Managing and maintaining a CCTV setup is a very important job. Your CCTV setup will be completely ineffective if it’s not managed and maintained properly – which would make it an expense for nothing. If you’re going to shell out lots of money on a CCTV setup, it’s important to bear in mind the following management and maintenance tips for your CCTV network.
• Check the recording tape: In times gone by it was possible for CCTV recorders to stop working if the heads on the recorder became dusty or dirty. Although the new age of digital is upon us and most CCTV systems now record directly to a hard drive, there are still many things that can go wrong. Make sure you frequently check that your CCTV unit is actually recording – hard drives can and do develop faults and fail – so be sure to check frequently and replace a faulty hard drive ASAP. A faulty hard drive renders your entire CCTV system useless.
• Inspect the cables: The cables that link your CCTV cameras to the main CCTV unit are important – if the cables become damaged or broken, the cameras can’t transmit pictures back to be recorded. If you have external CCTV cameras in operation it’s especially important to check the cables are in good condition regularly. If you spot any damage ensure the cable is replaced as a priority to prevent any disruptions to your CCTV recording.
• Give mounts the once over: Sometimes CCTV cameras can become loose – especially if they’re positioned outside. Every now and then you should check the cameras in your network are still firmly secured – if they’re not, you should take measures to secure them again so they’re not at risk of coming down unexpectedly.
The one thing to bear in mind about CCTV maintenance is that heat is your main enemy. From hard drives overheating, to individual cameras getting a little too warm, if you don’t deal with the heat effectively the life span of your expensive CCTV equipment could be greatly shortened. The main area you should look at is where the main CCTV recording unit is kept – it should be in an area that is well ventilated so that the unit is not at risk of overheating when left on for days or weeks on end.
If you don’t have the time, energy or expertise to manage your CCTV system, why not look into hiring a firm to do it for you instead? There are plenty out there that will inspect your setup on a frequent basis to ensure that everything is operating as it should be.