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System hiccups and false alarms can be aggravating, and more importantly, could prevent your security system from doing its job effectively. Thankfully, most troubles, from dead batteries to false alarms, are straightforward to fix. Check out our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Fort Myers. We’ll help keep your household protected and your system operating the way it should.

Test Your Home Security System In Fort Myers

One of the most sensible ways to troubleshoot your home’s security is to test it yourself! Modern systems have a test mode so you don’t accidentally prompt an emergency response from monitoring agents. After moving to test mode, take these steps:

• Activate your system as you normally would when leaving.
• Open a door or window that has a contact sensor, or try to trigger another sensor. Shut the window or door once you’re done so it doesn’t trigger the alarm as you switch the system back on.
• Let the alarm go off for 60 seconds to make sure a transmission is delivered to the security provider and an entry is created in the alarm system log.
• Proceed to test sensors as needed
• Check the system activity log to confirm proper function.

No need to worry, monitoring specialists will be aware that your alarm system is undergoing a test. Just be sure to turn test mode off when complete. It’s wise to test every other month or anytime you adjust your home’s phone or internet service.

Inspect The Placement And State Of Motion Detectors

Although an essential element of your alarm system, motion detectors are prone to false alarms. You can help prevent them with a few simple troubleshooting steps.

• Perform a visual check. Are there things that could shift within range of the sensor, like a curtain caught in a breeze?
• Is the sensor clean? Cobwebs, dirt, and grime can cause poor performance. Make sure the sensor is clean.
• Does the motion detector come with pet immunity you can enable? Some can be configured to ignore pets weighing up to 100 pounds.
• When was the battery changed? A low battery may impact performance or cause false alarms.
• Is the sensor aimed toward a heat source? Excessive heat from a fireplace, direct sun, or something else can trigger an alarm.

Keep Batteries Ready And Look Out For Low Battery Signals

One of the great advantages of the latest home security systems is that they’ll alert you when batteries are running low. If your system is equipped with a mobile app or control panel, you’ll often see messages there. Depending on your alarm, you could hear an intermittent beep when batteries are getting low. 

Motion sensors, contact sensors, smoke detectors, and other wireless tools have batteries that need to be replaced every so often. It’s wise to keep batteries around and establish a replacement schedule. Some systems also include a rechargeable backup battery for the main control panel. This backup battery keeps your system operating if you have a power outage and should charge back up once power is back online. If it doesn’t recharge, you will have to replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Effortless With ADT Home Security In Fort Myers 

As the leading name in home security, ADT designs systems that offer unsurpassed protection and functionality. Getting into test mode is easy through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always get alerts when a sensor battery is running low. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to learn more and design a system perfect for your Fort Myers home and family. Dial (239) 317-1360 or fill out our form today!