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August 05, 2026

Tips For Troubleshooting Your Home Alarm System In Bloomington

False alarms and system hiccups can be aggravating, and more importantly, might prevent your home security system from working how it should. Thankfully, most issues, from dead batteries to false alarms, are easy to correct. Explore our suggestions for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Bloomington. We’ll help you keep your family safeguarded and your system operating properly.

Test Your Home Security System In Bloomington

One of the most sensible ways to troubleshoot your property’s security is to test it! Newer systems allow you to put them in test mode to keep you from prompting an emergency call. After switching to test mode, follow these steps:

  • Arm your system as you would when you head out.
  • Open a door or window protected by a contact sensor, or test other sensors. Close the window or door once you’re finished so it doesn’t trigger the alarm when you switch out of test mode.
  • Permit the alarm to go off for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security company and to create an entry in the alarm activity log.
  • Continue testing sensors as needed
  • Inspect the alarm’s activity log to confirm that everything’s working.

Don’t worry, monitoring professionals will be able to see that your system is being tested. Just be sure to switch out of test mode when done. It’s a good idea to test every other month or anytime you change your home’s phone or internet provider.

Check The Placement And Condition Of Motion Sensors

Although an integral aspect of your alarm system, motion detectors are prone to false alarms. Prevent them with some simple troubleshooting.

  • Do a visual inspection. Is there anything that could move within the sensor’s detection zone, like a curtain caught in a breeze?
  • Is the sensor dirty? Grime, dirt, and cobwebs can cause issues. Make sure the device is clean.
  • Does the motion detector have pet immunity you can turn on? Some can be set to disregard pets weighing up to 100 pounds.
  • When was the battery last replaced? A low battery might impact performance or cause false alarms.
  • Is a heat source affecting the sensor? Too much heat from a fireplace, direct sun, or something else can cause an alarm.

Keep Batteries Ready And Look Out For Low Battery Signals

One of the great things about modern home security systems is that they’ll tell you when batteries are dying. If your system has a app or control panel, you’ll usually discover alerts there. Depending on the alarm, you may detect an occasional beep when batteries are running out. 

Contact sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and other wireless devices have batteries that should be replaced every year or two. It’s a good idea to keep batteries ready and establish a replacement schedule. Some systems also come with a backup battery for the primary control panel. This backup battery keeps your system operating if you lose power and should recharge itself once power is back online. If it doesn’t recharge, you will need to replace it.

Troubleshooting Is Effortless With ADT Home Security In Bloomington 

As the foremost name in home security, ADT builds systems that supply unsurpassed functionality and convenience. Getting into test mode is simple through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always receive notifications when a battery is running low. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to learn more and design a system ideal for your Bloomington home and family. Call (309) 316-6083 or complete our form today!

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