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Tips + Tricks
How can I reduce false alarms?
What is a false alarm?
A false alarm is an alarm that triggers an emergency response when no emergency has occurred.
Why are false alarms a problem?
- False alarms reduce the effectiveness of security systems. If alarms are seen as unreliable indicators of threats, they may potentially be ignored.
- False alarms exhaust the resources of police, fire and emergency personnel and keep them from responding to actual emergencies.
- False alarms increase costs for taxpayers, security service providers and users, requiring additional personnel to respond to alarms.
- False alarms can carry fines. In many cities and towns, the owners of systems that trigger false alarms can be fined for each occurrence.
- False alarms can lead to denial of service. In some cities and towns, police, fire and emergency personnel are instructed to ignore the alarms of users whose systems have set off false alarms in the past.
How can you help stop false alarms?
- Train the necessary people in the use of your home's alarm system and schedule annual review sessions.
- Review your alarm system operating manual. Take time to educate everyone with access to your home on proper system operation.
- Be familiar with Titan Alarm's procedures should we receive an alarm signal from your home, including how to cancel an accidental alarm. In some instances, we have begun verifying alarms and will attempt to contact you before summoning the appropriate authorities.
- 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. Most alarm systems visually indicate a problem with the battery.
- Regularly check alarm contact switches/magnets on doors and windows for damage or looseness. Call Titan Alarm if service adjustments are needed.
Avoiding False Alarms:
A false alarm is an alarm that triggers an emergency response when no emergency has occurred.
Test Your Alarm Weekly:
Perform a sensor test -- Pg 38 of the Simon XT manual
Perform a communication test -- Pg 39 of the Simon XT manual
