Avoiding False Alarms - Tips from your local Security Professional.
Having a security system can certainly provide the peace of mind that many homeowners count on but your alarm system must be a reliable solution that you can trust. Here are a few simple things that you can do this winter to help prevent a false alarm.
Your security system uses contacts on windows and doors which activate the alarm when separated. In our cold climate some door and window frames have the tendency to contract. This contracting increases the spacing between the door, window and the frame so check that all contacts are spaced correctly.
To check for proper spacing of the contacts, enable the chime feature on the keypad (if not already on). Once the chime is enabled, close and lock the protected window or doors. Then try opening the door or window by pulling or pushing on it. If you do not hear the chime then the spacing alignment is correct. However, if you can hear the chime then you should consult your security company for an adjustment to the spacing of the contacts.
The interior of most homes are protected with motion detectors. You can reduce false alarms by ensuring that the motion detector is mounted at the correct location. A professional installer is well versed at where to mount the devices so that they are at the right height with the correct settings as recommended by the manufacturer.
Yet, homeowners can avoid false detection by simply being aware that the motion is sensitive to movement and heat. For example, moving a table to within six feet of a motion detector could offer your cat or small animal the perfect resting spot. This new resting spot can activate your motion detector and trigger an alarm. If you have a pet, you may want to consider one with intelligent signal analysis (ie. LC-100 from DSC) these motions detect pets up to 55 lbs. without triggering an alarm.
Similarly to avoid triggering motion detectors, consider where you hang decorations. A balloon or streamer offers the perfect sway to set off a motion. It would be really frustrating to rush home or worse have the police dispatched because your alarm is going off only to find that your party decorations from the night before have come undone and are blowing around your foyer!!
Lastly after 18 years in the business, I always recommend providing each key holder with their own four digit code. This code should be specific to the key holder and EASY to remember but not generic (i.e. Avoid using 1234 or the year of your birth etc.) By having a code that is easy for you to remember when in a stressful situation such as the alarm going off, you are less likely panic and forget the code. And please, if you don’t remember any of my tips just remember this one… don’t write your alarm code on or above the DSC Keypad!
If you have an alarm, use it. You may never need it, but are you prepared to take that chance?
SECUR-U Inc. has been a local leader of security systems in Milton for over 18 years. We would be happy to assist you with any questions that you may have.
