Your security alarm can only protect you if it's working, so it's important to check that it's in working order on a regular basis. However, not all security system faults can be seen. For the best protection, you need to keep an ear out for problems too. Here are 3 audible problems you might hear (or not hear) if your alarm needs repairing.
Constant False Alarms
Have you recently been roused by the sound of your security alarm ringing, only to check your property and find that no one's trying to break in? One or two false alarms may not be anything to worry about, but if your alarm is triggering repeatedly by innocuous household movements like footsteps and debris in the wind, it could have an internal fault that's messing with the sensitivity.
A commercial electrician with security systems experience will be able to find the issue and fix it, relieving you of the unnecessary noise. It's also important to note that false alarms can also be a sign of an experienced burglar attempting to hack into your security system to disable it. So, even if the false alarms don't bother you, you should always get them seen to by a professional.
Incessant or Repeated Beeping
With so many electricals in the modern home, it can be hard to identify the source of random noises like ticking and beeping. If you keep hearing beeping sounds that don't seem to be coming from computers or kitchen appliances, don't write them off—they could be coming from your security alarm. Some alarms have a built-in alert feature that beeps to let you know the device needs servicing. Others might have a problem with the audio wiring that causes the alarm to emit noise when it shouldn't. Next time you hear beeps, head over to your alarm to see if that's where they're coming from. If it is, it's time to get the alarm serviced.
Failure to Activate in an Emergency
While hearing noises from your alarm system can be bad, what's worse is not hearing anything. If your alarm system doesn't trigger when someone's trying to access your property, it's effectively useless. That's why it's a good idea to test your system every now and then by attempting to activate the alarm. If your alarm is linked to a monitoring centre, remember to call them first and ask them to put your device in 'test' mode so you don't end up with the police at your door. Then, perform an action that should set your alarm off—like walking through your front door. If you don't hear anything when you should, you know your alarm needs an immediate repair. It's also a good idea to check with your monitoring centre afterwards to find out if they received the signal and to turn off the testing mode.
