a security company enough?<\/h2>\n

In a flat, your neighbour is on the other side of the wall. There the biggest benefit is that the alarm reaches several people\u2019s phones at once and the 110 dB siren can be heard all over the stairwell. In a house or summer cottage, distances are longer, and it is worth thinking about who can get there fastest.<\/p>\n

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Your phone is enough if<\/h3>