Home Security Systems

According to a recent survey, one of the biggest concerns homeowners have with their home security systems is a false alarm. Aside from the fear it instills, it can also potentially be costly to have police respond to a false alarm, with most cities now charging for multiple false alarms in a given year.  Here are some false alarm prevention tips you can use to save your time and your money.

  1. Test your system monthly and have a qualified technician examine the system at least once a year.  Regular maintenance is important in ensuring your system is operating at its optimal level.
  1. Pets are big reasons for false alarms, so make sure your motion sensors are calibrated to their movements.  Cats are more difficult than dogs since they tend to get up and onto things, but current home security systems have specialized technology to detect even their movements.
  1. If you’re planning on changing the interior of the house in any way, be sure to notify your provider immediately.  For everything from painting to replacing a door, your security company needs to know what you’re up to so they can put your system into its test mode and the authorities aren’t notified by accident.
  1. Aside from regular maintenance, older systems may actually need to have parts replaced to function properly.  It may be difficult to find parts for older systems, and home security systems that are between 10 and 15 years old may need to be replaced entirely.