False alarms do happen. According to monitoring analysis, they are most commonly caused by a household member, family, roommate, or maintenance worker who opens a door or window without realizing the system is armed. Below are common causes and best practices to prevent them.
! | NOTE Alarms, including false alarms, that occur without an alarm permit in jurisdictions that require one can lead to expensive fines. Make sure your monitored alarm system has an alarm permit if required. See the Alarm Permits article for details. |
System Monitoring and Maintenance
Regularly inspect your alarm history to identify patterns or sensors prone to frequent false alarms. Address any recurring issues by adjusting sensitivity settings, refining sensor placement, or recalibrating devices as necessary. Contact support for persistent challenges.
Adjusting Sensor Sensitivity
Periodically evaluate and adjust the sensitivity of your system's sensors. Motion sensors in high-activity areas may need lower sensitivity settings to reduce unnecessary triggers while maintaining security.
Lengthen your entry and exit delays
If your entry and exit delays are not long enough, you may not have time to disarm the system or leave before an alarm triggers. Change your time delay by going to Menu in the Abode app, then System Settings, then Time Delay, and increase the delay times as needed. Also review your overall system settings to ensure they align with your daily routines.
Keep track of your monitoring PIN
The professional monitoring center requires a 4-digit PIN to verify your identity in the event of an alarm. If there is a false alarm, you will need to provide your PIN to the monitoring center to cancel the emergency response. If you do not provide the correct PIN, police may dispatch and a false alarm fee may apply. Commit your PIN to memory and document it in a secure location.
Test your system with pets present
If large pets will be home when your system is armed, first test and refine the placement of motion sensors and motion-activated cameras to make sure your pet does not trigger motion detection. Consider placing motion sensors higher on the wall to clear your pet's path, or use door sensors and glass break sensors in rooms frequented by pets. Also review sensor placement to avoid areas of frequent interference, such as direct sunlight or near moving curtains.
Provide proper access to guests and family
Make sure family, friends, and visitors are aware of your Abode system and know how to use it. Invite trusted family members to install the Abode app so they can disarm the system if needed. Consider placing an Abode Keypad 2 or Key Fob in a convenient location for visitors to access and disarm the system.
Use Home mode when you are home overnight
At night, arm your system into Home mode, not Away mode. Home mode enables only perimeter-protecting devices, leaving you free to move about inside without triggering an alarm.
Troubleshooting the Iota Motion Sensor
If false alarms frequently occur, go to the device page in the app and lower the sensitivity settings for the Iota Motion Sensor. This adjustment can significantly reduce unintended triggers.
Keypad Motion Sensor Awareness
When the system is armed, movements detected by the keypad motion sensor will trigger an alarm. Place the keypad thoughtfully and advise household members to limit unnecessary movements in its range while the system is active.