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System glitches and false alarms can be exasperating, and more importantly, could prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Luckily, most problems, from false alarms to dead batteries, are simple to remedy. Take a look at our tips for troubleshooting your home alarm system in West Palm Beach. We’ll help keep your family protected and your system operating as it should.

Test Your Home Security System In West Palm Beach

One effective way to troubleshoot your property’s security is to test it yourself! The latest systems have a test mode so you don’t by accident initiate an emergency response from monitoring agents. Once in test mode, do the following:

• Turn on your system as you would when you exit your home.
• Open a window or door protected by a contact sensor, or try to trigger another device. Close the window or door once you’re finished so it doesn’t prompt the alarm as you switch out of test mode.
• Let the alarm go off for 60 seconds to make sure a transmission is dispatched to the security provider and an entry is made in the alarm activity log.
• Proceed to test sensors as needed
• Review the alarm’s activity log to verify that everything’s working.

No need to worry, monitoring agents can tell that your system is being tested. Just make sure to switch out of test mode when done. It’s smart to test monthly or anytime you adjust your home’s internet or phone provider.

Evaluate The Positioning And Condition Of Motion Sensors

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

• Do a physical inspection. Is there anything that could shift within range of the sensor, like a curtain blown in a breeze?
• Is the sensor clean? Grime, dirt, and cobwebs can result in issues. Make sure the face is clean.
• Does the motion detector have pet immunity you can enable? Some sensors can be set to disregard pets weighing up to 100 pounds.
• When was the battery last replaced? A nearly depleted battery might impact performance or cause false alarms.
• Is the sensor pointing toward a heat source? Excessive heat from direct sun or a fireplace can trigger an alarm.

Keep Batteries On Hand And Pay Attention To Low Battery Notifications

One of the great advantages of modern home security systems is that they’ll tell you when batteries are dying. If your system uses a mobile app or control panel, you’ll usually see messages there. Depending on your alarm, you may detect an intermittent beep when batteries are running out. 

Motion detectors, smoke detectors, contact sensors, and other wireless components have batteries that need to be replaced every 1 to 2 years. It’s wise to keep batteries ready and set a replacement schedule. Many systems also come with a backup battery for the primary control panel. This backup battery helps keep your system operating if your power goes out and should recharge itself once power is restored. If it doesn’t recharge, you should replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Easy With ADT Home Security In West Palm Beach 

As the top name in home security, ADT creates systems that supply unsurpassed functionality and convenience. Getting into test mode is straightforward through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always get alerts when a battery is nearing depletion. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to learn more and design a system perfectly suited to your West Palm Beach home. Call (561) 291-7769 or complete our form today!