The safety and security of family is one of the most significant issues facing modern society. Robberies and break-ins cost the economy an upwards of $12.5 billion. It’s no wonder nearly every household in the U.S. is equipped with some form of home security system.
Though home security cameras are now less expensive and more accessible to middle class families, the maintenance can be a bit troublesome. From technical issues, system malfunctions, low-quality images, and blurry shot, maintain a home security system can be time consuming.
Keeping your home security camera well-maintained isn’t terribly difficult. Here are a few simple ways to keep your security camera system in tip top shape.
Check for and remove spider webs
Whether your home video surveillance camera is outside or inside, spiders are inevitable. And so, too, are their webs. Spiders like corners and dark areas and those are usually where security cameras are placed. In addition to spiders being attracted to the space your cameras are installed in, other types of insects are attracted to the IR lights that come from the camera lens. Those insects get caught in the spider’s web.
You want to get rid of spider webs quickly. Also, check for spider webs regularly. While it’s a good idea to use a repellent to ward off spiders and other bugs, do not spray any type of bug repellent onto your camera’s lens.
Remove spots obstructing the view on your camera’s lens
In addition to creepy crawlers creating spots on your lens and blocking your view, there are other spots you should check for. Foggy weather or rain droplets can negatively impact the quality of video taken at night. In foggy weather, little water droplets suspended in the air reflect the camera’s infrared which leads particles to rise and fall. This gives the appearance of having moving spots on your camera feed. To help alleviate this problem, you can cover your outside camera with a hood or visor.
Regularly clean your security camera system for dust and dirt
There’s no way to get around dust. Especially when your security camera is mounted outside in an uncovered area. Dust and dirt can severely impact your camera’s performance at night, reflecting the infrared light back into the lens.
You should clean your camera’s lens at least a few times a year in order to optimize your video quality and pictures during day and night. You can clean your lens safely with compressed air to blow off the dust and dirt. You can also blow out the dirt and dust using your mouth by blowing at a shallow angle. Use a clean microfiber cloth to gently wipe off the lens. Avoid using ammonia, alcohol or other harsh chemicals to clean your lens. Also, avoid using paper towels and newspaper as they can damage the lens and distort the quality of the security feed.
Protect your camera’s connecting cables from corrosion
Moisture can cause corrosion in your security camera and system, causing poor connection and loss of video quality. Clean your cables regularly. You can use baking soda, vinegar and salt to clean your cables safely. You could also use tensioned, electrical wrap with a silicone dielectric grease which can keep moisture out of the connections by filling air into open spaces.
For the best home security system maintenance tips and tricks, or advice on selecting the right home security cameras in your Chicago home, contact the security system experts here at Video and Sound Inc.