Make sure all family members, house guests and relatives who have keys to the house know how to use the security system.

1.  These people need to know which doors are entry/exit doors, where the keypad is, the arm/disarm code, about any reset buttons, and the special procedures for the fire alarm.

2. Make certain they know the pass code/word to give to the monitoring station operator. In addition, leave the monitoring station phone number to assist in preventing unnecessary dispatches.

Do not assume that we did not get your signal if you do not hear from us.

Your alarm has probably been dispatched on because we could not get in touch with the premises for one reason or another. Remember, if you don't hear from us, please call in with your pass code/word. We can cancel the police department if necessary.

Update your notification list regularly.
In the course of everyday life, people move, change jobs, and get new neighbors. Your notification list should reflect these changes. Please include your own beeper or cellular phone numbers if applicable.

1. Pets.

2. Drafts and other air currents - Keep ceiling fans off when motion detectors are on.

3. Party or Holiday decorations

4. Reflected images in mirrors - Mirrors may shift or allow the detector to see movement in another area.

5. Blinking lights - Passive infrared motion detectors (PIRs) detect change in heat as motion.

6. PIRs can be blinded by high temperatures. Keep the area protected below 85 degrees.

7. Bugs inside or crawling on the face of the detector - Although we seal the detectors at the time of installation, care should be taken when cleaning near the detector so that it's not jarred.

Make sure your window devices also have stable environments.

1. Keep shrubbery and other objects away from windows that are protected by shock sensors or audio detectors. Wind blowing these objects against the windows can cause false alarms.

2. Keep windows secure but not nailed shut. Loose glass panes or rattling window frames can cause false alarms, but a window contact is useless if the window cannot be opened.

Replace batteries regularly.

The main system's battery not only provides power for the alarm when the electricity is out, but also acts as a filter to protect the circuit board. Weak batteries can cause equipment to function at less than optimum performance not only during power outages but also when the power is not properly filtered. Additionally, a weak battery can cause false alarms.

Reset smoke detectors, glass break sensors and hold-up buttons.
These items draw more power when in the alarm mode and the zones to which these devices are attached cannot alarm again until the device is reset.

Phone service changes.
Adding or removing call-waiting and other phone changes can cause problems with alarm communication to the monitoring station. If phones are added, make sure the alarm system still has priority line seizure.