False Alarm Prevention Tips
Maintenance Tips
Periodic Maintenance
Test your burglary system weekly.  Follow NFPA 72 for fire testing. Inspect your equipment and battery monthly and replace the battery every 3-5 years. Request annual maintenance as part of your monthly service to spread out the fee.
Fix Inoperable Parts
Contact Guard Tronic immediately when your system is not working properly.  Consider your alarm’s sensitivity setting for vibration, door contacts and motion detectors. Simple construction, street vibrations and strong winds may rattle structures and cause alarms.
Placing System On Test
Your alarm system should be put on “test” during certain situations like construction and renovations. When the work is complete the system should be inspected before using it again. Contact Guard Tronic when any changes are being made to your premises or if you wish to put your system on test for any other reason.
Contact us when:
Special Instructions
Ensure that we are made aware of any special instructions that police / fire / EMS need to know so we can forward that information when dispatching.  Examples include: gate codes, large dogs, directions, and information about responding parties.
Updating/Upgrading your system
Electronics don’t last forever.  Upgrading your system will help reduce false alarm charges for you and help reduce taxing public safety resources. Adding false alarm reduction features like enabling SIA CP-01 programming options and video verification will help reduce false dispatches.
Guard Service
False dispatches (nuisance alarms) are extremely taxing to public safety resources. If your system generates too many, dispatching a guard service may be a better option.  Larger towns and cities usually have at least one company to offer this service, and many times it is more economical than paying false alarm fines to the local municipalities.
ECV
Enhanced Call Verification should be used by all alarm users except the most secure (banks, jewelry stores, etc.).  Our central station will call at least two key holders before dispatching public safety. This helps ensure that there is truly a need for public safety and gives the responsible party one more chance to stop a false dispatch.
Equipment Tips
Motion Detectors
Ensure nothing will activate motion sensors, especially when heating/cooling systems are activated. Seasonal decorations, hanging signs and helium balloons are often the cause of false alarms.
Before You Exit
Close and lock all windows and doors before activating the alarm system. Loose and rattling windows and doors will set off alarms.
Delay Period
Use the door closest to the keypad and set the delay to allow for enough time to enter / exit.
Keypad
Ensure the touchpad / keypad is in an accessible location. Train ALL users (every person with a key) on proper use, including how to use the panic and/or duress.
Panic Buttons
Keep key fobs and hold up / panic buttons away from children. Train frequently on proper use. Know how to deactivate if pressed in error.
Pets
Pets should be kept in an area where they will not activate motion sensors when the system is armed. Consult with the technician on-site if there are pets in the home or business.
More Information
Ensure all users are education and trained on proper operation of the system:
This includes keypads, the battery, knowing passcodes, being notified of password changes immediately, knowing the location and proper use of the panic buttons, duress alarms from the keypad, hold up alarms and the phone number of the central station in case it is accidentally set off. We will be calling your home or business first; make sure everyone has their passcode memorized.
Users may not be limited to residents and regular employees. Temporary / occasional users may include contractors, day cleaners, after hour night cleaners, realtors, house sitters, dog walkers, landlords, relatives / children visiting, casual workers, armored car security companies and after hour delivery drivers and service personnel.
Provide us with an accurate and up-to-date key holder list and emergency premises phone number.
This should be verified twice a year – ask to see the list. Please also let us know when you will be travelling or on vacation as you may want to modify that list during those times.
Chosen key holders should be expected to respond to phone calls at any hour of the day or night and may be asked to attend.
Ensure they know they are your key holder and that they are familiar with your alarm system and have memorized their password. Make sure they are capable of arming and disarming the system, know your instructions as to when to dispatch police or guard service and know what to do in an emergency. You must give them our phone number (800) 687-0668 and ask them to enter it their cell phone so they can recognize it as us calling.  Please ask them to answer every call every time.
Businesses – Special Notes
Employee turnover is a huge issue when it comes to the alarm system. Designate an “alarm system manager.” Have frequent training sessions. Contact us at least twice a year to confirm keyholder lists and phone numbers and to go over your instruction as to when to dispatch police or guard service. Review both these topics frequently.Â
Hold up / panic and duress alarms likely cannot be cancelled for commercial accounts. Please take extra time learning these systems and training new and temporary employees.
Video Verification
With the proper equipment, we have the ability to view your cameras in the event of an alarm condition (and ONLY in the event of an alarm condition). This is truly advanced equipment and services available to users of the DMP Virtual Keypad app and camera system.
We would love to talk to you about this service and how it reduces false alarms.
Top Reasons for False Alarms
1 – User enters wrong code
2 – User doesn’t know how to disarm system
3 – User doesn’t know the phone number to the central station to keep the police from being dispatched.
Proper phone number for central station is:Â (800) 687-0668
4 – User doesn’t know they tripped a panic / hold up / duress event.
5 – Key holder list is outdated
6 – Key holder doesn’t answer the phone because they don’t have our phone number programmed in.
Phone number for central station is:Â (800) 687-0668
7 – Cleaning crew (both residential and commercial)
8 – Insecure premises – doors left unlocked or open.
9 – Poorly maintained windows and doors
10 – Pets