Why Is My Burglar Alarm Beeping?

Low Battery/Power Outage

• A beeping burglar alarm may indicate the power went out and the alarm system battery is low. In the event of a power failure, the battery is a backup to ensure the alarm system continues to work. On average, the battery lasts three to five years, so if it has not been replaced in this time frame, or if you have experienced extended power failures on a regular basis, this may be the problem.

Defective Transformer

• A beeping burglar alarm may also be indicative of a defective transformer. The transformer supplies power to the alarm system, but it is different from the actual power supply. It is also possible that the transformer itself may not be defective, but one of the wires connecting it may be faulty.

Telephone Malfunction

• A telephone-related problem can also cause a burglar alarm to beep. It may be an internal problem with the homeowner's telephone or an external problem with the telephone line. Another consideration: When the security system is tripped, it automatically calls the alarm company's monitoring center to report an intrusion. Some burglars will sever the telephone line to prevent this.

Activated Chime Feature

• As an added precaution, most burglar alarm systems feature a door chime. Whenever an exterior door is opened, the alarm emits two or three short beeps to notify homeowners that someone has entered or exited the home, or perhaps the door was not closed tightly and is now ajar. The chime feature can be easily activated or deactived by entering a specific sequence of numbers, which either will be in the homeowner's security system manual or can be obtained from the alarm company.