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False alarms and system malfunctions can be aggravating, and more importantly, may prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Luckily, most troubles, from false alarms to dead batteries, are straightforward to fix. Take a look at our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Scranton. We’ll help you keep your family members safeguarded and your system operating as it should.

Test Your Home Security System In Scranton

One of the most sensible ways to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it yourself! The latest systems have a test mode so you don’t accidentally trigger an emergency response. Once in test mode, follow these steps:

• Turn on your system as you normally would when you head out.
• Open a door or window that has a contact sensor, or try to trip something else. Close the door or window once you’re finished so it doesn’t trigger the alarm as you turn the system back on.
• Allow the alarm to go off for 60 seconds to make sure a signal is sent to the security company and an entry is made in the alarm system log.
• Proceed to test devices as needed
• Check the alarm’s activity log to verify that everything’s working.

Rest assured, monitoring specialists will be aware that your system is involved in a test. Just be sure to switch out of test mode when done. It’s a good idea to test once a month or whenever you make changes to your home’s internet or phone service.

Check The Placement And State Of Motion Detectors

Although an crucial part of your alarm system, motion sensors are well known for false alarms. You can help prevent them with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps.

• Perform a visual inspection. Are there things that could move within range of the sensor, like a window treatment taken by a breeze?
• Is the sensor covered in dust? Cobwebs, dirt, and grime can result in issues. Make sure the device is clean.
• Does the motion detector offer pet immunity you can activate? Some models can be configured to ignore pets up to 100 pounds.
• When was the battery last replaced? A low battery may impact performance or cause false alarms.
• Is the sensor facing a source of heat? Excess heat from sunlight or a fireplace can trigger an alarm.

Keep Batteries Ready And Look Out For Low Battery Signals

One helpful aspect of modern home security systems is that they’ll tell you when batteries are running low. If your system has a control panel or smartphone app, you’ll often see notifications there. Depending on your system, you might detect an occasional beep when batteries are low. 

Motion detectors, smoke detectors, contact sensors, and other wireless tools have batteries that need to be replaced every year or two. It’s a good idea to keep batteries ready and create a replacement schedule. Some systems also come with a rechargeable backup battery for the main control panel. This backup helps keep your system running if your power goes out and should charge back up once power is back online. If it fails to recharge, you should replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Easy With ADT Home Security In Scranton 

As the foremost name in home security, ADT designs systems that supply superior functionality and protection. Accessing test mode is straightforward through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always receive notifications when a battery is nearing depletion. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system ideal for your Scranton home and family. Place a call to (570) 217-8895 or submit our form today!