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System glitches and false alarms can be exasperating, and even more concerning, might prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Thankfully, most troubles, from false alarms to dead batteries, are easy to remedy. Take a look at our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in El Paso. We’ll help you keep your family shielded and your system operating the way it should.

Test Your Home Security System In El Paso

One great way to troubleshoot your property’s defense is to test it! Newer systems allow you to put them in test mode to avoid initiating an emergency response from monitoring agents. After moving to test mode, take these steps:

• Activate your system as you would when heading out.
• Open a window or door that has a contact sensor, or test other sensors. Shut the window or door so it doesn’t trip the alarm as you leave test mode.
• Let the alarm resonate for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security provider and to create an entry in the alarm system log.
• Continue testing devices as needed
• Check the system activity log to validate functionality.

Don’t worry, monitoring specialists can tell that your system is being tested. Just make sure to switch off test mode when complete. It’s wise to test once a month or whenever you adjust your home’s phone or internet connectivity.

Evaluate The Position And Condition Of Motion Detectors

Although an integral element of your alarm system, motion detectors are prone to false alarms. Prevent them with a few basic troubleshooting steps.

• Conduct a physical check. Are there things that could move within the detection path of the sensor, like drapery blown in a breeze?
• Is the sensor covered in dust? Grime, dirt, and cobwebs can result in poor performance. Make sure the face is clean.
• Does the motion detector offer pet immunity you can turn on? Some can be set to ignore pets weighing as much as 100 pounds.
• When was the battery replaced? A nearly depleted battery might affect performance or result in false alarms.
• Is the sensor facing a heat source? Too much heat from sunlight or a fireplace can set off an alarm.

Keep Batteries Ready And Pay Attention To Low Battery Signals

One helpful benefit of the latest home security systems is that they’ll notify you when batteries are getting low. If your system is equipped with a mobile app or control panel, you’ll typically see notifications there. Depending on the alarm, you could notice an intermittent beep when batteries are getting low. 

Motion sensors, contact sensors, smoke detectors, and other wireless tools have batteries that will have to be replaced every so often. It’s best to keep batteries around and establish a replacement schedule. Many systems also have a backup battery for the main control panel. This backup helps keep your system running if you lose power and should charge back up once power is restored. If it doesn’t, you will need to replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Simple With ADT Home Security In El Paso 

As the top name in home security, ADT creates systems that provide superior functionality and protection. Accessing test mode is straightforward through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always be sent notifications when a battery is low. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system perfect for your El Paso home. Place a call to (915) 233-0687 or submit our form today!