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System glitches and false alarms can be exasperating, and more importantly, could prevent your home’s security from working how it should. Luckily, most problems, from dead batteries to false alarms, are straightforward to correct. Take a look at our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in San Jose. We’ll help you keep your household shielded and your system running smoothly.

Test Your Home Security System In San Jose

One effective way to troubleshoot your property’s defense is to test it! Newer systems have a test mode so you don’t by accident prompt an emergency response from monitoring agents. After moving to test mode, do the following:

• Turn on your system as you would when going out.
• Open a window or door protected by a contact sensor, or try to set off something else. Shut the window or door once you’re done so it doesn’t trigger the alarm as you switch out of test mode.
• Let the alarm go off for 60 seconds to make sure a signal is sent to the security provider and an entry is created in the alarm system log.
• Continue testing devices as needed
• Inspect the systems’s activity log to verify functionality.

Rest assured, monitoring professionals will know that your system is being tested. Be sure to switch off test mode when complete. It’s smart to test every other month or anytime you adjust your home’s phone or internet connectivity.

Check The Positioning And State Of Motion Detectors

Although an crucial part of your alarm system, motion sensors are notorious for false alarms. Prevent them with a few simple troubleshooting steps.

• Perform a physical check. Are there things that could shift within the sensor’s detection zone, like drapery taken by a breeze?
• Is the sensor covered in dust? Grime, dirt, and cobwebs can result in poor performance. Check to confirm the device is clean.
• Does the motion detector offer pet immunity you can turn on? Some models can be programmed to ignore pets weighing as much as 100 pounds.
• When was the battery changed? Low batteries might impact performance or lead to false alarms.
• Is the sensor facing a source of heat? Excessive heat from direct sun or a fireplace can cause an alarm.

Keep Batteries On Hand And Pay Attention To Low Battery Warnings

One helpful perk of new home security systems is that they’ll tell you when batteries are running low. If your system has a control panel or mobile app, you’ll often see messages there. Depending on your system, you could detect an occasional beep when batteries are low. 

Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless tools have batteries that should be replaced every 1 to 2 years. It’s a good idea to keep batteries on hand 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 functioning if you lose power and should charge back up once the electricity is working again. If it doesn’t recharge, you should replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Easy With ADT Home Security In San Jose 

As the foremost name in home security, ADT designs systems that provide superior functionality and protection. Switching to test mode is straightforward through the ADT+ app or MyADT.com, and you’ll always get notifications when a sensor battery is nearing depletion. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system perfectly suited to your San Jose home and family. Place a call to (408) 641-3351 or complete our form today!