To keep the lights on, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. Our review process.
A false alarm occurs when your security system alarm goes off without a proper reason. These alarms can also happen with security cameras and motion sensors that send alerts through an app or email. Anytime you receive a warning and there’s no valid reason for it, it’s a false alarm.
Unfortunately, if you can’t stop a false alarm, your security system may send emergency responders to your home. That situation can be a waste of time for the responders and costly and embarrassing for you.
5 Things That Can Cause A False Alarm
Here’s a list of five common causes of false alarms:
- Sensitive motion sensors
- Doors and windows not being secure
- Low batteries
- Faulty equipment
- User error (i.e. not installing the sensor correctly; for example if a motion sensor that was supposed to stick to the wall with a peel-and-stick adhesive comes crashing to the ground)
Five Ways To Prevent A False Alarm
There are several things you can do to prevent false alarms:
1. Motion sensors: Make sure your motion sensors aren’t too sensitive for your environment. For instance, if you have pets, you’ll want sensors that won’t trigger every time your pet walks by. See the best security systems for pet owners to learn more.
2. Doors and windows: Locking and securing doors and windows ensures the sensors on these areas don’t trigger accidentally. Always double check before setting your alarm.
3. Batteries: Most security companies sensors’ have “low battery” alerts, so they shouldn’t cause a false alarm, but like with most things in life, these don’t always work as intended. If you can’t rule out the cause of your false alarm, try changing the batteries in your sensors.
4. Maintain your equipment: Check on your home security equipment regularly so you don’t end up with faulty equipment setting off a false alarm.
5. Know your code: Practice deactivating the alarm and make sure everyone who needs one has a code and knows how to use it. In case the monitoring station is alerted and calls, all emergency contacts should also know your home security account’s safe word (the word required by the monitoring station to act on your behalf in regards to an alert notification).
False Alarm Fees
Lots of cities and towns may charge fees for false alarms. These fees can range from $25 to several hundred dollars, depending on where you live. Most places won’t charge you for your first offense, or they’ll even give you two to three false alarms a year before charging you. Check for false alarm ordinances in your area to learn the local specifics.
How Should I Handle A False Alarm?
Depending on the system you have, there are different ways to stop a false alarm. Our experts provide details below by security company. Keep in mind that if you’re on a professionally monitored system and do not respond quickly to deescalate an alert, the authorities will be contacted to respond.
Vivint
When an alarm goes off, Vivint will try to reach you through the touch screen panel first and then attempt to call you at your emergency contact number before dispatching the authorities. You’ll need to verify your verbal password with the monitoring specialist to confirm a false alarm.
SimpliSafe
With SimpliSafe, you have 30 seconds to use your code to turn off a false alarm before they contact you. After that time, they call your primary contact. You’ll need to give your safeword to confirm that it’s a false alarm.
What If I Discover It’s Not A False Alarm After All?
Your “safe word” is what the monitoring station uses to dispatch authorities. If you find out there is in fact an intruder, or worse, you are under duress, you can simply give the wrong safe word and the monitoring station should dispatch the authorities and act like everything’s normal (in case you’re on speaker phone, for example). If you want to make sure this is the case, we recommend contacting your home alarm provider.
Ring
If your Ring Alarm triggers, the monitoring center will call your primary emergency contact, followed by your secondary emergency contact, if necessary. You’ll need to provide them with your verbal password to deactivate the false alarm.
One of the more common problems with a Ring Alarm is motion sensor false alarms. They offer lots of troubleshooting advice on their website and give you a seven-day practice mode when you get your alarm to learn the ins and outs, practice using the system, and tweak your sensors.
Learn more about central monitoring stations, who’s behind them, and how they work.
Kidde
Kidde makes fire safety products, including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Most of their products have The Hush feature that allows the user to deactivate the alarm for eight minutes. You can use that time to clear the smoke. If, after eight minutes, the smoke is still there, the alarm will sound again. You can use this feature as many times as you need until you can clear the air.
Blink
Blink is an Amazon company that makes a variety of indoor and outdoor cameras. If you’re having trouble with false alerts, they have a few options. In addition to troubleshooting information on their website, they also have an online community where you can post your questions and concerns about your specific cameras. Other users will help guide you to a solution.
ADT
ADT has a 30-second delay built into their response system. You can increase this time to 45 seconds, or you can remove it. If you know you’ve triggered a false alarm, ADT asks that you call the central station to prevent an unnecessary response. If you don’t, they’ll still attempt to reach you to get your password before they dispatch help.
Can My Security Provider Reach Me?
With all home security systems, you should make sure all contact information is accurate and up to date so the company can reach you when they need to confirm if an alarm is valid.
Reducing False Alarms To Give Police A Break
This two-minute video from CBS46 in Atlanta talks about how the police department in Sandy Springs, Georgia, reduced false alarm responses and how some residents have mixed emotions about this change.
Secure Your Home With Or Without An Alarm
False alarms can make you doubt your home security system and can be annoying. Luckily, there’s more than one way to secure your home. Check out our article on how to secure your home without an alarm to make sure your family always feels secure even if your alarm is giving you false alerts.
Tagged With:
