Secur-U's Security Blog

Recently I have received some calls from small businesses asking to change their alarm code because they have had to let one of their employees go. As we go through the process of changing the code, which can seem like a hassle to the business owner or manager, I ask the question. “Are you all using the same code?” Upon asking I get the same answer, “Yes.” It’s a bit of a shame(and a pain) that because one person is leaving, everybody who is staying will need to learn a new code isn’t it?

Giving everybody individual codes allows you, the small business owner, to control individual access to the system and even identify the last person arming or disarming your system through services like Opening and Closing Reports. I'll share some more on that in a bit, but first lets get you set up to create some new user codes. The following information applies to DSC Alarm systems.

You'll want to set up a small chart so you can account for everybody's code, like the one below.

Something important to note is the User Number. This is like a designated parking space. It will tell you where you can find that persons code, so its important to write down which User Number you assigned to their code. This will tell you where to find their code in the future if you need to change or delete it. User Numbers also require 2 digits, so be sure when putting in users 1-9 that you have a 0 prior to the number as shown above.

The Master Code is what allows you, the alarm owner, to make changes to your users, time on the display, etc. You can even change it yourself by following the same process as you would to change a code for an employee, so lets review how to do that now.

ADDING OR CHANGING A CODE

Start by pressing *5 and your Master Code. A series of short beeps will follow letting you know that you have the right master code. Now enter the 2 digit User Number you wish to add/change. Following that enter the new 4 digit code for that person and press # when you are done.

The system will return to a normal setting now and when it is ready to be armed (green check mark is on), test out your new code. Its best that you try the code and make sure it works before your employee finds out that it doesn't.

DELETING A CODE

Again press *5 and your Master Code. Now press the 2 digit User Number for the code to be deleted and finish by pressing * then #.

As with adding a code, make sure it does NOT work by trying to arm the system with it.

OPEN AND CLOSING REPORTS

This service can provide you with valuable information. The Opening and Closing Report will either text you every time your system is armed and disarmed, or email you a monthly report of the arming and disarming of the system. This service could save you hours in labour and can help you verify against your time sheets for your staff. It may not be much help however if you are all using one code. 

Much like the human brain, our alarm systems have some untapped potential. If you need help getting your alarm system up to its potential, please contact us at SECUR-U and we will be happy to help you.

Extra Protection from your Alarm System

With Mother Nature still fighting with Wiarton Willy about when spring is going to finally arrive, maybe it’s a good time to talk about something most people aren’t aware their alarm system can do. Your home alarm system can protect you against more than the intrusion of people. If you are susceptible to having a flood in your basement, then a water sensor may be a great addition to your home alarm.

Imagine it, you’ve just finished your basement, paid tens of thousands of dollars to lay that flooring, have it drywalled and painted. Heck, maybe you even spent a lot of money on that basement theatre you always wanted. Now imagine that your sump pump stops working. It’s possible. Maybe the breaker trips, maybe there is something faulty about the pump itself, maybe you unplugged it to use the outlet and forgot to plug it back in, but whatever the reason your sump pump is not doing its job. Spring is almost here and with the snow continuing to fall, we will have a lot of water looking for a place to go. If it’s your newly finished basement, shouldn’t you protect that investment you’ve made?

A water sensor can let you know when water is rising out of your sump pump and is threatening to move through the rest of your basement. By placing the water sensor close to your sump pump, close to the floor, when water rises, it closes the circuit and creates an alarm condition. Then very much like a break in, the phone calls begin, to you, your spouse, and anybody on your call list. Knowing that your basement is slowly flooding can give you time to address the issue before it takes hold of your whole basement. Talk to your security provider today about installing a flood sensor in your home. You don’t have an alarm but are interested in the flood protection? Give us a call 1-866-878-4634. Because at SECUR-U we are, Working Together for a Safer Community.

Hamilton Police Service’s False Alarm Reduction Unit (FARU) was created to reduce incidents with false alarms and the impact on emergency response services such as Police, Fire and Ambulance. Recently they sent out a letter with some GREAT tips that will help you as a home or business owner reduce your false alarms.

1. Make sure anybody using your home or business alarm (kids, parents, dog walker, cleaners) has been shown how to properly disarm the system and turn the system off in the event of an alarm. 

2. Make sure that they know how to properly respond to the call from the monitoring company with proper credentials and information. If the monitoring station cannot verify the person responding to the call, they will dispatch the police.

3. If your alarm system is not functioning properly, contact your alarm company immediately. You take your car to the mechanic for regular maintenance, as well as when it stops working properly, why put off fixing a system that is securing your home?

4. Clean your system. Vacuum off your motion and smoke detectors. Make sure that the contacts on your door are clear of any debris. 

5. Once you have had a false alarm, contact your alarm company to determine the cause. This can help determine if it is mechanical or user error.

6. When your list of key holders changes, contact your alarm company to let them know. A former neighbour who moved 3 hours away isn’t likely to be able to help when the alarm goes off. Send the alarm company an email or fax to ensure that you have provided accurate information such as phone numbers.

