If you accidentally set off a security alarm, immediately disarm the system by entering your code at the keypad or using your mobile app. Then, if your system is monitored, be ready to answer your phone to cancel police dispatch.
The quickest way to turn off a blaring security alarm is to enter your master disarm code at the main keypad or use your system's mobile app. If you don’t have the code or if the alarm is malfunctioning, you must disconnect both the primary power source and the backup battery.
In many cases, the issue is something simple, like a low or dead battery in a sensor, which can trigger both burglar and smoke alarms. Pets are another common cause. If you never calibrated your motion sensors after installing them or your motion sensors lack a pet-friendly setting, this is most likely your issue.
So, the first thing to do is to try and contact the property owner to let them know the problem; if you can't get hold of them, take a quick look and see if there are any signs of disturbance or forced entry. If you do see something, contact the police, never try to tackle the problem directly yourself.
Major Causes of False Alarms
Over 98% of alarm calls per year in the USA are false.
Three beeps in a repeating pattern indicate a smoke alarm emergency.
Verify It's Not a False Alarm
Read any notifications or messages appearing on the keypad display (if it's nearby) and then investigate, however don't put yourself in danger to do so. If you suspect that there is an actual threat in the house, find a safe place to wait for the authorities.
Alarm systems should have an automatic cut-off device fitted to stop the alarm sounding after 20 minutes. Most modern alarms have such a device already fitted, but cut-out devices can be fitted to older, existing systems.
Burglar alarms themselves do not directly call the police. They only alert the homeowner or monitoring service of a potential break-in. If the system is professionally monitored, the monitoring service can determine the threat and contact law enforcement on the homeowner's behalf.
False alarms are typically caused by human error, environmental factors like dust or steam, or equipment malfunctions. The most common triggers vary depending on the type of system you have installed:
If your house alarm randomly went off in the middle of the night, it is usually caused by environmental changes, sensor issues, or power fluctuations.
How you cancel the alarm on your Android phone depends on when you want to cancel it. If the alarm is already going off, tap Stop at the bottom of the alarm screen. If you tapped Snooze and want to cancel it before the next alarm cycle goes around, start the Clock app and find the alarm that's still in progress.
An alarm ringing for 15–20 minutes is usually enough to deter most intruders. Studies show that burglars are more likely to abandon a break-in attempt once a loud siren draws attention. At the same time, a system that continues ringing endlessly could alienate neighbours or even lead to complaints.
If your home alarm system has a backup battery, locate the battery compartment on the alarm panel or circuit board. Open the compartment and remove the backup battery. This will ensure that you have completely disarmed the alarm. Remove the red and black terminals by sliding the connectors off.
Burglars hate anything that makes a break-in noisy, time-consuming, or highly visible. Criminals look for the path of least resistance; if a target requires too much effort or poses a high risk of getting caught, they will simply move on to an easier home.
To silence a house alarm fast, enter your 4-digit security code and press the "Off" or "Reset" key at the keypad. If that fails, perform a full hard reset by unplugging the main system transformer and disconnecting the backup battery leads.
An intruder alarm has a broader application compared to a burglar alarm. While it detects unauthorised entry through windows and doors like a burglar alarm, its protection covers a wider area. These alarms can accurately monitor interior spaces, restricted areas within a property and even large outdoor perimeters.
If your alarm is sounding
If your security alarm sounds, and this hasn't been triggered by a power cut and you have reason to believe there may be an intruder in your home, call the police on 999 immediately. Police advice is to avoid doing anything that might put you in danger.
Your house alarm likely went off due to a false alarm triggered by environmental interference, pets, low batteries, or a sensor issue. Security systems are highly sensitive, and a minor disruption can easily set them off.
If Your Alarm Goes Off
It is also a good idea to know the signs of a potential CO problem:
If your alarm sounded a loud, continuous "beep-beep-beep" three times, paused, and then stopped entirely, it likely detected actual smoke or steam that cleared quickly. If it sounded a brief chirp three times in a row and stopped, it usually indicates a malfunction, low battery, or a dirty sensor.
3 beeps usually means RAM. Try a stick you know for sure works.