According to statistics, a burglary occurs every 18 seconds in the United States. This equates to approximately 4,800 burglaries each day. The rising number of burglaries or home break-ins make it essential to protect your home with a security system. While people are now getting them installed, more than ever, they tend to forget about them after installation. After all, these systems are extremely self-sufficient and conduct all of their primary activities on their own, so it is easy to overlook them. However, in reality, installing them is not enough. As much as the installation, the security system maintenance is equally important to let them perform their primary function of keeping your home safe.
When we talk about the maintenance of security systems, it usually involves inspecting system elements, replacing the old worn-out batteries, ensuring communication among the components, checking the wiring, and fixing the loose ends. This inspection and monitoring aim to keep the system functioning at its best and avoid unpleasant and costly system malfunctions. Since system maintenance is crucial and most people are unaware of it, we have some tips to help you. Implementing these tips will help you keep track of your device's performance and make your home a safer place.
Benefits Of Performing Security System Maintenance
Monitoring your home security system might seem like extra work to you, but a couple of reasons make it really worth it. The benefits associated with proper security system maintenance includes:
1. Maximize Security
Keeping a check on your system and ensuring that it works maximizes security. It offers a level of satisfaction and also makes sure that there’s no loose wiring or else that can deter the system from functioning correctly.
2. Increases Lifespan Of The System
Security systems are highly expensive, and hence, they are required to work properly for years. However, like any other electronic device, the security systems are also subject to wear and tear. To increase its lifespan and not let it wear out before time, you must ensure that it stays in good condition.
3. Reduced Risk Of Breakdown
Security systems are meant to be in working condition all the time to ensure the safety and security of everyone. However, what if the system failed to activate in case of an emergency? This might end up in a huge loss. To reduce this risk, you must monitor your system regularly.
4. Peace Of Mind
Knowing your system and ensuring it is operational offers the ultimate reassurance that you are protected. Maintaining your system and knowing that it complies with all legal and insurance requirements will give you confidence and peace of mind.
5. Saves Money
Purchasing and installing the security system costs a lot of money. Hence, keeping it in good condition can make it last longer and eventually help you save money or get it replaced. Security system maintenance also saves money by not letting you call for professional help to get your system fixed in an emergency.
How To Perform Security System Maintenance?
While these systems are designed to provide protection and keep your home safe, they can’t perform all the work for you. Your own diligence is also essential to keep the system operational and ensure it is working correctly. You need to conduct security system maintenance every now and then and include a few simple steps that won’t take long to perform.
Here is a rundown of the steps you need to take and their timeline.
Checklist: Weekly Maintenance Of Security System
Since you are checking up on your system weekly, you don’t need to do a lot to keep it running. Here are the weekly perimeter checks that you need to perform.
1. Check Equipment Batteries: While you must replace the batteries twice a year, performing it weekly will ensure better security. Some devices eat up a lot of energy, and hence, their batteries get discharged and cause them to malfunction. To avoid that, add a new set of batteries or charge your device.
2. Clean Of Dust And Debris: This might seem like extra work to you, but trust us, it will ensure a long life for your security system. These system devices usually have several openings and holes where the dust and debris get accumulated. This dust should be cleaned to allow a smooth airflow and prevent it from clogging.
3. Examine The Adhesive: Security system devices like sensors and alarms are usually placed in the position with the help of adhesive. The devices need re-fastening occasionally to stay in place. This requires you to examine the adhesive and ensure that it is strong enough to withstand the security system.
4. Inspect All Locks: Every week, you need to walk around your home and inspect all the door and window locks. This ensures that there is no warping, rotting, or other issues that might reduce their effectiveness. Even if you find a weakness, you need to address it immediately and get it fixed.
Security System Maintenance Checklist - Every Month
Your work doesn’t end by keeping a check on your system weekly. You also need to look after your system and perform some specific tasks once a month. Here’s the checklist:
1. Update The System And Apps: Security system devices and app updates are important to prevent glitches and vulnerabilities that might allow hackers to exploit. This is why you should look for updates on all the devices every month and install them, if available. This will eliminate the bugs and lower the risk of malfunction.
2. Clean Up Storage: This is another vital task to perform as a part of security system maintenance. Every system has local storage where all the footage gets stored. So, it is crucial to take out some time every month and clear it so you can make room for new videos or footage.
3. Inspect Fire Extinguishers: Fire extinguishers are an important tool for keeping your home protected from a fire outbreak. So, every month you must inspect them and ensure that you have fire extinguishers on every floor and are in working condition. If their pressure gauge reads low, you need to get them serviced.
4. Check All The Exterior Lighting: As part of the home security system, exterior lights are installed to deter intruders, ensure a safe entry to the home, and offer a better light to the camera for recording clear footage. So, you need to make sure the bulbs are functioning properly. And if required, readjust them to maximize effectiveness.
Checklist For Every Six Months
There are some security checks that you must perform every six months for adequate protection. Here are such security system maintenance tasks:
1. Conduct Perimeter Check: Every six months, you need to inspect your home security system from all four corners. You need to check the frames, window sensors, door entrance, backyard lighting, installed cameras, etc. The perimeter check basically examines the entire system, from outdoor covers to screws and adhesive.
2. Test Out The Control Panel: Control panel is the most integral component of the security system and is referred to as the “Brain.” Since it is responsible for controlling all the components, you need to be proactive by testing them twice a year. Modern-day systems come with self-diagnostic tests that you can perform for checking the status.
Checklist For Annual Maintenance Of System
Maintenance of security systems includes some complex and demanding tasks but is worth performing. You don't need to invest a lot of time in such activities, and hence, they can be performed on a yearly basis. Check out these activities and tick them off.
1. Request For Annual Inspection: When it comes to annual security system maintenance, the first step you need to perform is to request a yearly inspection. This will connect you to an expert technician who will look after your security system and ensure it runs optimally. They also make sure that you enjoy the most out of your system.
2. Check The Warranty Or Contract: This is another test you need to perform once a year. Every security system comes with a warranty or contract that you must check every year to get the benefits. If it is about to expire, you must look after all the devices so that you can use the free repair or replacement benefit.
3. Perform A Vulnerability Audit: A vulnerability audit is to look around your home and check if there’s any missing device or anything you need to buy. Also, check if the trees or bushes are blocking the security cameras and interfering with their security. If yes, then trim them immediately. Also, change the adhesive, tighten the loose screws, upgrade the devices, etc.
Final Words: Keeping Your System In Top Condition
At Home Of Expertise, we have curated several articles about home security systems. Right from the best options available to the benefits of installing security systems to how to pick the best system, we have covered multiple aspects. Now, it's time to talk about another important aspect of such systems– their maintenance. The maintenance of the system is as critical as the first installation of the devices. The faulty systems expose the home and make it vulnerable to porch pirates, robberies, burglaries, break-ins, and other threats. This is why the aforementioned steps on how to perform security system maintenance will come in great help. So, keep this article handy and consider it from time to time for your security system maintenance.
