Home security systems are worthwhile investments. But your home security system suddenly stops functioning properly, not only are you flushing money down the toilet, but you are compromising your safety. If an emergency arises, your home, valuables and loved ones will be unprotected and potentially vulnerable. The key is to regularly test your system and take appropriate actions if you find something has either stopped working or is not working properly. Want to ensure your home security system is actually keeping your home secure? Follow these steps:
Is It Beeping?
Your alarm or home security system will usually alert you if something is wrong. The first sign of a problem is usually an intermittent and/or unusual beep. If the unit is beeping for no apparent reason, that’s a sign. Generally, a beeping unit is the sign of dead or dying batteries. When was the last time you replaced them? If you have already changed the batteries, you may want to try rebooting the system entirely.
Is It Going Off?
Just about as, well, “alarming” as an intermittent or unusual beep is the alarm going off by itself for no apparent reason. In fact, false alarms can be a very serious problem if your alarm system is professionally monitored. The last thing you want or need is emergency services showing up on your doorstep because of a false alarm. If you are experiencing false alarms, double check that your system has been set up properly. Does your system require an update and are the batteries fresh?
Is It Arming?
Some alarm systems will only arm when all the windows and doors are closed. If a connection between a window or a door is broken, then the alarm goes off. Still, if there is a malfunction in the system, it may go off even if a connection is not broken. If it wrongly identifies an open zone, it may not even arm at all. Your first option when encountering this situation is to forcefully open and close the window or door. Make sure the connection is tight. If this does not work, the system may need to reprogrammed or need some other kind of maintenance.
Is It Detecting Things?
Sometimes we arm the alarm and then forget about it. As part of your due diligence and a routine check, you must make sure your system notices when things go by. If you do find that the system is not detecting things, test the connection, batteries, or individual units, sensors or cameras. If it isn’t the base unit itself, it could be sensors or units places throughout the house. A poor connection is often a big problem when alarm systems don’t detect a break or intrusion.
Have You Called the Provider?
When your alarm system malfunctions, there is one tried-and-true way to ensure it gets addressed: Call the provider. Sure, you can check the batteries, reset connections, and fiddle with it all you want, but if it is something you cannot fix, don’t think you can just MacGuyver it. Call the professionals who initially installed it. Trying a DIY approach to a professionally-installed system more often than not results in even more problems.