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System hiccups and false alarms can be aggravating, and more importantly, may prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Fortunately, most problems, from dead batteries to false alarms, are straightforward to remedy. Take a look at our recommendations for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Mansfield. We’ll help keep your household safeguarded and your system operating as it should.

Test Your Home Security System In Mansfield

One sensible way to troubleshoot your property’s security is to test it yourself! Newer systems allow you to put them in test mode to prevent you from initiating an emergency call. After moving to test mode, do the following:

• Arm your system as you normally would when heading out.
• Open a window or door that has a contact sensor, or try to trigger something else. Close the window or door once you’re finished so it doesn’t trip the alarm as you switch the system back on.
• Permit the alarm to resonate for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security provider and to make an entry in the alarm system log.
• Continue testing equipment as you wish
• Check the alarm’s activity log to verify proper function.

No need to worry, monitoring professionals can tell that your alarm system is involved in a test. Just be sure to switch off test mode when done. It’s a good idea to test once a month or anytime you make changes to your home’s internet or phone connectivity.

Inspect The Placement And State Of Motion Detectors

Although an crucial part of your alarm system, motion detectors are well known for false alarms. You can help prevent them with some basic troubleshooting.

• Do a physical check. Are there things that could shift within range of the sensor, like a window treatment taken by a breeze?
• Is the sensor covered in dust? Cobwebs, dirt, and debris can cause malfunctions. Check to confirm the sensor is clean.
• Does the motion detector come with pet immunity you can enable? Some can be configured to ignore pets weighing as much as 100 pounds.
• When was the battery replaced? A low battery might impact performance or cause false alarms.
• Is a heat source impacting the sensor? Too much heat from direct sun or a fireplace can trigger an alarm.

Keep Batteries Ready And Watch Out For Low Battery Warnings

One of the great things about new home security systems is that they’ll tell you when batteries are running low. If your system is equipped with a control panel or mobile app, you’ll often see messages there. Depending on the alarm, you could notice an occasional beep when batteries are getting low. 

Motion sensors, contact sensors, smoke detectors, and other wireless tools have batteries that will have to be replaced every year or two. It’s best to keep batteries ready and establish a replacement schedule. Many systems also have a rechargeable backup battery for the central control panel. This backup battery keeps your system functioning if you have a power outage and should charge back up once the electricity is working again. If it doesn’t recharge, you will have to replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Effortless With ADT Home Security In Mansfield 

As the foremost name in home security, ADT designs systems that provide superior functionality and convenience. Accessing test mode is simple through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always be sent alerts when a battery is running low. Reach out to Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to learn more and design a system ideal for your Mansfield home. Place a call to (419) 359-8643 or complete our form today!