Exterior security cameras are increasingly common in American neighborhoods. Homeowners are installing them in hopes of deterring crime. There is some evidence to suggest that it works, but here’s the thing: exterior security cameras are only as good as the views they provide.
An absurd way to illustrate the point is to imagine an exterior security camera pointed at the sidewalk. It could be the best camera money could buy. But if all you can see is the concrete path leading to your house, the camera is of very little value. You will have spent your hard-earned money on a view that is pretty much useless – unless you’re into ants and other creepy crawlies.
Vivint home security is one of America’s leading home security companies. Interior and exterior security cameras are part of every package they sell. Their team says that video camera placement is critical to video surveillance effectiveness. In simple English, there are good and bad places to install cameras.
For the remainder of this post, let us focus on exterior cameras. Here are the five commandments of exterior camera installation:
Commandment #1: Make Cameras Visible
Though it seems counterintuitive, it’s important to install exterior cameras in locations where they are clearly visible. The reasoning is simple: the main goal is to deter criminals from committing crimes on your property. Cameras are an effective deterrent – but only if they can be seen.
A hidden camera offers no deterrent effect. It only helps you after the fact, and only to the extent that you might be able to give the police video footage they can use in their investigation. But without the deterrent effect working in your favor, exterior video cameras aren’t going to stop crime.
Granted, some property configurations make it challenging to install exterior cameras in such a way that they provide effective views and can be seen by criminals. But every effort should be made to identify ideal locations that accomplish both.
Commandment #2: Install Cameras 8-10 Feet From the Ground
This second commandment comes from a great piece I found on the CNet website. Author Tyler Lacoma used the article to share his personal experiences installing and testing video cameras. Here it is – install cameras 8-10 feet from the ground. That’s good advice.
You want cameras installed in locations that are high enough to keep them out of reach. That way, a burglar can’t rip a camera down before breaking into your home. Yet you also want cameras placed low enough to give you detailed views. The 8-10-foot range is a nice compromise that accomplishes both goals.
Feel free to go higher if you’re investing in high-end cameras with the capability to zoom in without losing resolution and detail. The chief thing is that you don’t want your camera so high that the images they produce end up being grainy. But if you can get excellent detail at 15 feet, go for it.
Commandment #3: Only Install Exterior Cameras
This might sound like a Captain Obvious statement but only install exterior cameras outdoors. Cameras designed for interior use are probably not going to be waterproof. They won’t be built with materials or features designed to withstand the elements. On the other hand, exterior cameras are built to be outdoors.
My house has a covered and enclosed patio off the front. But the enclosure isn’t glass, it’s traditional screening. That means the patio constitutes an exterior space. I still need to install an exterior camera in that space because the rain and wind often whip through it on stormy days.
Any camera that is not literally inside the home – including the one keeping an eye on my car port – should be designed to withstand the elements. Exterior cameras may cost a little more, but not as much as replacing interior cameras that fell apart because they couldn’t hold up to the outdoors.
Commandment #4: Avoid Plants, Trees, And Shrubs
When you’re choosing locations for your exterior cameras, avoid plants, trees, and shrubs. Why? Because they grow. Installing a camera on the same corner of your house where you also have a large maple tree just isn’t smart. As that tree grows, it could very well block the view.
How many homeowners have made this mistake only to look back and regret it? Once you figure out that a camera’s view is blocked, you have three choices:
- Do nothing and live with a poor view
- Move the camera to a better location
- Diligently trim the offending foliage whenever its growth gets in the way
I don’t like any of those choices. I would rather choose a location that I know isn’t going to be bothered by my landscaping. At least on my property, I am not lacking for options.
Commandment #5: Always Point Cameras Downward
The fifth commandment of installing exterior video cameras is to always point them downward. The idea is to elevate camera placement so that the desired view is below the installation level. Why is this necessary? Because cameras pointing upward can be rendered ineffective by sunlight.
Mounting a camera down low and pointing it upward at the desired view invites trouble. If the camera is hit by direct sunlight, it will become useless. But even without direct sunlike, glare can ruin the view enough to make it of no value for security purposes. Avoid the problem altogether by ensuring cameras are always pointing down.
Bonus Commandment: Go With External Storage Capabilities
I am feeling generous, so here’s a bonus commandment: choose cameras that have external storage capabilities. Whether that means cloud storage or storage on your phone or laptop, external storage is better than having to climb up a ladder to retrieve an internal storage disc whenever you want the data.
Camera placement is everything in video surveillance. A good, unobstructed view – for both you and those criminals – goes a long way toward keeping your property safer. Follow these six commandments, and you should be in good shape.
