Tips For Troubleshooting Your Home Alarm System In Cedar Rapids
False alarms and system glitches can be exasperating, and even more concerning, could prevent your home security system from doing its job effectively. Luckily, most troubles, from false alarms to dead batteries, are easy to fix. Take a look at our recommendations for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Cedar Rapids. We’ll help you keep your family shielded and your system running the way it should.
Test Your Home Security System In Cedar Rapids
One sensible way to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it yourself! Newer systems have a test mode so you don’t accidentally prompt an emergency call. After moving to test mode, do the following:
- Activate your system as you typically would when you leave.
- Open a door or window protected by a contact sensor, or test other equipment. Close the door or window once you’re finished so it doesn’t trip the alarm as you switch the system back on.
- Permit the alarm to go off for 60 seconds to make sure a transmission is sent to the security company and an entry is created in the alarm activity log.
- Proceed to test equipment as needed
- Check the systems’s activity log to verify proper function.
No need to worry, monitoring specialists can tell that your alarm system is being tested. Just make sure to switch off test mode when you’re done. It’s smart to test once a month or whenever you change your home’s internet or phone connectivity.
Check The Positioning And State Of Motion Sensors
Although an integral part of your alarm system, motion sensors are notorious for false alarms. Do your part to prevent them with a few basic troubleshooting steps.
- Conduct 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 covered in dust? Grime, dirt, and cobwebs can cause issues. Check to confirm the device is clean.
- Does the motion detector come with pet immunity you can turn on? Some sensors can be configured to ignore pets weighing up to 100 pounds.
- When was the battery changed? Low batteries can affect performance or lead to false alarms.
- Is the sensor pointing toward a heat source? Excessive heat from direct sun or a fireplace can trigger an alarm.
Keep Batteries Ready And Watch Out For Low Battery Notifications
One of the great advantages of the latest home security systems is that they’ll tell you when batteries are getting low. If your system is equipped with a app or control panel, you’ll usually see messages there. Depending on your system, you might notice an intermittent beep when batteries are running out.
Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless components have batteries that will have to be replaced every so often. It’s a good idea to keep batteries around and set a replacement schedule. Many systems also have a rechargeable backup battery for the central control panel. This battery keeps your system functioning if you have a power outage and should recharge itself once power is back online. If it doesn’t recharge, you should replace it.
Troubleshooting Is Easy With ADT Home Security In Cedar Rapids
As the top name in home security, ADT creates systems that provide unrivaled protection and functionality. Accessing test mode is straightforward through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always receive alerts when a battery is low. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to find out more and design a system ideal for your Cedar Rapids home and family. Place a call to (319) 214-2293 or fill out our form today!