Cold-weather security problems in Alberta and BC, and what to do about them
For property managers, building operators and front desk staff, from Edmonton and Calgary to Kelowna and the mountain towns.
The quick answer
Cold, snow and ice cause most winter security problems: snow or frost on camera lenses, frozen strikes and latches, ice at door thresholds and on parkade door tracks, and more power outages in storms. Clear what’s safe to reach, never force anything, and book a pre-winter check in October so it’s sorted before the cold.
We’ll do it for you
Book a pre-winter check. We check your cameras, doors, readers, intercoms and batteries before the cold sets in.
Cameras
Signs: snow, frost or ice on the lens, spider webs that light up at night, or fog inside the housing.
Safe quick fix: gently clear snow if it’s safe to reach from the ground. Never climb on ice.
Call us when: it keeps happening or there’s fog inside. We fit cameras and housings rated for the cold, many with built-in heaters. See camera offline or not recording.
Doors and strikes
Signs: strikes and latches that freeze, or doors that don’t close fully because of ice at the threshold.
Safe quick fix: clear snow and ice from the threshold with a shovel or scraper, then close the door fully.
Call us when: the door still sticks. See door strike not unlocking and maglock door won’t lock.
Parkade doors and gates
Signs: ice on the tracks or safety sensors, or slow operators.
Safe quick fix: clear snow away from the sensors and the door’s path. Never force the door, and keep clear while it moves.
Call us when: it still won’t open. See parkade gate won’t open.
Card readers and keypads
Signs: slow or no reads in extreme cold, or ice on the reader face.
Safe quick fix: brush off snow and hold the fob flat to the reader for a second.
Call us when: it doesn’t read for anyone. See fob reader not working.
Intercoms
Signs: a frozen screen or buttons, or fog inside the panel.
Call us when: residents aren’t getting calls. See intercom not calling residents.
Power and storms
Signs: more outages and power blips in storms, and a beeping UPS.
Call us when: the system doesn’t come back. See UPS beeping, system down and doors in a power outage.
Book a pre-winter check
Book a pre-winter check in October. We check cameras, door hardware, readers, intercoms, UPS batteries and heaters before the cold sets in, and fix what we find.
Never use heat guns, de-icer chemicals or hot water on electronics, locks or readers. They can damage the equipment or hurt someone.
Book a pre-winter check
We’ll check your cameras, doors, readers, intercoms and batteries before the cold sets in.
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
Questions
Do cameras work at -40?
Cameras rated for the cold do, and many outdoor models are. We choose cameras and housings rated for your site.
Why does my door only stick in winter?
Ice at the threshold, a frozen strike or latch, or the building’s air pressure pushing on the door. See door strike not unlocking.
Can you add heaters to cameras or doors?
We fit cameras and housings with built-in heaters, and fix doors that freeze. Tell us which ones give you trouble.
When should we book a pre-winter check?
In October, before the cold sets in.
More answers: System rescue questionsGlossary: system takeovercontroller
Book a pre-winter check
Tell us the building and what usually gives you trouble in winter. We’ll follow up to book it.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.