Plenty of homes and businesses around Motherwell, Wishaw and Newmains have an intruder alarm on the wall that nobody really looks after. Maybe it came with the house, the company that fitted it has stopped trading, or the yearly service just slipped off the radar. The box is still flashing, but would it actually do its job on the night it matters?
The good news is you don't need to rip it out and start again. At Tyger Security we regularly service and take over alarms that other installers fitted. Here's how it works and why it's worth doing before winter sets in properly.
Why your alarm needs regular servicing
An intruder alarm is a set of parts that wear over time, from detectors and door contacts to sirens, a control panel and backup batteries. Batteries lose capacity, detectors get dusty or knocked out of line, and a fault that started small can turn into false alarms, or into silence when a door is forced.
A proper service checks every zone, tests the sirens and the backup power, and makes sure the system does what you expect when it's set. It's also a good time to ask whether the alarm still suits how you use the building. Plenty of us have built an extension, converted a garage or changed how a shop or unit is laid out since the alarm went in.
If your insurer asks for your alarm to be maintained, check your policy wording and keep your service paperwork somewhere safe.
What an alarm takeover involves
A takeover simply means we become the company that looks after an alarm someone else installed. A typical takeover goes like this:
- A survey of what's there. We identify the panel, detectors and signalling, and check the general condition of the system.
- Getting access to the panel. Some systems are locked with an engineer code by the original installer. We'll talk you through the options for your particular panel, which in some cases means resetting or replacing it.
- A full service and test. Every zone, siren and battery is checked, and faults are put right or quoted for.
- Clear advice. If parts are past their best, we'll tell you plainly what's worth replacing now and what can wait.
From then on you've got a local company to call and a regular service you can count on.
Signs your alarm needs attention
Give us a call if any of these sound familiar:
- The keypad shows a fault or service message you can't clear
- The alarm goes off for no clear reason, especially on cold or windy nights
- You don't know the engineer code, or who fitted the system
- The siren hasn't sounded in a test for a long time, or ever
- You've moved into a property with an existing alarm and no paperwork
- The backup battery has never been changed
Upgrading without starting from scratch
Taking over an existing alarm often works out more affordable than a brand-new system, because good parts can usually stay. Where it makes sense, we can add extra detectors, wireless parts or app control so you can set and check the alarm from your phone.
If you'd like someone to respond when the alarm goes off, ask us about alarm monitoring contracts. If you'd also like eyes on the property, we fit and repair CCTV systems, including systems we didn't install ourselves.
Local engineers for North Lanarkshire
We're based in Motherwell and cover Wishaw, Newmains, Carluke, Shotts and the surrounding areas of Central Scotland. That means quicker visits for servicing and faults, and an engineer who knows the area. Our engineers are qualified security and electrical engineers who work on domestic and commercial systems every week.
You can read more about our intruder alarm installation and servicing, or see the areas we cover on our Wishaw burglar alarms and Newmains burglar alarms pages.
Book an alarm service or takeover
Whether your alarm is a few years old or you've no idea who fitted it, we'll take a look and give you honest advice. Send us a message through our contact page or call the office on our office number.