Door/Window Contact False Alarms
- Are the sensor and magnet properly aligned?
- Each sensor has a magnetic gap distance, the maximum distance from the sensor for the magnet to reliably hold the circuit shut. If installed near the edge of that gap the sensor can open more easily, causing false alarms.
- Sensors typically have an arrow or other marking identifying where the reed switch is found. The magnet must be centered on that spot. Misalignment will make it easier for false alarms to occur.
- Is the door metal?
- Metal doors can affect the magnetic gap and sensor signal strength. Try reorienting the sensor and keeping the magnet a bit closer.
- Is the Zone Type correct?
- Is this supposed to be an entry door? If you enter a door expecting a disarm countdown and the alarm goes off, check to make sure you have that zone programmed as an Entry Exit type.
- Most panels can be armed with no entry delay as an option each time you send an arm command (or at the panel). If you accidentally selected No Entry Delay this would be reflected in the Alarm.com history for that arming event.
- Is it a temperature controlled environment?
- If the sensor is installed in an outdoor/unregulated environment like a garage, barn, shed, etc., it should be an outdoor rated model. A standard indoor sensor will have a variety of potential false alarm/failure causes.
- Outdoor rated door window contacts will generally also have a wider magnetic gap, which better allows for the variability that looser doors like those on gates or sheds commonly exhibit.