If you have changed your phone service your security system needs to be tested. Many times with a phone service change your security system may not have been hooked back up properly.
How do I go about testing my home security alarm system and how often should it be done ?
The manufacture says "weekly" but "Monthly" is great, but no longer than 6 month between testing. A Total Protection technician can do a full system check for a $35 trip charge or you can test it yourself by following the steps below.
Always have the central station place your account on "test"or no response while you are testing. This can be done by calling the toll free number printed on your Keypad, if you don't have a sticker call the local office 583-7233.
Arm your system and trigger a signal by opening a door or window. You will need to let your alarm ring for about a minute, when your alarm is transmitting its signal, your house's phones may not have a dial tone. Then call the central station back to verify that the signal that you sent was received.
If the communications part passed the test, now you can move onto the next part. The security system has a chime mode setting by opening and closing each contact point you can verify each door and window is being recognized by the system.
Smoke, CO and heat detectors should NOT be tested by using a match, burning paper, or other means, as that may cause damage to the units or necessitate a cleaning or maintenance. Caution should be used when doing such. Most of our smoke detectors have a test button that can be pressed some of the buttons and are recessed. If you don't feel comfortable testing your smokes and would still like them tested please call for a service technician.
Panic buttons can be tested by pressing them (please make sure you are in test first). How your system reacts to them is dependent on programming and if such features were enabled.
Once you are satisfied everything is working the way it should be, clear and reset the system to its everyday "normal" disarmed state. Call your central station and verify the proper transmission of a signal and return the system to service.
Keep in mind, by doing such an "audit" of your system, in conjunction to paying attention to maintenance details, your likelihood of a false or malfunction does go down without you knowing about it. By no means is this a substitute for servicing or maintaining your system.
Total Protection still recommends that you have your system checked by one of our service technicians each year. Call to find out how you can get additional discounts on system checks (normally $35).
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