False alarms have become a major problem throughout our industry.

We must do what we can to reduce them, to help assure cooperation from the police. Most false alarms are caused not by faulty equipment but rather by the user. Reading your manual and following the enclosed tips will greatly reduce user-caused false alarms.

If a false alarm occurs, it is important in diagnosing the cause that you provide ASC with accurate information about the circumstances under which the alarm occurred. If you have an unexplained alarm, write down the sensor numbers shown on the keypad display and be prepared to describe to us what happened. This information will help in defining system problems, if any, or in explaining false alarms that may occur.

1. Remember your account number and your password.

2. Enter your user code accurately to avoid accidentally sending a duress code to the Central Station.

3. Keep your Central Station telephone number in a handy location.

4. Be sure your system is ready, before attempting to arm it.

5. Be sure all other users are familiar with the system operation and know the user code, account number and password.

6. Do not leave animals in motion detector areas with the system armed unless system has been tested for use with your pet(s).

7. Leave through the entry/exit doors before the exit time expires. Otherwise, the alarm will go off, probably after you are on your way.

8. If you must re-enter soon after arming and leaving, turn off the system upon re-entering. Then re-arm again upon leaving.

9. If the system is armed at night, disarm the system in the morning and re-arm upon leaving. If you leave without disarming the system, it will go into alarm at the end of the entry delay period.

10. Change wireless sensor batteries within a few days after the low battery indication appears on your Control Panel. Low batteries can cause false alarms that can appear to be caused by any of the sensors.

11. If you have a burglary or fire false alarm, WAIT for the Central Station to call you. If you are on the line trying to reach the Station, the Station will hear a busy signal when trying to reach you and WILL DISPATCH.

12. If you accidentally transmit a panic or duress signal, call the station immediately before it dispatches the police. The Central Station does not call to confirm panic and duress signals.

13. Consider having your system programmed for a 10-15 second delay in dialing the Central Station following an alarm. In this way, if you make a mistake and set off the alarm, you have some time to disarm it.

14. Do not allow children to play with your telephones if your alarm system is phone controlled. A panic signal could accidentally be sent.

15. Correct water problems that cause sensors such as motion detectors to become damp. Damp sensors can cause false alarms.

16. Motion sensors can be set off by a number of things: pets, mice, reflections from a mirror, or from heating and cooling systems. The fan from your AC or furnace may cause plants or drapes to wave. Motion detectors are also temperature sensitive: if a sensor is adjacent to drapes or blinds, the air current from your AC or furnace may set it off.

17. Record the number of the sensor(s) that cause unexplained alarms. This information along with a description of the pre-alarm circumstances is essential to diagnosing any problems you may experience.

18. Test your system regularly, at least once each month. See section on testing.

19. Maintain current contact information with ASC. Provide up-to-date names and telephone numbers whenever they change. Contact information must be mailed, faxed, or emailed to ASC. We can't take that information over the phone.