3 Simple steps to start your silly season safely

There are only a couple weeks left of this year and if you’re half as excited about a well-deserved break as we are, you’ve already started counting down the days.
Whether you’re hitting the road or making the most of some time off at home, we encourage our clients to remain vigilant during the silly season and ensure your home and/or business security system is fully functional. Criminals are on high alert during this time of the year and we have already seen a noticeable increase in thefts of valuable electronic items such as TV’s, cellphones, tablets, laptops and gaming consoles.
Go through these three simple steps to test your alarm system and update your details to feel safe again this festive season.

1. Test 1, 2, 3

It’s vitally important that your alarm system and all the connected security devices are in perfect working order to ensure we are alerted when there is a breach on your property. Give us a call to conduct a manual test of your system over the phone, or schedule a technician to do so and address any issues. While he’s on site, ask that he also check on the status of the power supply to your alarm system.
How to test your system:

• Perform a detection test

You need two people for this test, one person to activate the devices and a helper to watch the keypad. Once your helper is in position, walk around the property and trigger every detection device, such as passives and beams, and open all the doors and windows. Your helper then checks that every device reflects on the respective zone number on the keypad.
Pay careful attention to old devices with poor detection or devices that are blocked, limiting their area of detection. Consider the need for additional detectors if you recently bought any high value items that are now kept in a low risk area of the property.

• Perform a signal test

Always inform us when you’re about to test your signal. Contact our control centre and ask the controller to place your account on test for about 30 minutes.
Arm the alarm system in the away mode. Wait for the exit delay to expire. Then walk through the property and trigger each zone by walking past every detection device and opening all doors and windows. Don’t forget to test the fixed panic buttons and remember that these should be held down for at least 2 seconds.
Disarm the system and contact the control centre to confirm whether signals from all zones have been received.

• Test remote panic buttons and check the batteries

Don’t forget this step! A strong battery allows for an optimal range around the property, always ensure you have spare ones lying around. Remember to notify the control centre once testing has been completed.

• Backup power test

We recommended that an alarm system has eight to 12 hours standby power in case of a blackout. To perform a test, switch off the transformer and verify how long the system stays alive. Additional backup power supplies are also available for longer standby time.
Before replacing the battery, contact a technician to ensure the charger on the control panel is working optimally.

2. Request repairs

Upon completing the first step, you should have been able to identify any dysfunctional, damaged or just really old devices. Now it’s time to get those repaired or replaced, to ensure your alarm system is in the best possible condition.
Please keep in mind that our technicians are booked out days in advance approaching this time of the year, so beat the year-end rush to give yourself peace of mind while you are away.

3. Update details

We always need to know who you and your keyholders are, and how to reach you. It could potentially be a matter of life or death that we have your correct details on our system, so don’t ever neglect to inform us when this needs to be updated. You can do this by simply sending an email for all the relevant changes to mydetails@bluesecurity.co.za.
You can also notify us when you will be away from home so we know to keep an eye out for any activity out of the norm. Let us know of an emergency contact person who will have keys to your premises in case there is a housebreaking incident, or if your alarm goes off excessively if the power is interrupted.
As you’re locking up, the excitement of your pending road trip might cloud your memory! So leave yourself a reminder on the fridge to check that all doors and windows are properly secured to avoid false alarms, make sure any extra sets of house keys are out of reach from windows, and close those curtains to keep valuable items hidden from plain sight.