- Working time: 2 to 4 hours
- Total time: 6 to 8 hours depending on time used to research cameras
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Project cost: Home security cameras cost as low as $25 and as much as more than $1,000 depending on which one you pick.
Home security camera installation isn’t complicated, but picking the right security camera can be tough. There’s no shortage of home security camera options so the key is determining which home security camera system fits your needs best. For instance, one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of home security cameras is the cost to capture the video. Some companies require a subscription to upload video to their cloud, and others only store the most recent 24 hours of video.
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When to Install a Home Security Camera
The good news is home security cameras work as a deterrent to burglars, according to a University of North Carolina at Charlotte study of incarcerated burglars. If someone in your neighborhood has reported a burglary, then it might be time to install a home security camera.
Burglars target neighborhoods if they have success with one home. They often target the same house. Be aware of signs a burglar has been in a neighborhood, such as broken windows. Burglars like to see how quickly people respond to the sound of broken glass and how quickly the window gets repaired.
Safety Considerations
Depending on which home security camera system you choose, you’ll likely need a ladder to mount it. If you choose a wired home security camera, then you’ll face additional steps that involve some electrical work.
Tools
- Ladder
- Drill
- Spade
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Hammer drill (if you plan to install a camera on brick)
- Masonry drill bits (if you plan to install a camera on brick)
Materials
Home security camera materials should be included in the installation kit, but you might need the following items:
- Fish tape
- Tape
- Extra plastic anchors
How to Install a Home Security Camera
1. Pick a Home Security Camera System
There are tilt and zoom security cameras, cameras with wide angle lenses, cameras with HD video, simple motion detection cameras, outdoor cameras, outdoor cameras with night vision and indoor cameras.
These cameras also come as wireless home security cameras, wired security cameras, partially wireless cameras and simpler game cameras. Be sure to research what subscription packages each offers before selecting one because those monthly fees can add up.
2. Plan Your Home Security Camera’s Position
Take a good look around your home to find the best spot to install a home security camera—a spot that has a clear view of a priority area, such as near the front door, to deter possible porch pirates. Find a place where a camera will be protected from wet weather or find a weatherproof model. If you choose to go with a wired security camera, map out the route the wires will need to take through walls.
3. Install the Home Security Camera Mount
Home security camera systems typically come with an installation kit and a template for drilling holes to place the camera mount. Drill some pilot holes for the mounting screws and install any mounting pins with a hammer. Finish by screwing the camera mount to the spot you’ve picked for installation.
If you have a wired home security camera system, you need to drill through your home with a spade bit and feed the cable through walls to where they will be hooked up to a recording device.
4. Install the Home Security Camera
Some kits need you to add batteries to the camera. Either way, you need to attach the camera to a power source and make sure the camera is secure on the mount.
5. Finish the Technical Aspects
Once everything is installed, hook up all the software. A wireless home security camera should come with software and installation instructions. If you have a wired home security camera system, you need to hook it all up to a recording device like a DVR.
How to Install a Wired Home Security Camera
If you’ve chosen a wired security camera vs. wireless security camera for your home, you can follow the same steps above. But you’ll need to do the additional work of planning a route for your wires, drilling holes to fish the wires through the walls and finding a place for the recording device that’s close to an outlet.
Installing a wired home security camera can add a level of difficulty if you’re unfamiliar with drilling through parts of your house.
When to Call a Pro
If you’ve chosen to go the wired route with your home security camera and don’t feel comfortable cutting through walls and fishing cable, then you might want to call a professional. The average cost to have a pro install a home security camera system runs around $1,500.
