Maintaining Your Security System: A Guide for Home and Business Owners

Whether it's your home or business, we're always looking for ways to stay safe. With a security system in place, you help to prevent and mitigate the effect of someone trying to break into your property or access sensitive information. With time, you will need to maintain your system to help prevent weaknesses for people to try and exploit. In this article, we will be looking at ways to maintain your security system, whether it's your home or your business.

Battery Replacement

Every couple of years, batteries in your sensors, keypads, and control panels will eventually reach their end of life and will need replacing. Having a regular schedule in place of when you are going to replace your batteries will greatly reduce the risk of your security systems failing, but it will also keep them at a similar life span, so you are not always having to replace your system at separate times.

We recommend using high-quality batteries for your systems, as they will come with checks in place so that they will hold their lifespan, and most come with heat protection to avoid overheating. For security systems that will have 24/7 use, this is an important feature to have.

It is important to note that sometimes the battery life of parts of your security system may fail sooner than expected. You will usually be able to identify this as they may make a sound frequently or their lighting may begin to dim when low on battery life. Being aware of the signs your system is reaching the end of its life will help prevent areas of your system from failing, which people can take advantage of.

Testing Alarms

With your security system, we recommend testing your appliances monthly to make sure that they are working as intended. The appliances may include sirens, sensors, and communication with a monitoring station if they are applicable to your system. It is important to note that if you are signed up with a monitoring station, you make them aware that you are conducting full system tests. This will avoid any unnecessary false alarms.

We advise you to use the proper testing procedures as stated in the systems manual, which will usually provide you with a walk-through test mode. This is to avoid damaging the system or leaving you vulnerable to an attack.

Cleaning and inspection

For systems that involve sensors and detectors, it is important to keep them free of obstruction for proper functionality. The main causes of these obstructions are cobwebs and dust. Similar to testing alarms, the product manual will usually have specific cleaning instructions to clean your security system without damaging the product itself. Something as simple as wiping the sensor with a damp cloth will usually be enough.

Systems that are outdoors will require more frequent checks due to visible damage from the weather or wear and tear.

System Updates

In modern security systems, your devices can have over-the-air (OTA) updates. OTA allows your system to receive firmware updates that will address bugs and improve functionality through a wireless connection. The functionality updates will make your system run smoother and help prevent issues from taking place.

When it comes to updating the software, we recommend you follow the manufacturer's instructions. To update your system, it will usually be through a dedicated app for your device or through a specific control panel. If you are ever unsure or not confident in updating the system yourself, we strongly advise you to consult with the security system provider or with an installation professional.

Door and Window Check

One of the easiest and most basic ways for someone to gain access to your property is by simply walking in. By having secure entry points, you avoid the risk and hassle of people accessing your building and having to escort them out or having to contact local authorities.

We suggest you regularly check your doors and windows for any damage and make sure they are properly closed and locked. This is incredibly important for properties that don’t have access control systems that provide an extra layer of defence.

Additional Tips

Maintain Access Control Lists

For more in-depth systems that have personal codes or key fobs, it is important to keep an up-to-date list of everyone who has access to your building. When someone has left, you will need to make sure that the codes and fobs related to them need to be removed so they no longer have access.

Review Monitoring Contracts

For businesses that have monitored systems, make sure that your contract meets the current security standards, as it may affect your insurance if you were to be affected by theft.

Schedule Professional Maintenance

For businesses with a very complex system that has extensive wiring, we strongly recommend you consider professional maintenance by a qualified electrician every 1–2 years. This is to avoid any unnecessary risks and keep your security system running at its maximum capability.

By following these maintenance tips, it provides extra security for homeowners and business owners and gives them peace of mind that their security system will function properly. We can't express enough the importance of checking your system manuals for maintenance instructions so that you don’t damage your system by using the wrong methods.