Categories

System glitches and false alarms can be aggravating, and even worse, could prevent your home’s security from working how it should. Thankfully, most troubles, from dead batteries to false alarms, are simple to fix. Check out our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in The Woodlands. We’ll help you keep your family members shielded and your system operating smoothly.

Test Your Home Security System In The Woodlands

One sensible way to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it! Modern systems have a test mode so you don’t mistakenly trigger an emergency call. After switching to test mode, take these steps:

• Arm your system as you typically would when you exit your home.
• Open a door or window that uses a contact sensor, or try to set off another sensor. Close the door or window once you’re finished so it doesn’t trip the alarm when you leave test mode.
• Let the alarm go off for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security company and to create an entry in the alarm system log.
• Continue testing sensors as you wish
• Check the systems’s activity log to verify functionality.

No need to worry, monitoring agents can tell that your system is undergoing a test. Be sure to switch out of test mode when complete. It’s wise to test once a month or whenever you adjust your home’s phone or internet provider.

Evaluate The Position And Condition Of Motion Sensors

Although an integral part of your alarm system, motion sensors are notorious for false alarms. Prevent them with a few simple troubleshooting steps.

• Do a visual check. Are there objects that could move within the path of the sensor, like a curtain blown in a breeze?
• Is the sensor clean? Cobwebs, dirt, and grime can result in poor performance. Check to confirm the sensor is clean.
• Does the motion detector come with pet immunity you can enable? Some sensors can be programmed to ignore pets up to 100 pounds.
• When was the battery last replaced? A nearly depleted battery may affect performance or result in false alarms.
• Is the sensor aimed toward a source of heat? Excess heat from direct sun or a fireplace can cause an alarm.

Keep Batteries On Hand And Look Out For Low Battery Warnings

One helpful perk of modern home security systems is that they’ll let you know when batteries are dying. If your system uses a control panel or app, you’ll often see alerts there. Depending on the alarm, you might notice an occasional beep when batteries are low. 

Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless devices have batteries that should be replaced every 1 to 2 years. It’s wise to keep batteries ready and create a replacement schedule. Some systems also have a rechargeable backup battery for the primary control panel. This backup keeps your system operating if you have a power outage and should charge back up once power is restored. If it doesn’t recharge, you will have to replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Effortless With ADT Home Security In The Woodlands 

As the foremost name in home security, ADT creates systems that offer unsurpassed functionality and convenience. Accessing test mode is simple through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always get updates when a sensor battery is nearing depletion. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system perfect for your The Woodlands home. Call (281) 595-9526 or fill out our form today!