7 Rules To Follow When Setting Up A Home Security Camera - And Where You Should Never Install One

If you're a subscriber to the Nextdoor app, you've seen ample footage of prowling ne'er-do-wells caught in the eye of a video doorbell or home security camera. Hopefully, you don't have your own first-hand experience with suspicious characters milling around your front porch, or far worse.

For good reason, security cameras continue to grow in popularity, and we can expect them to become even more reliable and affordable in 2025. 

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While we don't necessarily require super high-res imagery from these discrete little devices, you can get the most out of them by being mindful of a few factors -- especially where you position your camera(s). 

1. Avoid obstructions (even future obstructions)

Obviously, you won't be putting a lens behind anything that blocks its view. Sometimes, though, that can include objects that change in size or shape over time, like trees and shrubs. During wintertime, a clear view of your yard may become a different story when branches bloom with new foliage in the spring.

The same can apply to interior views, at least with objects that come and go. Will shutting a door somewhere within your camera's line of sight block out a good percentage of its field of vision? Will your pet cat find a favorite spot to curl up in for hours at a time, right in front of the device?

2. Windows can also be an obstruction

Indoor-only cameras are less expensive than outdoor cameras, so you may be tempted to invest a bit cheaper and place one facing straight through the glass pane of your bay view casement. Even with the lens pressed closely against a window, you will invariably encounter a glare problem.

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Light from the sun or other sources will refract through multiple layers of glass in both the window and the lens, creating a photon-based obstruction at certain times of the day. At nighttime, streetlights and passing cars' headlights can be culprits. Dust on the window can also magnify this problem. 

3. Try not to surveil the great blue yonder

This one is subtle, and it's all about angles and shade. The sky itself is going to be visible in almost any outdoor area. But with minimal adjustments, you can enhance your camera's view and protect it from UV damage.

First, angle your lens away from the sky. Even a slight downward angle can reduce blinding glare and refraction from the sun (or clouds) overhead, so focus on fixed objects below your roofline. Secondly, if at all possible, find a place where the camera is protected by shade.

4. Cameras near vents or heaters are at risk

Exhaust from vents carries particulate matter that swiftly obscures your lens and also endangers the camera's delicate electronics. This includes lint-filled dryer vents, gas heating vents, or any other mechanized system designed to vacate your indoor area of unwanted filth and fumes.

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High temperature is arguably a greater threat to cameras than grime (hence, the need for at least partial shade when placed outside). Direct sunlight alone can compromise the effectiveness of adhesives used to mount a camera. Additional heat from firepits, chimineas, and space heaters can spell ruin for the unit's batteries, wiring, and overall lifespan.

In short, don't put a camera above or adjacent to any exhaust vent or heat source. 

5. Blind spots aren't the most vulnerable areas

The narrow alleyway between your home and your neighbor's house is a sketchy area because, normally, you can't see who or what is approaching through that non-thoroughfare. But that doesn't mean it's the best place for 24/7 surveillance.

According to security company ADT, the majority of break-ins occur through a domicile's front door. Just behind that statistic are two other ground-floor favorites for thieves: an unlocked window and/or the back door. These are the areas you'll want to monitor most.

The key is to put your cameras in plain sight -- right where the bad guys can see them. In fact, 83% of burglars have reported that they would forgo robbing a home with an evident security system in place and move on to the next target.

6. Privacy and surveillance can be tricky

Research suggests it's ideal to install security cameras where would-be hooligans can see them when approaching your property. (Keep them visible but not reachable.)

However, camera placement can also affect your neighbors and other lawful citizens in your vicinity, and you run the risk of infringing on their privacy.

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The U.S. Constitution calls for a "reasonable expectation of privacy" in video surveillance. While there are exceptions in some scenarios (like renting out your Airbnb property), this law mainly addresses putting cameras in bathrooms or bedrooms. If you must do so, it's imperative that your camera is accessible to all renters and inhabitants. Just make sure it's situated where they can hang a shirt or towel over it to ensure privacy.

Otherwise, cameras are free to record streets, sidewalks, and common outdoor public spaces in most states.

7. Don't (accidentally) spy on your neighbors

That expectation of privacy obviously applies to the people who live in your proximity. Common courtesy forbids pointing a camera directly into a neighbor's windows or backyard, but in fact, those are legally protected private spaces.

Even if you don't intend to capture video of anyone else's property, the appearance of cameras pointing toward a neighbor's lawn or peeking into their windows could lead to privacy violations and legal disputes.