A false alarm is an alarm that triggers an emergency response when no emergency has occurred. I am sure we have all heard of a false alarm, but have we every experienced one with our alarm system? False alarms can be a problem for many reasons some of which include reducing the effectiveness of security systems. If alarms are seen as unreliable indicators of threats they may potentially be ignored. They exhaust the resources of police, fire and emergency personnel and keep them from responding to actual emergency. They can create unnecessary fines, and many times it can be for each occurrence. Most importantly they can lead to denial of service, meaning police, fire and emergency personnel are instructed to ignore the alarms of users whose systems set off false alarms in the past.

Ways you can prevent a false alarm:

1. Train the necessary people in the use of your home’s alarm system and schedule annual review sessions.
2. Review your alarm system operating manual. Take time to educate everyone with access to your home on proper system operation.
3. Be familiar with the procedure taken by ADT, should they receive an alarm signal from your home, including how to cancel an accidental alarm. A lot of time ADT will try and contact you the homeowner before contacting the appropriate authorities.
4. If your system includes a back-up battery for use during an electrical power loss, check to make sure that it is fully charged. Low battery voltage is the second most common cause of accidental alarms.
5. Regularly check alarm contact switches/magnets on doors and windows for damage or looseness. Call ADT if service adjustments are needed.
6. If your system has glass-break detectors, call ADT to verify that they have been adjusted properly so that loud noises such as thunder or nearby construction will no set off the alarm.
7. Check that all doors and windows are locked and cannot be inadvertently opened by a strong breeze.
8. Motion detectors should be aimed away from air vents, sources of heat, fireplaces and windows.
9. Regularly check alarm ordinances, if any, that govern the operation of the system and ensure that all permits, fees and other required components are in compliance to prevent any pitfalls with local authorities.
10. Periodically test your alarm system with the ADT monitoring station as recommended in your owner’s manual to ensure that signals are being properly received.
11. Always advise ADT before any interior remodeling (including air vent repair, extensive painting, window replacement and any changes to the location of doors, walls, or windows) that may affect the alarm system configuration.

Following these tips and keeping your security system updated will help prevent you from having false alarms. In turn it will keep you and your family safe. To order your Home Security System visits
us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979. Do you have a Home Security System? If so do you updated it regularly?