We know choosing the right system for your home or business can raise a lot of questions—about products, installation, service areas, and support. That’s why we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions our customers ask. Whether you’re a new client or have been with us for years, this page is here to help you make informed decisions and feel confident every step of the way.
Our business office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. If you are having issues with your security system and it is urgent, please call our office. If it is after hours, you will be directed to our on-call technician. If it is not an emergency, please leave a message and we will return your call the next business day.
If your keypad is beeping (two quick beeps every ten seconds) your system has a yellow trouble light. Press the 
key to stop the beeping. The trouble light comes on when there is something that needs to be fixed on your alarm. The most common issues are low back-up batteries, power outages, or telephone line issues., or low batteries in wireless contacts. Press 
2 to view the trouble condition. Refer to the quick reference guide above for further information on why you have a trouble light.
You need to have a "Green Ready Light" lit to be able to set your alarm. Press the or the 
arrow keys to view which zone is open. Check that all the doors or windows on that zone are closed. If that doesn't fix the problem, one of the sensors is out of alignment or needs to be replaced. This usually requires a service call from one of our technicians. You can always “bypass” the zone temporarily until we can schedule an appointment.
The main back-up battery is located in the alarm panel, usually located in a closet. It is a large 12 volt battery and is easy to replace. Remove the red and black wires from the alarm battery. The new battery will have color coded clips for the red and black wires. Red is positive, black is negative. Insert the wires onto the new battery. There are several sizes of 12 volt batteries - rated by level of Ah (ampere-hour or amp-hour). Most alarm batteries use either 4 to 5 Ah or 7 to 8Ah batteries. The larger the Ah level, the longer the alarm can be sustained during a power outage. We recommend replacing your back-up battery every 3 to 5 years. You can purchase the battery from AHS, or several retailers including Radio Shack, ACE Hardware, or Home Depot.
Do not attempt to arm your system if you do not know your code! Pressing the STAY or AWAY keys can set the alarm, but if you don’t know a code, you will be unable to disarm the system. Call AHS to schedule a service call. We can reset a code for you and give a proper demonstration
We can monitor any of our alarm systems. If you have a landline telephone service, our monitoring rate is $24 per month. There is no activation fee and no long term contract required. Call AHS to schedule an appointment to activate service.
In most cases, no. We can monitor our systems without a landline phone using a Cellular Communicator. There are additional costs involved, however. Please call AHS for details.
We can also use most VOIP (Internet-based) phone services -- e.g. Comcast, AT&T Uverse, Vonage. They can be less reliable, but they are compatible. Some VOIP systems are not compatible (Magic Jack, APN).
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After you have switched phone service, call our office to put your alarm on “test”. We’ll have you set off your alarm and make sure we receive your test communications. Occasionally we need to come on site and change some wiring in the alarm panel or change programming in the alarm. There is no charge for this service call.
Most cities or counties require an alarm permit. This is not a permit to have an alarm installed, but to use an alarm system. Some cities require an annual fee for a permit, but most are free to register. The permit will keep you within your jurisdiction’s regulation and reduce the likelihood of fines for false alarms. Check with your local city or county to file a permit: Alarm Permits
Having a problem with your central vacuum? Call our office and talk to a technician and we can possibly diagnose the problem over the phone. But here are the common items that we sometimes need to fix:
This is simple…change the belt on the carpet brush. If you’re in Manteca and want to drop by our office we can do this for you, but it only takes a Phillip’s screwdriver and a little know-how to replace a $3 belt. Change the belt once a year for improved performance.
Make sure the unit in the garage is plugged in to a working electrical outlet. Some units have a reset button that may need to be pushed if the internal circuit breaker was tripped. There is an AUTO/MANUAL switch that will allow you to turn the unit on (switched to manual). If you can turn the unit on in the garage, but not from the hose, there may be a problem with the hose or the switch in the hose. Again, bring the hose (and carpet brush) into our office and we can service it quickly.
If you cannot turn on the unit using the AUTO/MANUAL switch, there may be a problem with the unit itself. We can send a technician on site to diagnose and repair the unit.
The switch on the central vacuum unit should be in the AUTO mode. If you have to “unplug” your central vacuum to turn it off, there is either a short in the wiring or a stuck relay that needs to be replaced. Schedule a service call with our office to fix this problem.
This can be a clog in an attachment or the piping, or a break in the piping. We have some techniques to determine the problem. Call our office and speak to a technician to diagnose. We usually need to come on site to fix a clog or repair a pipe.
Empty your central vacuum canister two to three times per year. Replace your carpet brush belt once a year. Hang your hose up properly. Do not keep the hose in a “kinked” position when put away…this can damage the wiring in the hose.
We take pride in delivering quality work with personal service—and our customers notice. Here’s what real clients have to say about their experience with Arvin Home Systems.
Whether you’re building new, upgrading, or just exploring options, our team is ready to help you find the right fit.
