How often should you service a burglar alarm
How often should you service a burglar alarm? The million-dollar question!
Annually from an insurance and peace of mind point of view.
A regular service plan is advised or recommended by:
- British and European standards
- Alarm equipment manufacturers
- Most professional installers
- NSI, NACOSS, SSAIB
- ACPO; National Police Policy
- Many Insurance companies
So, we do generally advise an annual service for domestic burglar alarms. This is particularly important for wireless systems that will require regular battery changes. That said, many of our customers prefer to just wait until they have a problem.
A maintenance contract is compulsory with many installation companies, their installation contract is, in fact, an installation and maintenance contract.
What does a maintenance visit include?
A routine maintenance visit (routine service visit) is like an MOT for your car. It will typically involve a visual inspection followed by some checks and tests...
Common questions
Why do I need a service?
A regular service helps ensure your burglar alarm system is working optimally and reliably. Think of it like an MOT for your car – it helps prevent unexpected failures. The benefits include:
~ Reliability: Minimizing false alarms and ensuring it triggers when there's a genuine intrusion.
~ Compliance: Many insurance policies require annual alarm servicing to validate your coverage.
~ Peace of Mind: Knowing your property is protected 24/7.
~ Extended Lifespan: Proactive maintenance can identify and fix minor issues before they become major, costly problems.
Since 1979 we’ve…
• Attended 1,000’s of alarm faults, many in the dead of night.
• Witnessed house fires caused by overheating alarm systems.
• Executed numerous warrants to silence nuisance alarms.
What does a typical service involve?
Our comprehensive service typically includes:
Battery Health Check (Low batteries are a common cause of system faults)
Sensor Testing
Siren Functionality
Communication Pathway Check (If your alarm is monitored)
Tamper Protection
Wiring and Connections
System Event Log Review
Setting Verification
How long will the service take, and will it cause any disruption?
For a standard residential system, a service typically takes less than an hour. We aim to cause minimal disruption. We require access to all parts of the system including the external sounder. We’ll always try to warn you before we trigger the sounders, especially if you have pets in the house.
What is the cost of the service?
The standard cost for a routine service is around £116. This covers the labour and the routine checks. If, during the service, we identify any faulty components that need replacing (e.g., a broken sensor, a worn-out battery, or a new keypad), we will always provide you with a separate quote for the part and any additional labour required before carrying out the work. We'll never proceed with extra charges without your explicit approval.
What happens if you find a fault during the service?
If we find a minor fault that can be rectified quickly, such as tightening a loose connection or a simple sensor recalibration, we'll fix it on the spot as part of the service.
If a component needs replacing, or if it's a more complex issue that requires additional time, we will diagnose the problem, explain it to you clearly, and provide a no-obligation quote for the repair. We carry common replacement parts on our vans, so often we can fix it during the same visit. If we don't have the specific part or it requires more extensive work, we'll schedule a follow-up visit at your convenience to complete the repair. We'll never proceed with extra charges without your explicit approval.
