Categories

False alarms and system glitches can be frustrating, and even more concerning, may prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Fortunately, most troubles, from dead batteries to false alarms, are simple to remedy. Explore our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Birmingham. We’ll help you keep your household shielded and your system operating smoothly.

Test Your Home Security System In Birmingham

One of the best ways to troubleshoot your property’s defense is to test it! The latest systems have a test mode so you don’t mistakenly trigger an emergency response. Once in test mode, do the following:

• Arm your system as you normally would when you head out.
• Open a door or window that uses a contact sensor, or test other equipment. Shut the window or door so it doesn’t prompt the alarm when you turn the system back on.
• Let the alarm go off for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security company and to make an entry in the alarm activity log.
• Proceed to test sensors as you wish
• Check the alarm’s activity log to confirm that everything’s working.

No need to worry, monitoring professionals will know that your system is being tested. Be sure to turn test mode off when done. It’s a good idea to test monthly or anytime you adjust your home’s internet or phone connectivity.

Check The Placement And Condition Of Motion Detectors

Although an crucial element of your alarm system, motion detectors are notorious for false alarms. Do your part to prevent them with a few basic troubleshooting steps.

• Perform a physical inspection. Is there something that could move within the sensor’s detection area, like a window treatment caught in a breeze?
• Is the sensor dirty? Cobwebs, dirt, and debris can cause malfunctions. Ensure the device is clean.
• Does the motion detector have pet immunity you can enable? Some models can be set to disregard pets up to 100 pounds.
• When was the battery last replaced? A nearly depleted battery might impact performance or result in false alarms.
• Is the sensor pointing toward a source of heat? Excessive heat from sunlight or a fireplace can trigger an alarm.

Keep Batteries Ready And Watch Out For Low Battery Notifications

One helpful perk of modern home security systems is that they’ll let you know when batteries are getting low. If your system uses a app or control panel, you’ll often discover notifications there. Depending on your alarm, you may notice an intermittent beep when batteries are getting low. 

Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless components have batteries that should be replaced every 1 to 2 years. It’s a good idea to keep batteries around and set a replacement schedule. Many systems also include a rechargeable backup battery for the primary control panel. This battery helps keep your system operating if you have a power outage and should recharge itself once power is restored. If it fails to recharge, you should replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Easy With ADT Home Security In Birmingham 

As the foremost name in home security, ADT creates systems that provide unrivaled protection and functionality. Switching to test mode is easy through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always be sent alerts when a battery is running low. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system perfectly suited to your Birmingham home and family. Place a call to (205) 203-0526 or fill out our form today!