Pyronix Enforcer Alarm - Year 2 onwards Maintenance

[jp1*]

Hi,

I have a Pyronix enforcer wireless alarm system which has been in place for one year.

My alarm maintenance company want to charge 80 pounds plus VAT for the yearly inspection/test plus charge 5 pounds plus VAT to replace PIR / FOB batteries. This sounds a lot of money to me for a very short visit. Is it worth doing?

How easy it to replace batteries yourself (I'm not getting any alerts saying the need to be changed)?

Thanks,

 

[secureiam]

Well my prices are current £65 and £3 per battery CR123A type. which isn't expensive compared to some in the industry, the price you are being charged doesn't seem too unreasonable considering the liability falls with the installation company this way. Also if your insurance are aware that you have an alarm, do you declare that the alarm company maintain, if you do and you end up doing it yourself your insurance will be invalid when it comes to a claim.

Yes you can change them yourself, although I have had customers that have tried to do it themselves and ended up calling us anyway as they made a mess of it.

 

[Alarm Engineer]

All alarms must be maintained annually wireless systems more so due to the reliance on batteries. The idea of changing the batteries yearly is to prevent you having any battery faults occur at 2am or false alarms whist out. The costs you have been quoted sounds correct (my firm charges nearly £10 per battery on the same type of system). You could do it yourself but you will need to know the engineer code which is unlikely.

Don’t forget the cost mainly pays for a experienced competent person to inspect a system which protects your house & possessions.

 

[secureiam]

I got asked this week why the batteries were so expensive when informing them of the devices recommended for a battery change at there 2 year service.

If you wait and start replacing one at a time, you are likely to end up with a battery failure when you go away for any period of time.

some wireless systems and devices have some strange quirks, which means you have to do the battery replacement in a certain way followed by a walk test.
That said on an annual service a series of tests are conducted after replacing the batteries, including a walk test.

as for pricing:-

1. Travel costs (job maybe no longer than an hour, but you have to get there).
2. overheads.
3. time doing the job
4. Certification processing if provided to say system has been serviced, I guess like proof of an MOT along with faults and advisories etc.

 

[leukybear]

retracted

 

[E999]

I do not think £80+VAT is unfair......If your in business yourself common sense will confirm its not unreasonable.....By the time system is checked batteries are changed, its a 2hr job if done properly.....Plus the onus is on professional to get alarm working.

What happens when you have a problem with the alarm......You cannot say oh sorry we do not want your service contract BUT can you come and fix our alarm..

The company I work for in Bristol charge 120-140 to service / change all batteries including external siren every 2 years...For my own customers I charge £60 a call out with batteries on top.

Our customers are given certification that will be required by insurance companies in the event of a theft claim.

Hope this helps,
Matt

 

[secureiam]

That isn't that expensive tbh. (See the ADT change a panel battery in the news lately).

Changing the device batteries every 2 years for wireless would be my normal recommendation, although it depends on useage.

There is nothing to stop anyone replacing the batteries, I have customers that do there own and some have ended up in trouble and others haven't.
In the most extreme cases, the end user has damaged one or more devices and that's resulted in extra costs to put right, they now have the batteries done with us as they are scared of messing up.

as E999 points out its not unreasonable and why, as for insurance companies, it depends on how you declared your alarm system to them as to what is needed for a claim, remember an insurance company want to find reasons not to pay out in general, so the insurance assessor may check the alarm has been set etc.

 

[mick the bell]

Re:replacment batteries for wireless alarms.most systems use CR 123,orCR2 lithium cells,they can be purchased from Boots,sainsburys etc,but they cost about a fiver each but you can get them on line cheaper.the batteries for external sounders,and the back up panel battery can only be purchased on line or from a security equipment distributor.you can change them yourself,but its best if you have the engineer code,although its not essential,bare in mind without the engineer code the tamper alarm will activate when you open any device,and will ring until you enter your code.

 

[steveo44]

Should door contact batteries be changed every 12 months or are they ok to be changed every 24 months like the pir’s?

 

[Handymanjo]

Depends on usage
If you have chime on the door.
We change all batteries in all devices at the same time on a yearly basis if customers are on a inclusive maintenance contract, but still recommend that the batteries are change In all devices so you know which batteries have been changed.

 

[mick the bell]

Should door contact batteries be changed every 12 months or are they ok to be changed every 24 months like the pir’s?

 

[mick the bell]

The batteries on your alarm should last 2 years +.change them all every 2 years ,and you wont have any problems.

 

[BIANCO]

Does the £80 include the app subscription?

 

[Greg_0ry1]

Hi,

I have a Pyronix enforcer wireless alarm system which has been in place for one year.

My alarm maintenance company want to charge 80 pounds plus VAT for the yearly inspection/test plus charge 5 pounds plus VAT to replace PIR / FOB batteries. This sounds a lot of money to me for a very short visit. Is it worth doing?

How easy it to replace batteries yourself (I'm not getting any alerts saying the need to be changed)?

Thanks,

I have installed our alarm myself and can’t say it was particularly difficult to be honest. Now in case you have done this yourself you know all the codes and its a very simple job, really no need to call out anyone. However, if you don’t have the engineering code things get slightly annoying as you would trigger the tamper alarm when replacing the battery. There are good arguments why you should call out an expert such as insurance etc....I personally liked the challenge and its working without any issues so the last 5 years, not to bothered about insurance more that I get notified when someone try to get into the house.

 

[secureiam]

Installed yourself not hard, isn’t hard if you know what your doing, how do you know yours is right?