One of the best steps to take in order to protect your family, home, and possessions is with the installation of burglar alarms. There is a greater likelihood that a burglar will avoid your home if they know there are alarms present. However, something you need to consider is that numerous false burglar alarms will work against you. Here are some tips to prevent triggering them.
Anyone with a key to the home should know how the system works – typically, most false burglar alarms are triggered when the system is being turned on and off repeatedly. It is important to know that the system ready prior to activating it. Make sure you verify with everyone who operates the system that they fully understand these and other key issues.
Preventative maintenance is a must – in addition to your regular monthly system checks, you should have professional maintenance done on your burglar alarms every 24 months at most according to the SIAC (Security Industry Alarm Coalition). They also recommend that batteries for the system be replaced every 3 years, even if they still appear to be operating properly.
Eliminate moving objects that could set the system off – and if you have pets, you’ll need a system that enables you to reduce the sensitivity of the sensors based on the weight of the animal. Objects that can falsely trigger burglar alarms include balloons or curtains that have been mounted in areas that are continually drafty.
Consider employing Enhanced Call Verification procedures – this type of feature enables the alarm monitoring company to call you at home and verify that it is a true emergency. If they are unable to contact you, they will notify your local police department immediately.
If you are changing anything in the home your burglar alarms company should be notified – for instance, if you are planning a remodeling project that will affect the system’s operation, you should inform the company that is monitoring it. Additionally, if you are planning on switching to internet phone service they should be notified of this as well as if you are suspicious of improper operation of the system.
Never use your panic button instead of dialing 911 – the only time you should use the panic button is if you cannot access your telephone during an emergency situation. Remember that using that panic button excessively could constitute a false alarm and cost you money in fines.
Photo via ell brown
