Categories

System malfunctions and false alarms can be aggravating, and more importantly, could prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Luckily, most troubles, from false alarms to dead batteries, are straightforward to correct. Take a look at our recommendations for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Los Angeles. We’ll help keep your household safeguarded and your system operating as it should.

Test Your Home Security System In Los Angeles

One sensible way to troubleshoot your property’s security is to test it! Newer systems let you place them in test mode to keep you from prompting an emergency response. After switching to test mode, do the following:

• Turn on your system as you normally would when you leave.
• Open a door or window that has a contact sensor, or try to trigger another sensor. Shut the door or window so it doesn’t trigger the alarm as you switch the system back on.
• Permit the alarm to resonate for 60 seconds to make sure a transmission is dispatched to the security company and an entry is created in the alarm activity log.
• Proceed to test devices as you wish
• Review the system activity log to confirm functionality.

Don’t worry, monitoring specialists can tell that your system is being tested. Just be sure to turn test mode off when done. It’s smart to test once a month or anytime you make changes to your home’s phone or internet provider.

Evaluate The Positioning And Condition Of Motion Detectors

Although an essential element of your alarm system, motion detectors are well known for false alarms. Do your part to prevent them with some simple troubleshooting.

• Do a physical check. Are there items that could move within the sensor’s detection zone, like a window treatment blown in a breeze?
• Is the sensor clean? Grime, dirt, and cobwebs can cause issues. Check to confirm the device 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 changed? A nearly depleted battery may affect performance or lead to false alarms.
• Is the sensor pointing toward a heat source? Excess heat from direct sun or a fireplace can set off an alarm.

Keep Batteries On Hand And Watch Out For Low Battery Signals

One of the great things about modern home security systems is that they’ll alert you when batteries are dying. If your system uses a mobile app or control panel, you’ll usually see messages there. Depending on the alarm, you might notice an intermittent beep when batteries are getting low. 

Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless devices have batteries that need to be replaced every year or two. It’s wise to keep batteries on hand and establish a replacement schedule. Top systems also come with a rechargeable backup battery for the main control panel. This backup battery helps keep your system functioning if you lose power and should recharge once the electricity is working again. If it doesn’t recharge, you should replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Simple With ADT Home Security In Los Angeles 

As the leading name in home security, ADT creates systems that offer superior functionality and protection. Switching to test mode is straightforward through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always get alerts when a sensor battery is nearing depletion. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to learn more and design a system perfect for your Los Angeles home and family. Call (310) 421-1393 or fill out our form today!