A common problem for many homeowners is false alarms from their security systems. They’re annoying and cause unnecessary anxiety in your home. Couple this with the embarrassment of explaining to neighbors and emergency services that nothing is wrong, and many homeowners are at their wits end looking for solutions.
Causes of Home Security System False Alarms
Incidents of false alarms occur because of circumstances that have nothing to do with unwanted guests or intruders on your property. It’s important to figure out what’s causing these incidents and how to prevent them in the future. Some common reasons a home security system may trigger an alarm could include:
- Short circuit or other faulty equipment error
- Improper installation
- Fluctuating power or low batteries
- Unsecured doors or windows
- Animals and insects
- User error such as the wrong passcode entry
- Unsuspecting friends or guests not aware of the system
While law enforcement may seem understanding the first few times a false alarm occurs, homeowners need to correct the issue so that when an actual emergency happens, it gets taken seriously.
Ways to Prevent Home Security System False Alarms
Prevention is key to tackling this problem. Talking to your security technician about what’s wrong is the first step. Your tech will likely need to physically inspect your system and the environment it protects to determine what the issue is. Other measures that may help prevent future false alarms include:
Regular Maintenance
A regular maintenance schedule can go a long way in finding problems before they happen. If you have issues with squirrels or other nesting animals, a security system company may discover chewed wiring and can make the necessary repairs right away.
Inspect Power Sources
Your home alarm system depends on a reliable power source to keep it operating correctly. Throughout the year, take time to inspect these areas to ensure there are no issues with leaking water, rust, or corrosion that could prevent it from receiving a steady source of energy.
Check Entries to Your Home
A common issue in many homes is windows and doors that don’t shut properly, easily open, or cause significant drafts. Depending on your alarm system, it could pick up on the sound of a door slamming or a draft blowing draperies around and trigger the alarm.
Look For Signs of Animal Activity
Another source of triggering movement are animals like your pet or unwanted pests. If you have a cat that likes to chase insects, you may want to set up your alarm so it can’t detect this activity. If you don’t have a pet but notice signs of pest damage, it’s best to call an exterminator.
Know Your System
Many of us have a million passwords to keep track of, but your home security system is the most important one. Make it a point to learn your code, know how to enter it correctly, and what to do if you make a mistake. Also, let family members and guests know areas to avoid if they stop by unannounced.
Take a Two-Step Approach for Alarms
A two-step verification for emergency services can help prevent false notifications from occurring. By authenticating the threat using this method, you can avoid the annoyance and embarrassment a false alarm brings to your neighborhood and law enforcement.
Keep Calm During a False Alarm
False alarms cause feelings of insecurity and panic, and until you know what’s wrong, you’re going to fear the worst. When you experience these circumstances, there are steps you can take so it isn’t a traumatizing situation for you and your family.
Stay Calm
During an alarm event, whether a genuine or false one, you should always remain calm. Panic escalates fear, so verifying the situation while you stay calm is critical.
Disarm Quickly
By remembering your code and calmly entering it, you’ll disarm the system quickly and diffuse any panic being felt in your home.
Call Your Monitoring Service ASAP
Once you shut off the alarm, call the monitoring service immediately to stop law enforcement dispatch from coming over.
Share What Happened
After a false alarm, let your household and neighbors know what happened to prevent any further contact with emergency services. A false alarm is annoying, so offering an apology will help.
Reliable South Florida Home Security Company
Despite the possibility of false alarms occurring, having a home security system helps provide a safe environment to your family. It’s impossible to know if you’ll experience a break-in or other criminal activity in your neighborhood, but having a properly working system is essential.
If you experience frequent alarm incidents and can’t discover the root cause, the best thing to do is to call Hi-Tech Security to learn the options available for dealing with the issue. We understand your concerns and have worked with thousands of homes like yours to create a dependable system with minimal episodes of false alarms going off.
With more than 14 years of experience serving South Florida, we’re one of the top-rated home security system retailers in your area. Discover why our customers recommend us to anyone looking for a new or upgraded home security system. Give Hi-Tech Security a call today at (954) 394-2292 and speak with one of our professionals about camera placement and installation. We also offer convenient online scheduling for a no-cost consultation here.
