Here’s What to Do When Your Home Alarm Goes Off for No Reason

April 2, 2021

One of the most critical functions of a home alarm system is to sound an alarm when a security breach occurs. While they work most of the time, there are times when the alarm goes off for no apparent reason. When this happens, you’ll want to get to the bottom of the issue as quickly as possible. Otherwise, you risk getting a security device that isn’t up to scratch and won’t secure you in a crisis.

Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your home alarm is only enabled when it is absolutely necessary.

Make sure there are no dead batteries

Dead batteries leave a security gap in your house, which is why you should check on them on a regular basis. Some systems can warn you of a dead battery by sounding an alarm, while other devices may emit a small beep to indicate low battery. In any case, you can check the battery charge at least once a month to prevent setting off excessive alarms.

Keep an eye on your kids and pets

One of your home alarm’s features could have been tripped by your toddler or your pet. Although this is a slight annoyance, it does give you the ability to move the sensors around. Make sure the systems are high enough off the ground to prevent detecting movement from your children or pets.

You may also mount barriers to keep them from crossing the sensors and setting off the alarm. If you have small children, be sure to teach them about home safety and to advise them not to mess with the sensors.

Here's What to Do When Your Home Alarm Goes Off for No Reason

Use pet-friendly motion detectors

When it comes to pets, there are motion detectors designed to ignore any activity from pets weighing less than 20 kg. This significantly decreases the risk of a false alarm, which is particularly important if you have several pets. It’s a good idea to seek advice from security professionals on which form of pet-friendly motion sensor to use and have them install it for you.

Keep an eye out for signs of wear and tear

If the components are old and worn out, even a professionally designed alarm system will cause false alarms. This occurs when you move into a house that already has an alarm system installed. Look for signs of wear and tear, such as frayed wirings, unnecessary cracks, leaking batteries, and malfunctioning systems, to decide whether or not you can keep the machine.

If the components are not in good working order, you can still use the alarm system and get it reactivated by the security company. If not, it’s much easier to replace it with a new home alarm.

Check to see if the program is up to date

Home security systems rely on both hardware and software to provide security 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If your program is out of date, you can encounter bugs that cause the alarm to go off at random. A simple software update should be sufficient to resolve the problem.

While you’re at it, check over the hardware components and see how they’re holding up. Check to see if the door and window sensors ( vivint alarm for example ) are still working. If you’ve already updated the program and are still having problems with your alarm system, you can contact your security company and have a technician check it.

Also Read: Home Security System: What are the Benefits?

Problems with installation

If you’re using a DIY alarm device, double-check that you’ve followed the directions on how to set it up correctly. An incorrect wiring cable or an ill-placed sensor may trigger false alarms. You should review the instruction manual to see if there are any steps in the installation phase that you skipped.

One of the most common causes of a faulty home alarm is user error. To prevent this, it’s best to hire a professional to mount your home security system.

Sensors should be repositioned

If you’ve made drastic improvements to your home or landscaping, this may lead to false alarms. If an infrared sensor is mounted near a furnace, for example, it can malfunction and cause the alarm to go off. Security cameras that track the movement of leaves, roots, or other moving objects are in the same boat.

If this is the case, repositioning the device to prevent unwanted warning triggers is a smart idea.

Contact a professional for assistance

Dealing with security systems can be very difficult. If you’re having trouble troubleshooting your home alarm, you may want to seek professional support.

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