7. Going on vacation? Make sure you aren’t the one getting the call while on the beach in Aruba. Let your alarm company know that you will be away and for how long. Have a close friend or neighbour as your primary contact while you are away so you can enjoy your trip.

8. Did you lock that door or window? Go check before you arm the system. Leaving a door or window unlocked is just as bad as not setting your alarm.

9. Unsure of what might set your system off? Test it out. Talk to your alarm company and test out different situations with pets and new codes to ensure you know what might cause a false alarm and you are there to disarm the system before a false alarm really occurs.

Regular use of your alarm system will keep you in touch with any issues and ensuring that you are aware of how it is working. Keep in touch with your alarm system provider. For those with SECUR-U alarm systems, you know you can always reach us in our office (905)878-4634 and we are always happy to help!

Holiday Safety and Security Tips

We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Busy with work, shopping for gifts, preparing for family to come visit. In short, we get busy with life. Sometimes when we get busy, we try to find ways to cut corners, move faster, squeeze more in, and be a super hero for the season. But when we get like this, it’s the time we’re bound to forget to do something, and we all know the Grinch doesn’t take a day off. So prepare and make things easy on yourself.

Take the time to hide any gifts. Not from the kids. Wait, yes from the kids, but from anybody looking to take advantage of the time you’ve already spent shopping. Lock your shopping in the trunk, or at the very least out of sight in your car. Same thing goes for electronic devices (GPS, iPods, Cell Phones), anything that may be of value in a quick smash and grab. Nobody wants to do a full search while they’ve broken into your car. They want to be gone almost as quickly as they came. So hide those electronics and keep your shopping out of plain sight.

Now lock your car. It seems like such an obvious thing to say but we’re all guilty of it. Running into a store for what we see as a quick “in and out” and when we return we may not even notice what was taken. So simple but I’ll say it again, lock your car.

Back at your well decorated home with lights along the roof line and in the trees and a wreath on the door, not only do we have people who will ruin our holiday, but events that will ruin our holiday. Home alarms now are equipped to deal with so much and keep us ahead of these events. Monitored Smoke detectors are definitely the most obvious of things that people might consider including in their home alarm system. What with all the festive baking and cleaning that are added to your life over the next few months nothing would be worse than leaving the house with something in the oven. Monitored smoke detectors can create an alarm even if you are home and taking a nap and the system isn’t armed.

A properly installed home alarm will also ensure that you only have one visitor over the holiday come in through an unconventional opening. It can also deter would be Grinches from taking off with a sack full of booty and heading off to Mount Crumpet.

In short, make this a holiday season to enjoy. Be safe. Be smart. Take your time, we’ll all get there. Most importantly, don’t be caught in Whoville wondering what happened in the after math. Make sure your home alarm is ready for the Most WONDERFUL time of the year.

Changing the Clock on your DSC Keypad

Its coming! We roll back the clocks this weekend and as we either change them all before we go to bed with that extra hour of sleep, or spend that extra hour that were up too early on sunday morning doing it, you'll eventually get to the one on your home alarm keypad. It may seem like a daunting or dangerous task, but fret not, its a simple change and we're happy to walk you through it.

Follow these simple steps:

Press *6

Then your 4 digit Master Code

Press 1

Enter the Time in 24 hour mode (HH:MM)

Enter the Date using the following format (MM:DD:YY)

Now press #

All done! Wasn't that easy? Lets make it even easier for you! Save this YouTube Video we posted for future reference in your favourites on your web browser and be sure to share it with any friends who have a DSC alarm system. If you have other questions about different functions of your DSC system (adding a code, deleting a code) see our other YouTube Videos! If the answer isn't there, email us your question at info@securu.com or call our office at 905-878-4634.

 It’s not monitored

Last week I started a 4 piece blog on why your alarm system doesn't work. We covered that if its not on, it doesn't work. Today is just as important. Why do you have a system if its not monitored?

Not having your system monitored is like buying a car without a steering wheel. It goes but you have no control over the direction. Monitoring fees do not break the bank or at least they shouldn’t. For basic monitoring $25/month is the industry average. Less than a dollar a day. Monitoring puts your system in contact with a central station and when an alarm goes off, they know. When you have the alarm set up the technician will ask you for a list of contacts that the monitoring station can call in the event of an alarm.  The Central Monitoring Station will attempt to call the people on this list once the system has gone into alarm, and will continue to call until somebody is reached or until the police are dispatched.

A few weeks ago a Milton home avoided, what could have been, a scary fate when their monitored Smoke detectors went into alarm, notifying the monitoring station and dispatching Fire Fighters to the scene. Even with the alarm system unarmed, Smoke detectors are a 24 hour supervised zone which means that even with your system disarmed, these life safety aspects are monitored at all times. If its not monitored the system will provide you with an audible alarm, but nobody has called the fire department yet.

Knowing that your home has had an alarm gives you a valuable piece of knowledge. Imagine not knowing that your home has gone into an alarm and your son or daughter gets home from school before you. Knowing that may give you a chance to contact them, the school or a neighbour to meet them and make sure they aren’t the first ones in to meet your unwanted visitor.

Half way there on this piece. Keep tuned in this week and find out what else you can do to make sure your home security system works for you.