If you are a home owner and you have burglar alarm system at your home then it is very important to know how to troubleshoot burglar alarm.
When you have a faulty burglar alarm, it doesn’t do its job properly. This means that the sensors don’t work properly and give a false signal. Or else, the sensors are working properly but the control panel is not receiving or sending out an alert signal to the person-in-charge.
In any case, the person-in-charge won’t know about the problem and take action to fix it. Hence, the chances of a break-in are increased. Therefore, it is life-saving to know troubleshooting alarm system.
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Burglar Alarm Faults and How to Troubleshoot Burglar Alarm System
According to statista, In 2021/22 there were 266,283 burglaries in England and Wales and to keep lower crime rates, it is necessary for every homeowner to be vigilant and have burglar alarms installed.
But what if the alarm system is not function as it should be? It is important to know how to troubleshoot burglar alarms.
Below we will list out some of the common burglar alarm faults and how to fix a faulty alarm.
Whereas, if you are a home owner with an alarm system then you must know all these things.
So, let us begin.
1. Malfunctioning Siren
When the siren on your burglar alarm sounds, it should sound for a long time. But, it may be sounding for a very short period or just a beep. This means that there is a problem with your siren. The most common problem is that your siren has become damaged or worn out. Another possibility is that your siren is not connected to the control panel.
Troubleshooting:
First, you can check if the siren is working or not. If the siren is not working at all or is working for a very short period then check if the battery is dead or not. Replace the battery if it is found to be dead.
If the siren is working but it is sounding only for a beep then check if the wires are properly connected to the siren. If they are then replace the siren.
2. Control Panel Failure
The control panel is the brain of your alarm system. It is the place where all the calculations and decisions are made to determine whether there is an unauthorized entry or not.
If the control panel fails to function properly then it will not be able to send out an alert signal. This means that your burglar alarm system will be useless. Therefore, it is very important to know how to troubleshoot and repair your alarm control panel.
Troubleshooting:
If the control panel is giving incorrect readings then there is a problem with your wiring. If the control panel is not getting any reading from the sensors then it is possible that the sensors are damaged or faulty.
In that case, you will have to replace them. If the control panel is getting the correct readings from the sensors then there is a problem with your wiring. In that case, you should replace the wires.
Sometimes a single faulty zone in control panel can develop faults in your entire alarm system which means that, you’d have to fix it or replace the whole control panel.
3. Faulty Sensors
A faulty sensor may cause many problems to your burglar alarm system like false alarms, missed alarms etc. The sensors are usually the most costly part of an alarm system as they cost more than the control panel.
The sensors are the eyes of your security alarm system. They are the devices which detect intruders and send out an alert signal to the control panel. If your sensors don’t work properly then the control panel will not be able to receive the alert signal from them. This means that you will not be able to know about the unauthorized entry.
Troubleshooting:
If your sensors are giving false readings then there is a problem with your wiring. If your sensors are giving correct readings then there is a problem with your sensors. In that case, you will have to replace them.
4. Battery Failure
Your battery is the life of your burglar alarm system. It is the device which keeps your sensors and the alarm panel alive. If your system battery fails to function then your sensors and the control panel will die very soon. This will result in an increased chance of burglary.
Troubleshooting:
First step is to check the voltage at the battery terminals. It should be between 12 volts and
2.4 volts. If it is lower than 12 volts then there is a problem with your battery. If it is higher than 3.4 volts then there is a problem with your wiring. In that case, you should replace it with a new battery.
If the voltage reading is correct but the amperage is low then there is a problem with your wiring. In that case, you should replace the wire. If the voltage and amperage are correct then there is a problem with your battery. In that case, you should change the battery.
Also Read: Smoke Alarm Beeping and How To Fix it
5. Faulty Wiring
Your wiring can become faulty due to a number of reasons. The most common reason is age. Over time, electrical wiring can become loose or damaged due to moisture or other environmental factors. This can cause short circuits and otherwise create problems.
Troubleshooting:
Check all the wiring connections for signs of damage. Also check all the wires for any corrosion. If any of them show signs of damage or corrosion then replace them.
6. Alarm keypad not responding
The alarm keypad is the user interface of your burglar alarm system. It is the place where you enter the code to arm or disarm your burglar alarm system. If the keypad is not responding to your inputs then you will not be able to arm or disarm your burglar alarm system.
Troubleshooting:
The first thing that you should do is to check if the alarm keypad is receiving power. If it is not receiving power then there is a problem with the wiring. In that case, you should replace the wiring. If the alarm keypad is receiving power but is not responding then there is a problem with the alarm keypad itself. In that case, you should replace it.
Additional Problem: House alarm keeps going off and cannot be reset
This is the most common problem that you will come across when dealing with a house burglar alarm system. It usually happens when there is a power failure. This can be due to a number of different things.
Power outages are very common. They can be caused by a number of things. One of the most common causes is a storm. Other common causes are lightning strikes and even power surges. When a power outage occurs then your burglar alarm system will automatically activate.
This is usually a good thing. However, it can be a bit annoying. It is annoying because you will be unable to disarm your burglar alarm system.
Troubleshooting:
The first thing that you should do is to check if your battery is fully charged. If it is not then your burglar alarm system will not be able to detect the power outage and thus, will not be able to arm itself.
If your battery is fully charged then the next thing that you should do is to check the wiring. If the battery is fully charged and the keypad still does not respond then there is a problem with the keypad itself. In that case, you should replace it.
Also Read: Can Alarm Systems Be Hacked?
Final Words on Troubleshooting Alarm System
There we have it. Six common problems that can cause your burglar alarm system to not work properly. Hopefully, this brief explanation of these common problems will enable you to quickly identify and fix them.
And if you are unable to figure out anything, it is strongly recommended that hire a technician or inform your alarm provider so that they can send someone to fix your burglar alarm system.
If you have any questions about any of these topics then please do not hesitate to ask.
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