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What should I do when my Columbia home alarm system goes off?

July 03, 2023
Home security alarm notification on smartphone.

Your home security system safeguards your property – and your family – against the multitude of risks you might encounter, like burglary, flooding, and fire. Although your home might be prepared, that doesn’t automatically mean you are. Do you know what to do if your Columbia home alarm system goes off? The blaring of an alarm is likely to be jarring, bewildering, and may cause panic. Your best option is to stay level-headed and abide by these simple tips.

Steps to Take Whenever Your Home Alarm System In Columbia Triggers

You never want to be in this predicament, but it’s also the reason why you installed a home alarm system from the outset. You’re awakened from a deep sleep with the unmistakable blaring of an alarm after one of your sensors has been triggered. So what are you going to do?

  1. Try not to panic. This is easy to say but harder to do when your home security alarm is blaring, and your pulse is racing. But keeping yourself calm is the optimal way to assess the situation. Avoid the impulse of trying to handle the emergency yourself instead permit your monitoring staff and first responders to carry out their job.
  2. Take care of your family. Your priority should be your loved ones and moving them out of danger. In the case of a intrusion, this might include proceeding to a designated secure area as far from access points as possible. The trespasser was likely already frightened away by the alarm, but it’s always wise to be extra cautious. If there’s fumes or a fire, please leave your home right away.
  3. Grab your cell phone. The vast majority of individuals keep their cell phones with them all the time these days, but you could forget to grab it during an emergency. It’s a good thing to have. You’ll be able to stay connected with your monitoring professionals and receive alerts through your home security app.

Work With Your 24/7 Monitoring Agents

Any time your home alarm system in Columbia goes off, your 24/7 monitoring professionals will spring to action. Their first step is to verify your alarm, and that means communicating with you. The guideline they abide by is based on the type of emergency. For instance, if the emergency is is for medical reasons, one effort will be made to contact you before help is sent out. If you’re dealing with an intrusion - the most typical type of alarm - a monitoring agent will adhere to these guidelines to reach out to you:

  • An attempt will be made to reach you via the central command panel. You will generally be asked for a passcode.
  • If that effort doesn’t result in an answer, a call is made to your principal contact number.
  • An alternate number or your primary contact person is attempted next.
  • If there still isn’t an answer, area police officers are sent.
  • Your monitoring professionals will try to reach you again after the proper authorities are notified.

If you're not able to communicate with the monitoring team, don’t fret. Support will still be dispatched even when you're not available to confirm the emergency.

Get protection for any situation with a Vivint home alarm system in Columbia

Be prepared for any situation with a modern home alarm system in Columbia from Vivint. Dial (803) 921-0946 to start designing your property’s defense today.