The start of winter has arrived, and that means darkness comes early this time of year. Darkness is an ally of thieves who take advantage of the extended nighttime hours to break into your car and home. However, as someone who had a CCTV surveillance system installed earlier in the year, you are confident it is a deterrent to opportunistic burglars. It is timely to remind you that a CCTV system is only effective if it is well maintained, so here are three tips to make sure your CCTV system is operating well this winter.

1. Weekly Check Of The Lenses

In the event of a burglary, every last detail is needed to help identify whoever has trespassed onto your property. A dirty lens could block vital clues you need to obtain this identity. Therefore, a weekly check and clean of your outer CCTV lens is a good use of your time. Have a microfiber cloth set aside which you only use for cleaning the CCTV lens, and give the lens a wipe over once a week. This will get rid of any dust or debris that can accumulate due to the winter winds.

2. Weekly Check Of The Camera Enclosure

Since you are outside cleaning your camera lens once a week anyway, use this time to also cast an eye over the camera enclosure. At this time of year, overnight temps can drop to zero, so you want to make sure ice or frost has not penetrated the camera casing. Once ice gets inside the casing and melts, that moisture can damage the wiring of the CCTV system. If the casing is cracked, then purchase a new one from your CCTV supplier.

3. Weekly Check Of The Wiring

Another component of your CCTV system that you should check every week or two is the external wiring. During the cold winter months, rodents come to your home looking for shelter. It is quite probable that they are living in your garage, shed or inside the cavities of your home. Rodents love to eat wiring, and the minute they break through the casing surrounding the wires, your CCTV could suffer from an electrical short and stop working altogether.

If you have concerns about the way your system is operating, and you can't find an obvious problem with it, then have it inspected by a CCTV specialist. An operational surveillance system is a deterrent to a burglar, and they will look for an easier target elsewhere, so make sure your system is doing exactly what it is designed to do, and that is protecting your home and family.