Get Ready For Holidays

Don’t let your holiday be ruined by false alarms! There are simple steps you can take to avoid what could be costly mistakes, while at the same time creating a lovely holiday atmosphere in your home or business.

Motion Detectors and Holiday Decorations

  • Always ensure that hanging or moving decorations will not activate motion detectors, especially when heating systems come on.
  • If you don’t know the location of your motion detectors or the area they cover, contact your alarm company for assistance. They should be able to tell you what your motion sensors “see” and you will then be better able to avoid potential false alarms.
  • Once your decorations have been placed, inspect to make sure that they do not interfere with any window or door contacts.
  • Firmly secure outdoor lights around doors and windows so that they will not activate glass break detectors in the event of winds or storms.
  • Check doors and windows for cracks or a loose fit in the frame, as inclement weather and wind gusts during the winter season could cause false alarms.
  • If your doors and windows are loose, coordinate their repair with your alarm company to avoid unnecessary false alarms.

Family, Friends, Temporary Users and Holiday Travel

  • Holidays provide an opportunity for family and friends to visit, children are home from college, and law enforcement reports indicate that false alarms do increase during this time.
  • Ensure that everyone with a key to your home or business knows how to properly operate your alarm system.
  • Retrain your children home from college and remind them of the passcode and password.
  • Instruct everyone with access to your home or business on the appropriate procedures for canceling law enforcement response should a false alarm occur.
  • Advise your alarm company if you will be out of town and provide them with phone numbers to contact you in the event of an alarm activation.
  • If you have house-sitters, ensure they know how to operate the alarm system, cancel a dispatch, and have been provided with temporary passwords. Inform your alarm company of those temporary passwords and contact phone numbers for the house-sitters.