Tips For Troubleshooting Your Home Alarm System In Rochester
False alarms and system malfunctions can be exasperating, and even worse, may prevent your security system from working how it should. Thankfully, most problems, from false alarms to dead batteries, are simple to fix. Explore our recommendations for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Rochester. We’ll help you keep your family members safe and your system running the way it should.
Test Your Home Security System In Rochester
One of the best ways to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it! The latest systems have a test mode so you don’t mistakenly initiate an emergency response from monitoring agents. After moving to test mode, follow these steps:
- Arm your system as you typically would when you head out.
- Open a window or door protected by a contact sensor, or try to trip something else. Close the door or window once you’re finished so it doesn’t trigger the alarm as you get out of test mode.
- Allow the alarm to go off for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security company and to create an entry in the alarm system log.
- Continue testing equipment as needed
- Inspect the alarm’s activity log to verify functionality.
No need to worry, monitoring specialists will know that your alarm system is being tested. Just make sure to switch out of test mode when done. It’s smart to test monthly or whenever you make changes to your home’s internet or phone provider.
Check The Position And State Of Motion Detectors
Although an integral aspect of your alarm system, motion sensors are prone to false alarms. Prevent them with some basic troubleshooting.
- Do a visual check. Is there anything that could shift within the sensor’s detection zone, like drapery caught in a breeze?
- Is the sensor clean? Cobwebs, dirt, and grime can lead to malfunctions. Check to confirm the device is clean.
- Does the motion detector offer pet immunity you can enable? Some can be programmed to disregard pets weighing up to 100 pounds.
- When was the battery changed? A low battery may affect performance or lead to false alarms.
- Is a heat source impairing the sensor? Excessive heat from sunlight or a fireplace can trigger an alarm.
Keep Batteries Ready And Pay Attention To Low Battery Notifications
One of the great advantages of the latest home security systems is that they’ll notify you when batteries are getting low. If your system is equipped with a app or control panel, you’ll often see alerts there. Depending on the alarm, you might hear an occasional beep when batteries are low.
Contact sensors, smoke detectors, motion sensors, and other wireless devices have batteries that need to be replaced every so often. It’s best to keep batteries ready and create a replacement schedule. Some systems also come with a backup battery for the primary control panel. This battery helps keep your system operating if your power goes out and should recharge once power is restored. If it fails to recharge, you will need to replace it.
Troubleshooting Is Easy With ADT Home Security In Rochester
As the leading name in home security, ADT builds systems that offer unrivaled protection and functionality. Getting into test mode is easy through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always receive notifications when a battery is running low. Get in touch with Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system ideal for your Rochester home. Dial (507) 218-4806 or complete our form today!