How Can I Prevent False Alarms?

What is a false alarm?

A false alarm, also called a nuisance alarm, is an erroneous report of an emergency, bringing emergency services to a place where they are not needed.

False alarms may occur with residential burglary alarms, smoke detectors, industrial alarms and more. False alarms have the potential to divert emergency respondents away from legitimate emergencies.

We contact you no matter what the alarm event, real or false. We need to verify whether that event is real or not.

How do I avoid false alarms?

Cove has intentionally designed the Cove Protect alarm system to be intuitive and easy to use. We also have informative articles that assist you the customer to get the very best from your system.

The following suggestions may be helpful:

• Make sure you know your 4-digit panel passcode as well as your verbal password
• Make sure that all trusted members using the system are properly trained on how to use the alarm
• Make sure your entry delays (customization is available) are set to the time frame you need
• Verify that Cove has current & updated emergency contacts for your system
• Make sure all door and window sensors are properly installed
• Replace batteries as indicated on the keypad when they get low

We have an entire library of tutorial videos on how to install and operate your alarm system. Feel free to review them whenever.

How to handle a false alarm?

• Stay calm
• Disarm your system
• Make sure that Cove has canceled the dispatch when you disarm the system
• If you're not certain your false alarm was canceled, please call 855-268-3669 and press 1 to connect to the monitoring station
• The monitoring center will contact the appropriate emergency dispatch to cancel the false alarm where possible
• Stay put until someone at your monitoring center clears you to leave your home
• If the police arrive, let them know you are okay

FALSE ALARM FEES

Not all cities and counties charge for false dispatch, most that do charge for false alarms begin charging after the 3rd false dispatch within a calendar year. Please contact your local authorities for information regarding false dispatch policies and procedures.

In the event that a false dispatch charge is imposed, customers are financially responsible to cover those costs.

However, we understand that extenuating circumstances sometimes happen. Cove customers may mail-in false alarm bills and we will review them to see if the false alarm was caused by faulty equipment. Under certain conditions, we will promptly resolve the issue and cover the imposed fines.