If I Cancel ADT Will The Alarm Still Work? (What We Found!)

If I cancel ADT will the alarm still work? Are you unsure of what’s going to happen next?

You might be thinking of canceling your ADT system and wondering what will happen with your alarm.

Many homeowners have questions about the functionality of your alarm system.

Yes, your ADT alarm system will still work even if you cancel your monitoring account. However, you will not get the benefits, instead, you will need to self-monitor and respond to alarms yourself.

Let’s get to the bottom of this!

If I Cancel ADT Will the Alarm Still Work – We Answer in Detail

Now that you have an overview of what will happen with your ADT system, it’s time to take a deeper dive and explore this topic.

You should know the advantages and limitations of not using an ADT subscription for your alarm system.

Understanding How ADT Security Systems Work

One of the first things you need to know is a better understanding of how ADT security systems work.

Your system will consist of three components, namely the sensors, control panel, and monitoring center.

Let’s break these down even further:

• Sensors: These devices detect activities in your home like motion, smoke, flooding, and doors opening. They are installed and communicate with the control panel.
• Control Panel: The control panel can be considered as the brain of your system. It receives signals from the sensors and relays them to the monitoring center.
• Monitoring Center: It’s a 24/7 service that monitors your system and contacts the authorities in case of emergencies, such as break-ins or fires.

Note: All these systems are part of the system and work together to help you secure your home.

Benefits of Using ADT Monitoring

One of the main advantages of having an ADT security system is the monitoring service.

It’s a professional 24/7 service that constantly monitors your home and responds to any alarms or emergencies.

It provides you with peace of mind, security, and convenience.

Here are some of the benefits of using ADT monitoring:

1. Professional Response: Whenever your alarm goes off, you don’t have to worry about calling the authorities, as a trained operator will notify you and dispatch help.
2. Fast Notification: You will receive instant alerts whenever your system detects an event, such as arming or disarming the system, power outage, etc.
3. Remote Access: Gives you access to the ADT app, allowing you to control your system even if you’re not at home.
4. Home Automation: Integrate your ADT security system with smart devices like lights, locks, thermostats, cameras, and others to make your home smarter and more efficient.

Tip: Knowing these will help you decide whether you want to keep your ADT subscription or cancel it.

Canceling Your ADT Services

In cases where you really want to cancel your ADT service, you can absolutely do it.

However, there are two factors that you want to consider before making the decision.

You want to take account of your contract and equipment.

ADT Contract

These contracts are usually 36 months or more, and if you want to cancel before the end of your term, be prepared to pay the cancelation fee.

It’s 75% of the remaining balance on your contract.

If you want to avoid paying the fee or reduce it, here’s what you should do:

1. Find and negotiate with someone willing to take over your contract.
2. Negotiate with ADT directly by asking for a better deal or a lower fee.
3. Wait until the end of your term, then cancel without paying the penalty.

Equipment

When it comes to your equipment, they will all belong to you after you pay for it in full.

However, some may be leased from ADT, and if that’s the case, you will need to return them when you cancel your account.

Note: If paid off, you can keep them after canceling your account, but some features will not work.

Alarm Functionality After Canceling – No Professional Monitoring

If I cancel my ADT contract will the alarm still work? It’s one of the most common questions we get.

When you cancel your monitoring contract, your alarm system will have limited functionality, but you can still use it as a local alarm.

It means it will continue to sound the siren and flash the lights if a sensor is triggered.

The one thing it won’t do, though, is communicate with the monitoring center or send you alerts through the app.

Here are the alarm features that won’t work after canceling your contract:

1. Two-way voice feature
2. Remote access via the app or website
3. Home automation services to integrate your system with smart home devices

Note: Your warranty and maintenance will also be canceled, so you must pay for any repairs or maintenance.

Self-Monitoring vs Professional: How Does It Work

Can I use an alarm com without ADT? If you want to keep on using your ADT alarm system after you cancel but don’t want to pay for another service, you can go for the self-monitoring option.

It means you are responsible for looking after your system and responding to alarms.

Now, there are several benefits and risks associated with self-monitoring, and you need to consider these before deciding.

Benefits of self-monitoring your alarm system:

1. Save money by not paying monthly fees.
2. You’re not bound to long-term contracts allowing you to switch to a different service.
3. It offers more freedom and flexibility on how to use your system.

There are also risks associated with self-monitoring. Here they are:

1. If your alarm goes off, you must contact the local authorities yourself.
2. You will not receive any alerts on your phone or email, missing important events.
3. Lose access to the ADT app, and you won’t be able to control your system remotely.
4. You won’t be able to integrate your system with your smart home devices.

How to Self-Monitor Your ADT Alarm System

If you want to continue to use your ADT alarm system after canceling, you’re going to need to self-monitor.

To do this successfully, there are three things you need to look out for.

Here they are:

• A way to receive alarm notifications
• A plan in place for responding to alarms
• Keeping your system up to date

Receive Alarm Notifications

The most important thing so you continue to receive alarm notifications is a device capable of communicating with your ADT control panel.

It will be the interface that will send alerts on your phone whenever your system detects any unusual activities.

You have a couple of options to choose from:

1. A third-party app such as Alarm.com, Samsung SmartThings, or SimpliSafe
2. A cellular dialer that plugs into your control panel and uses a SIM to send messages

Note: These methods will usually require you to spend some to complete the setup.

Plan to Respond to Alarms

Once you receive important alerts from your system, you must respond.

You’ll need to find out if the alarm is legitimate and if there’s a need for you to call the authorities.

Here are some of the steps you need to include in your plan:

1. Check and make sure the alarm is real and not false.
2. If the alert is real and needs attention, call 911 or the local authorities.
3. If the warning is incorrect, call someone to help reset the system or fix the issue.

Keep Your System Up to Date

Finally, after figuring out these previous steps, you must keep your system current.

You need to maintain it regularly so whenever it’s faced with an emergency, it will work flawlessly and alert you immediately.

Here are some tasks you need to do to keep your alarm current:

1. Perform a test once a month by arming it and triggering a sensor.
2. Replace the batteries in your sensors and control panel regularly.
3. Maintain your system’s backup battery so you’re ready for power outages.
4. Update your software on the control panel whenever available.
5. Repair or replace equipment that’s damaged, malfunctioning, or outdated.

Switching to a Different Monitoring Service

Since your ADT system will still work even after you cancel your service, you can still utilize the equipment.

If you’re not inclined to do DIY monitoring but want a more affordable or flexible service, you have a choice.

It’s not just ADT that offers alarm system services, there are several alternatives to choose from.

Here are some more affordable monitoring services:

• Frontpoint
• Cove
• Ring
• Vivint
• SimpliSafe

Note: These companies offer a variety of monitoring plans at different price points, expect to pay from $15 to $25 per month for their services.

Conclusion

If I cancel ADT will the alarm still work? To sum it up, your alarm system will still work since you still have the equipment.

It will work as a local alarm, but it will lose some remote monitoring features and benefits. Alternatively, you’ll need to self-monitor or switch to a different service.

To read up about your ADT alarm system and know how it works, visit our blog!