Installing a CCTV system is a great way to keep your premises secure, but if you fail to maintain it, you might find yourself in trouble later down the line! Like all technology, CCTV cameras can fail if they're not looked after. Unlike your computer or your TV, CCTV cameras are often out in the elements 24/7 (not to mention the vandals that try to destroy them) which makes them even more prone to damage than almost any other piece of security kit.
Why Is CCTV Camera Maintenance Important?
CCTV maintenance is key to ensuring that your security system is performing it's best at all times. The last thing you want is to ignore CCTV maintenance and find out your cameras weren’t working in the event of a crime.
Maintaining your CCTV system is also vital if you want to make a claim on your insurance later down the line. An insurance company might not want to deal with your claim if you've not maintained your security cameras properly. This is definitely worth bearing in mind if your CCTV cameras are protecting valuable goods.
What Do I Need to Check?
So, how do you actually go about maintaining your security cameras? There are a few things you should check on a regular basis to keep things working smoothly.
Cables
Being outside, wiring and cables can become damaged. They're exposed to the weather but they're also prone to becoming loose and detaching from the wall. Eventually, loose wires can fray and cause the picture quality and sound to be compromised. So, you see any problems with the feedback from your cameras, it could be a wiring issue. Make sure you do a good visual check of the wiring every few months.
Camera Lens
Problems with the camera lens will make it very difficult to get clear footage, rendering the camera rather useless if you’re trying to identify specific people or events that led up to a crime.
Again, being outside can cause problems for the camera lens and a tiny bit of dirt can look like a huge smudge when you take a look at the footage. Keeping the camera lens clean is vital if you want a clear view of the area.
A few other things that can affect the view through your camera lens are:
- Overgrown foliage
- A camera that's slipped and no longer looks in the right direction
- A motion detector that's stopped working
Control Equipment
Finally, you need to make sure your control equipment is maintained so that you can watch, store and access your footage whenever you need to. This involves checking that your CCTV monitors and control panels and working as they should be.
You should also check that the cameras are recording footage that's clear, bright and not too oversaturated and check that the monitor is showing the right date and time.
Our Maintenance Contracts
Like all technology, if you want it to work to the best of its ability, maintenance is key. We offer maintenance contracts for all the CCTV systems we supply at IDS. These contracts provide you with the reassurance that one of our professional engineers is on hand at any time – night or day – should a problem with your CCTV system occur. We also carry out any routine maintenance that your CCTV cameras need to keep them running smoothly at all times.
So, if you’re looking to have a CCTV camera installed and want some peace of mind, contact us for more information on our CCTV maintenance contracts.
Contact Us
