Looking for any tips on removing an ADT alarm system and sensors. Should i try and remove all the wires from the wall or just push them back in once I cut the power?

Just curious-why are you removing them instead of repurposing them with a Konnected or Ring Retrofit panel?

Going with a wireless system

I would not remove them. Not to mention I've talked to several people that switched to wireless and hated it because of dropped signal and having to change our batteries. I want my system to be up and running at all times. As a business owner I was pushed to switch to wireless and said thanks but not thanks. We have a Stanley wired system with a battery back up for the security system and the office internet.

Well saving some money on monthly so my mistake to make I guess. I've heard nothing negative about it and don't want to be bogged down by long contracts

Our house had a adt wired system and just had smith Thompson (dfw) take it over.

ftworthag02 said:

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Our house had a adt wired system and just had smith Thompson (dfw) take it over.

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That would be my suggestion too. Buying a house now with ADT and will have Smith Thompson use the existing stuff. About $16/month monitored.

Another option is the envisalink evl4. It connects an old wired alarm to the internet and you can then self monitor for free. You can arm/disarm from anywhere with your phone. If alarm is triggered you can have it text or email you.

Kbyates95 said:

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Well saving some money on monthly so my mistake to make I guess. I've heard nothing negative about it and don't want to be bogged down by long contracts

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Where are you located? The alarm system isn't "ADT." Your panel and monitoring may be, but the rest of the stuff should be pretty universal. Check out Smith Thompson. We've had them for years and you pay quarterly what ADT charges monthly, and there's no contract. All of the fancy stuff ADT advertises can be done cheaper and without monthly fees via a hub like Smartthings or Wink. All you really need the alarm for is for monitoring.

Not really what I was hoping for, thanks for the advice but I'll figure out how to remove it elsewhere...

The short answer is to just push everything into the wall and cover with plates. What's the advantage of pulling out all of the wires? Hint, there isn't one. The sensors can probably be replaced with the wireless ones, so no big issue there.

But you also stated you'll be saving money and don't want any contracts. Several have recommended a provider that's cheap and doesn't have contracts. Anything that a wireless system will do, you can get that or more cheaper via a smart hub. I get an alert on my phone to know when my doors are unlocked and by whom, and if I wanted to, get the sensors that will let me know which window opens and to also have it trigger other actions like lights coming on, alarm sounding, etc.

Kbyates95 said:

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Not really what I was hoping for, thanks for the advice but I'll figure out how to remove it elsewhere...

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I moved into an older home (1987) in Kingwood and was monitored before by "Kingwood Security".

Smith Thompson came in and took it over.

You can use the old system just fine; no need to remove the sensors (which is what everyone is telling you).

The only time to 'remove' the old sensor is if it doesn't work or you don't need it anymore (removed door, etc.)

I had a sensor on one of the doors fail and rather than fixing it, he put a wireless sensor on the door. Should last about 5 years, but if it fails, then the system thinks my door is open and either A) goes off (which means it will be a Saturday morning at 3am after going to bed late) or B) won't allow the system to arm, thus negating the purpose of said alarm.

Now imagine that scenario, but with all of your sensors. In my house, I think we have just north of 50 sensors. No motion sensors, just door/windows. Each with a battery. Dying at their own rate.


Hence the suggestion: keep the hardware, upgrade what you need with wireless if you want and switch providers. The hardware/monitoring systems are different. You conflating apples and pineapples.


~egon

(note: uncle owns/runs/ran several alarm companies. Learned a lot of the business and how it's run over the course of 15+ years)

Kbyates95 said:

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Looking for any tips on removing an ADT alarm system and sensors. Should i try and remove all the wires from the wall or just push them back in once I cut the power?

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No sense in removing them. Just terminate at the wall and cover with a blank plate.

Smith Thompson does not serve smaller places like BCS.

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Smith Thompson does not serve smaller places like BCS.

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That answered my question as I was reading this. Too bad.

edit: going to try to reprogram my MIL's DSC system over Thanksgiving. We could not get the codes from the previous owner. If I fail - know any alarm people in BCS that can do it? She's not so much interested in monitoring, but likes the idea of something to "scare people away".

Try ASC in College Station.

schwack schwack said:

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Smith Thompson does not serve smaller places like BCS.

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That answered my question as I was reading this. Too bad.

edit: going to try to reprogram my MIL's DSC system over Thanksgiving. We could not get the codes from the previous owner. If I fail - know any alarm people in BCS that can do it? She's not so much interested in monitoring, but likes the idea of something to "scare people away".

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Just put a sign in the yard that reads..."Protected By The Outdoors Board"

That should do it...

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Just put a sign in the yard that reads..."Protected By The Outdoors Board"

That should do it...

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Good idea!

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Try ASC in College Station.

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Thanks, Dubi.

Gary79Ag said:

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schwack schwack said:

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Quote:

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Smith Thompson does not serve smaller places like BCS.

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That answered my question as I was reading this. Too bad.

edit: going to try to reprogram my MIL's DSC system over Thanksgiving. We could not get the codes from the previous owner. If I fail - know any alarm people in BCS that can do it? She's not so much interested in monitoring, but likes the idea of something to "scare people away".

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Just put a sign in the yard that reads..."Protected By The Outdoors Board"

That should do it...

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I still have two leftover stickers from the last run!

ftworthag02 said:

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I would not remove them. Not to mention I've talked to several people that switched to wireless and hated it because of dropped signal and having to change our batteries. I want my system to be up and running at all times. As a business owner I was pushed to switch to wireless and said thanks but not thanks. We have a Stanley wired system with a battery back up for the security system and the office internet.

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I've had a wireless Vivint system for about 10 years. Changed batteries twice. Never had a dropped signal.

Great to hear

Kbyates95 said:

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Well saving some money on monthly so my mistake to make I guess. I've heard nothing negative about it and don't want to be bogged down by long contracts

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Check out Smith Thompson.

JSKolache said:

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Kbyates95 said:

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Well saving some money on monthly so my mistake to make I guess. I've heard nothing negative about it and don't want to be bogged down by long contracts

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Check out Smith Thompson.

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This is College Station and we don't have Smith Thompson.

schwack schwack said:

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Quote:

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Smith Thompson does not serve smaller places like BCS.

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That answered my question as I was reading this. Too bad.

edit: going to try to reprogram my MIL's DSC system over Thanksgiving. We could not get the codes from the previous owner. If I fail - know any alarm people in BCS that can do it? She's not so much interested in monitoring, but likes the idea of something to "scare people away".

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Update?

I've personally installed several Honeywell wired systems for our home building clients. I like to use GW security for self monitoring. It's $10-$13 per month depending on your connection type. You get access to the Honeywell app that lets you remotely control the alarm and get notifications. They do the same for several other brands as well. I would never order parts from them again, but their monitoring service is good. Honeywell was a big learning curve to figure out btw.



My only experience with wireless is a Vivint system in my house. In five years I had one sensor go bad and no dead batteries. I just extended my contract one year and got them to come in and change batteries and check everything while lowering my monthly price. Vivint uses 2gig wireless sensors that are some of the best in the business.