Many homeowners with alarm systems are often concerned about something potentially going wrong that may cause a malfunction. There are four things that often go wrong with a home security system that can easily be solved without having to call a technician.

These problems and their solutions are:

1. Lights flashing on the control panel that you don’t recognize. The best way to solve this problem is to refer to your owner’s manual. The most commonly unrecognized flashing light is a green one that indicates that either the unit has lost external power or the battery is low. A flashing red light often indicates that the unit’s alarm has been tripped and needs to be reset. Before you start pushing buttons, consult your manual.

2. The second most common problem is that the system will not arm or activate the alarm. The first thing to do is make sure all doors and windows are closed securely. Also, make sure nothing is actively moving in front of a motion detector. If a door or window (with a door contact or window contact) is not secured or if a motion detector is activated, then you will not be able to arm your system. If this does not solve the issue, then make sure you are entering the correct code.

3. The third most common problem is that the alarm will not deactivate. Firstly, don’t panic! Stop, and think. Then enter your code again. When you are in a hurry, it is very easy to make a mistake with the sequence.

4. Interference from other sources. You may have other electronic equipment in your home that interferes with the alarm’s signal. Also, if several people have access to your system, check with them to make sure they’ve not changed any settings. Make sure each person is properly activating and deactivating the alarm.