Many homeowners install an alarm and then forget it exists. Until it's really needed. Only at that moment do they discover the back-up battery is dead, a sensor hasn't worked for months, or push notifications stopped arriving because of a new phone. A 5-minute monthly test prevents that.
Why monthly?
Insurers in Spain increasingly require you to prove your security system was operational at the moment of a burglary. Without a log or recent test date, a claim can be rejected. Monthly testing plus logging isn't pedantry — it's basic due diligence.
Step 1: Warn your monitoring centre
If your alarm is connected to a professional monitoring centre (strongly recommended), call them in advance. Give your customer number and say you're about to run a test. Without this step you can get a dispatch bill — easily €150–€300 in Spain.
Step 2: Walk a test round
Arm the alarm. Wait until the exit time has passed (usually 30–60 seconds). Then walk slowly past each motion sensor. In the app or on the panel you should see every sensor trigger individually. A sensor not working? Note which and call your installer.
Step 3: Test the siren and the push notification
This is the step most people skip — yet it's the most important. Deliberately trigger the alarm with one sensor. Two things must happen: the siren wails (deterrence) and you get a push notification on your phone within 10 seconds. Only getting one of the two? Something isn't right.
Step 4: Check the back-up battery
Many modern systems have a battery test function in the app. Otherwise: briefly cut the main power (flip the breaker). The panel should switch to battery automatically without flagging an error. Red light flashing? Battery is dead — replace it.
Step 5: Reset and log the test
Disarm the alarm, call the monitoring centre that the test is done, and note in a simple notes app or paper log: date, which sensors tested, whether the siren worked, whether the push arrived, battery OK. Three minutes of work per month. This log is your proof for the insurance.
What if something doesn't work?
If a component fails — don't wait. An alarm system is a chain; one weak link makes the entire system unreliable. Call your installer (ours: +34 965 026 293). For customers with a maintenance contract we come within 48 hours with no call-out fee.
Bonus: annual deep maintenance
Beyond this monthly test we recommend full professional maintenance once a year: software updates, sensor calibration, battery check on every unit, configuration back-up. Costs €100–€150 — potentially saves you thousands of euros in case of a real burglary.