I’ve wondered about hardwiring too, but my place is old enough that just fishing ethernet through the walls was a pain—can’t imagine dealing with a bunch of sensor wires. Swapping batteries every year or two is annoying, but at least it’s predictable. Cold weather definitely eats through them faster though... I just stick to doors and maybe a couple windows that are easy to get to.
- Totally get the pain with old houses and wires. My place is a 70s special—fishing anything through those walls is like playing Jenga with my sanity.
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Yup, but I swear my window sensors eat batteries faster than my TV remote. Winter especially... those little CR2032s just give up.Swapping batteries every year or two is annoying, but at least it’s predictable.
- I only put sensors on the doors and maybe two ground-level windows. Anything upstairs? Meh, if someone gets a ladder, they’ve earned it.
- Tried those “long-life” batteries once—marketing lies. Didn’t even make it through one Chicago winter.
- If you’re worried about missing a window, maybe try motion sensors in the main rooms instead? Less to maintain, and you don’t have to stick stuff on every single window.
- In the end, I figure if someone wants in bad enough, they’ll find a way. I just want enough warning to grab my pants and call for help.
I get the logic behind just covering the main doors and a few windows, but I’ve seen a lot of break-ins where folks got creative—basement windows, garage side doors, even those tiny bathroom windows nobody thinks about. It’s definitely a pain dealing with batteries (and yeah, winter just kills them), but if you want to minimize hassle and still cover more ground, you might look into hardwired sensors for the trickier spots. Not always possible with older walls, but sometimes you can run low-voltage cable through closets or unfinished basements without too much drywall surgery.
Motion sensors are good as a backup, but I’ve seen pets set them off or people forget to arm them when they’re home. For me, it’s a mix—critical spots get sensors, less obvious entries get glass break detectors or motions. Just depends how much peace of mind you want versus maintenance headaches.
I hear you on those weird entry points—had a client once who got broken into through a window behind their dryer vent. Never would’ve guessed that spot. I’m with you about hardwiring where you can, but sometimes running cable in old houses is like playing hide-and-seek with studs and insulation. I usually tell folks: doors and main windows for sure, then pick your battles on the rest. Battery changes are a pain, but I’d rather swap a few every winter than patch drywall all summer.
- Main entry doors and ground-floor windows get priority for me—those are where I see most issues in older homes.
- Upstairs windows? Only if there’s easy roof or tree access.
- Hardwiring’s great, but fishing wire through lath and plaster is a nightmare.
- Ever dealt with retrofitting in a house with balloon framing? Curious how others handle those hidden cavities.
Hardwiring’s great, but fishing wire through lath and plaster is a nightmare.
You’re not kidding about that. I’ve spent hours trying to fish wire through lath and plaster, only to hit unexpected fire stops. In my 1920s place, I finally gave up and went wireless for the windows—especially on the second floor. Balloon framing is tricky, but I found using flexible rods and a small inspection camera helped me avoid opening up too much wall. Your approach to prioritize ground-level entries makes a lot of sense, especially given the effort involved.
I finally gave up and went wireless for the windows—especially on the second floor.
Honestly, I don’t blame you. I wrestled with lath and plaster in my old house too, and after a couple of busted knuckles and way too much patching, I also decided wireless was the way to go for upper floors. Prioritizing ground-level entries just feels practical. I get the appeal of full coverage, but sometimes you have to weigh convenience against theoretical risk. For most folks, doors and accessible windows are where it matters most.
- Gotta push back a bit on this:
sometimes you have to weigh convenience against theoretical risk
Second-floor windows can be less “theoretical” than you think. I had a friend whose upstairs window got popped during a break-in—thieves used a ladder from his own shed.
- Wireless tech makes it less of a hassle now, especially if you’re already in smart home mode.
- I get the pain of lath and plaster, but I’d rather patch a wall than regret skipping coverage.
- Maybe overkill for some, but peace of mind’s worth it for me.
I ran into the same debate last year when I upgraded my alarm system. Ended up putting sensors on every window, even upstairs. It felt like overkill at first, but after seeing how easy it is to pop a window with a crowbar (neighbor’s place got hit), it made sense. Wireless sensors made the install way less of a headache, especially with plaster walls—just had to be careful about signal drop in some corners. If you’re already invested in smart tech, I think it’s worth the extra coverage, even if it’s just for peace of mind.
I used to think sensors on every window was a bit much, too, but after living through a break-in (they came through an upstairs window—never would’ve guessed), I’m firmly in the “cover everything” camp now. It’s wild how fast someone can get in if they’re determined, and honestly, the peace of mind is worth the extra sensors for me.
That said, I totally get the hesitation. The cost adds up quick, especially if you’ve got a lot of windows or weird layouts. Wireless sensors are a game-changer though—I’ve got an old house with thick plaster and lath walls, and running wires would’ve been a nightmare. Had to move a couple of sensors around at first to get the signal right, but once they settled in, it’s been smooth sailing.
One thing I noticed: some of my friends just do doors and basement windows, figuring nobody’s going to climb up to the second floor. But after what happened to me, I’m not so sure that logic holds up anymore. Maybe it depends on your neighborhood? Or if you’ve got big trees or a porch roof near those upper windows?
Curious if anyone’s tried those glass break sensors instead of contact sensors for every single window. Seems like it could be a good compromise, but I haven’t messed with them myself. Do they actually work as well as advertised, or is it just another layer of tech that ends up being more hassle than it’s worth?