Tips For Troubleshooting Your Home Alarm System In Virginia Beach
System hiccups and false alarms can be exasperating, and even worse, could prevent your security system from working the way it should. Luckily, most problems, from false alarms to dead batteries, are easy to fix. Check out our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Virginia Beach. We’ll help you keep your household safeguarded and your system operating the way it should.
Test Your Home Security System In Virginia Beach
One of the most sensible ways to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it yourself! The latest systems allow you to put them in test mode to avoid prompting an emergency response. Once in test mode, take these steps:
- Arm your system as you typically would when leaving.
- Open a door or window that uses a contact sensor, or try to set off another sensor. Shut the window or door once you’re finished so it doesn’t prompt the alarm when you reactivate the system.
- Allow the alarm to go off for 60 seconds to make sure a message is delivered to the security provider and an entry is created in the alarm system log.
- Continue testing sensors as needed
- Review the system activity log to validate that everything’s working.
No need to worry, monitoring specialists will be able to see that your system is undergoing a test. Be sure to switch off test mode when complete. It’s smart to test every other month or anytime you make changes to your home’s phone or internet connectivity.
Evaluate The Placement And Condition Of Motion Detectors
Although an integral part of your alarm system, motion sensors are notorious for false alarms. Do your part to prevent them with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps.
- Do a physical inspection. Is there anything that could shift within the sensor’s detection range, like a curtain caught in a breeze?
- Is the sensor covered in dust? Cobwebs, dirt, and grime can cause malfunctions. Ensure the face is clean.
- Does the motion detector have pet immunity you can enable? Some can be configured to disregard pets up to 100 pounds.
- When was the battery replaced? A low battery may affect performance or result in false alarms.
- Is the sensor facing a source of heat? Excessive heat from sunlight or a fireplace can set off an alarm.
Keep Batteries Ready And Pay Attention To Low Battery Signals
One of the great aspects of modern home security systems is that they’ll notify you when batteries are dying. If your system is equipped with a control panel or mobile app, you’ll typically see alerts there. Depending on your alarm, you may hear an occasional beep when batteries are getting low.
Contact sensors, smoke detectors, motion sensors, and other wireless tools have batteries that need to be replaced every so often. It’s a good idea 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 battery helps keep your system running if your power goes out and should recharge once power is back online. If it doesn’t, you will need to replace it.
Troubleshooting Is Simple With ADT Home Security In Virginia Beach
As the top name in home security, ADT designs systems that offer superior functionality and protection. Accessing test mode is simple through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always receive notifications when a battery is low. Get in touch with Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system perfect for your Virginia Beach home. Place a call to (757) 241-4673 or complete our form today!