Bad weather can cause havoc with your alarm system

HOME owners should always consider the impact rough weather conditions could have on their residential security systems.

This includes preventative measures when bad weather is expected as well as possible repair work afterwards, such as this week following Tuesday’s devastating storms that hit Durban.

“Regularly testing your alarm system should be standard practise throughout the year, but this is even more important if your suburb recently experienced heavy winds and rainfall or even thunderstorms. If anything has become damaged, you certainly don’t want to only become aware of the damage when a real emergency occurs,” said Fidelity ADT’s district manager (KwaZulu-Natal), Ivan Govender.

Preparing for possible bad weather, he said, could be done by starting with a thorough check of any potential risks and to ensure adequate measures are in place to deal with these emergencies, as far as it is reasonably possible.

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This includes trimming back loose hanging tree branches for example, if heavy winds are predicted.

“Switch the electricity off to see if the alarm battery is in a working condition. Make sure you have back-up batteries for fences and gates to ensure electric fencing and gates will still work during power-cuts. It is important that backup batteries are installed and maintained in proper working order,” said Govender.

If heavy winds are expected, make sure you close the windows and doors so that the gusts don’t trigger your alarm system or set off the infrared sensors. This helps prevents false alarms.

“Another important thing to remember is the contact details for your local emergency or disaster management services. Does everyone in your house know who to call for example if your home is flooded, and do they know the best escape route to quickly get to safety if needed.”

What should be done in the aftermath of bad weather?

“If you are expecting a delivery or workmen at your home to do repair work, contact the companies before-hand to find out what time you can expect them, how many of their staff will be coming and who the supervisor is that will accompany them.”

He suggests that when the workmen do arrive, ask for the supervisor and if there is any doubt that they are not who they say they are, contact the employer again.

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“If you have guard dogs, don’t lock them away while workmen are on your premises. Have a family member keep them aside when the contractors are moving in and out of your home, but let the workmen be aware that they are there.”

“If unfamiliar individuals are going to work inside your home, be sure to lock away any valuables that are small enough to fit into a pocket or backpack, or that would not be easily missed if they were to disappear. The same goes for car and house keys,” Govender said.

After the weather has cleared up, homeowners are urged to again test their alarm systems and other hardware – such as panic buttons and infra-red detectors which may have been affected or damaged. This could especially impact any outdoor passive or infrared sensors or electric fences, that could have become damaged when trees were blown over on Tuesday.

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“This test is of the utmost importance,” says Govender.  If the system is not functioning properly it may mean the alarm activation signal may not reach the security company who will not know that there is an emergency and that assistance is needed.

“In the event of a flood or large volumes of water in your home, you should unplug your alarm system immediately in order to avoid a short circuit and also prevent the transformer and power packs from blowing up, or your control panel from being burnt out.”

“It is often not the emergency itself that causes the most damage, but rather the absence of any real plan to deal with it. If you have any questions, contact your security company today and ask for their advice.”

Govender said technicians have been put on standby to assist residents of Durban affected by Tuesday’s storm and they will prioritise assisting them, as best possible.