Tips For Troubleshooting Your Home Alarm System In St. George
System malfunctions and false alarms can be aggravating, and more importantly, might prevent your security system from working how it should. Fortunately, most issues, from dead batteries to false alarms, are straightforward to fix. Check out our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in St. George. We’ll help you keep your family members safe and your system operating the way it should.
Test Your Home Security System In St. George
One sensible way to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it yourself! Modern systems have a test mode so you don’t mistakenly trigger an emergency response. After switching to test mode, do the following:
- Arm your system as you normally would when you leave.
- Open a window or door protected by a contact sensor, or test other sensors. Shut the door or window so it doesn’t trigger the alarm when you switch out of test mode.
- Allow the alarm to sound for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security provider and to create an entry in the alarm system log.
- Proceed to test sensors as needed
- Check the systems’s activity log to verify proper function.
No need to worry, monitoring agents can see that your alarm system is undergoing a test. Be sure to turn test mode off when done. It’s a good idea to test monthly or whenever you make changes to your home’s internet or phone service.
Inspect The Positioning And State Of Motion Detectors
Although an integral aspect of your alarm system, motion sensors are well known for false alarms. You can help prevent them with some simple troubleshooting.
- Do a visual inspection. Is there anything that could move within the sensor’s detection area, like a window treatment caught in a breeze?
- Is the sensor clean? Dirt, cobwebs, and debris can lead to malfunctions. Make sure the face is clean.
- Does the motion detector have pet immunity you can turn on? Some models can be configured to ignore pets weighing as much as 100 pounds.
- When was the battery changed? A low battery may impact performance or result in false alarms.
- Is the sensor pointing toward a heat source? Excessive heat from direct sun or a fireplace can cause an alarm.
Keep Batteries Ready And Pay Attention To Low Battery Warnings
One helpful benefit of the latest home security systems is that they’ll alert you when batteries are getting low. If your system has a control panel or smartphone app, you’ll often discover messages there. Depending on your alarm, you may detect an occasional beep when batteries are running out.
Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless devices have batteries that need to be replaced every 1 to 2 years. It’s best to keep batteries on hand and set a replacement schedule. Some systems also come with a rechargeable backup battery for the primary control panel. This backup battery keeps your system functioning if you lose power and should recharge itself once power is restored. If it fails to recharge, you will have to replace it.
Troubleshooting Is Simple With ADT Home Security In St. George
As the top name in home security, ADT creates systems that provide unsurpassed functionality and protection. Getting into test mode is straightforward through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always receive updates when a sensor battery is running low. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to find out more and design a system ideal for your St. George home. Dial (435) 393-6111 or fill out our form today!