How to PREVENT HOME SECURITY FALSE ALARM?

Even though home security systems are rapidly picking up a lot of steam, and we see a lot of them in homes around the world, it’s no secret that false alarms do happen, and they do happen often. They’re annoying for everyone involved, especially if it is connected to a security provider. A security provider will usually contact authorities, and that leads to even more issues if it is a false alarm.

The main problem is that there are a few causes of false alarms that are basically related to things we do daily. Whether there’s a large item that moved, like curtains or party decorations, or a window that wasn’t latched properly, things do happen.

So, how do you prevent these things?

How do you find ways to reduce the number of false alarms to an absolute minimum, or eliminate them completely?

Let’s look at a few ways to eliminate cause of false alarms.

Teach Everyone How to Use the System

This is almost a no-brainer, but anyone who uses your home alarm security system should be well versed in how to use them. Knowing how to arm and disarm the alarm and practicing this could be a good idea. Everyone who has access to your home, or your office, should know the keypad code or password that will disarm the alarm. Oh, and it might be a good idea to keep the number of your monitoring center somewhere nearby. If something does happen, you should be able to call the monitoring center immediately and tell them that it’s a false alarm.

Make Sure the Motion Detectors Aren’t Triggered

Aside from surveillance cameras, the other thing that most (if not all) security systems have, are motion detectors. They’re made to detect any kind of movement in their vicinity and instantly trigger the alarm. However, what if that movement was a curtain that moved because the A/C started blowing? Or what if it was a balloon from that celebration you had a few days ago?

To prevent the number of false alarms due to this, you’ll want to make sure to move or remove, any objects that might cause the sensors to get triggered. One more thing that may not be instantly obvious here, is a pet. The solution with pets is to either keep them in a safe area where they can’t trigger a detector or get a “pet immune” sensor that won’t be triggered if something does happen.

Secure All Doors and Windows

Another thing that might accidentally trigger your alarm system is doors and windows that aren’t secured. If you have a door that isn’t securely latched, that could trigger an alarm. Left a window open? A breeze, or an insect coming in, might trigger the motion sensor. A bonfire in the vicinity and a small breeze could be enough to trigger your smoke alarm. These things can all result in a false alarm, which is something you should avoid at all costs.

Check Up On the System Regularly

Even though this isn’t one of the most common causes of false alarms, you can’t exclude the possibility of a system malfunction. It is something that does happen, whether you like it or not, and it’s something that could lead to a false alarm.

In order to prevent that, you should work with your monitoring company and make sure any potential issues are identified on time. You should also have regular system checks, which will make sure that the alarm is in working order and absolutely nothing is wrong with it.

Also, update your security provider with any new information. If you’re changing your phone number or canceling your landline, or you’re putting your house up for sale, make sure they’re aware of this.

Another thing that might help is making sure you’re aware of any system alerts. A lot of wireless systems do have batteries that will last you for years, but it won’t do any harm if you check up on them occasionally. A low battery can easily cause a system to malfunction, and it’s nothing you want to be dealing with.

Keep Everything Up to Date

Just like with any home device, an alarm system does have software running it. And just like with any piece of software, bugs might show up eventually that may hamper the functionality of the said device. If you want a big chance at minimizing those possibilities, make sure your system is completely up to date.

Whether you do this yourself, or you have the security provider come out and do it for you, it’s a good idea to do so. New software updates tend to fix any potential bugs, which might prevent any problems from popping up.