Just Bought a House with ADT? Here is What you Need to Know
If you bought a house with an existing ADT system, you may want to know if you can use the equipment without monitoring or how much it is. We cover that and more in this article!
Did you just move into a house with ADT? If so, congrats! Utilizing the already installed existing ADT security system equipment is a great way to protect your home and save money along the way.
In this article, I cover what to do with your existing ADT equipment, how to turn the ADT alarm on and off, get a pin code, and how to activate the ADT monitoring service if that is what you are interested in.
Your ADT panel might look like this or it could be an older push button style
How do I get the ADT system turned on and get a pin code?
In order to get the ADT security system turned on, you will need to call in to activate the service. Their phone number is (866) 968-7164 and you can also check out their website. When you call ADT, you will speak to a sales rep over the phone who can set up your account, go over ADT packages, and discuss pricing for your home security monitoring.
ADT’s monthly monitoring cost starts at around $42.99 per month for their base package. If you want ADT cameras and smart home security features, the pricing goes up to about $48.99 per month.
Once you have decided on an ADT monitoring package, they will schedule a time and date to have an installer come to your home to activate the security system. Since you already have the ADT equipment installed, you can avoid the setup fee. Once the ADT installer reactivates the home security system, you will be given your pin code and taught how to use it.
From there, you will be able to successfully turn the ADT alarm on and off.
What makes ADT unique compared to it’s competitors is that fact that they have 6 different monitoring stations. This redundancy makes their service very reliable.
A key benefit to having the existing ADT equipment inside of the home is that you don’t have to pay for a setup or installation fee. You’ll also save money since you don’t need to pay upfront for brand new equipment.
Can I use ADT equipment without monitoring?
Once activated, you can use all the ADT cameras from your app
Yes, you can use ADT equipment without professional monitoring. The ADT security system will still sound the siren even if you are not paying for the monitoring service.
If you are able to get the pin code from the previous owners, then you can use the ADT system like normal. This means that you can arm and disarm the ADT security system with that pin code. The sensors, siren, and life safety devices like smoke detectors will still function.
If you have the ADT system armed and someone were to try and break in, the siren will still sound like normal. Since the ADT alarm is going off, no burglar is going to stick around to see if the cops show up!
The features you lose out on if you don’t pay for ADT professional monitoring are the ability to use the ADT app on your phone and for ADT to dispatch police, fire, or medical services if the alarm is triggered. The siren, sensors, and life safety equipment will still work without monitoring.
If you want to learn more about the ADT service, you can check out my ADT review here.
What if I don’t have the pin and I don’t want monitoring?
Your best bet on getting the pin code, if you don’t already have it, is to reach out to the previous home owner. This is one of the most common questions people have when buying a home with an existing ADT security system.
If you call ADT, they will not give any pin code out over the phone even if the ADT system is no longer active. This is a safety measure that ADT has in place to protect previous customers.
If you can’t get a hold of the previous owner, here are some common pin codes where you might have some luck trying.
You can try..
- 1234
- 2468
- 7923
None of these codes are guaranteed to work. However, they are common pin codes that you can try.
If the ADT security system keeps beeping at you, it could be a low battery warning. You can check out our guide on how to swap out ADT sensor batteries to fix that. Otherwise, you will need to uninstall the panel or just start up ADT monitoring service.
ADT packages and pricing
One of the first questions people ask is how much ADT monitoring costs when they already have the equipment in their home. Here’s a breakdown of ADT’s current packages and pricing.
ADT offers two main monitoring packages for home security:
- ADT monitoring at $42.99/month includes 24/7 professional monitoring, ADT security app access, smart home automation, and life safety monitoring for smoke, carbon monoxide, and flood sensors.
- ADT monitoring with cameras at $48.99/month includes everything above plus ADT camera services with live view, cloud storage, and smart security alerts.
Since you already have ADT equipment in your home, you can save on the upfront equipment cost. The setup and installation are the main things you can avoid paying for. However, the monthly monitoring pricing will be the same.
ADT does require a monitoring contract with a minimum of 12 months. If you finance any new ADT equipment, your contract extends to match the financing terms. This is one thing I wish ADT would change, but every major security company with professional installation operates this way.
Smart home and life safety features with ADT
If the ADT system in your new home is older, you might be missing out on some of the smart home and safety features that ADT now offers. Here’s what you can get with a modern ADT security setup.
Smart home security features include controlling locks, lights, thermostats, and garage doors from the ADT app. You can set up smart automations so that when you arm the ADT security system, all the doors lock and the lights turn off. ADT uses Z-Wave smart home devices, and the system is also compatible with Nest products.
Life safety monitoring is something a lot of people overlook. ADT can monitor smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and flood sensors in your home. If a life safety device is triggered, ADT’s monitoring center dispatches fire or medical services to your home. This is especially important for families with kids.
ADT cameras are another upgrade worth considering. ADT offers indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras. All ADT cameras include HD video, night vision, two-way talk, and 30 days of cloud storage. If you’re buying new ADT security equipment, I’d recommend at least getting a doorbell camera and one outdoor camera for your home.
How do I upgrade the ADT equipment?
If you want to upgrade the ADT equipment, you can do that when you call ADT at (866) 968-7164 or visit their website to activate the security system. ADT has been the largest home security company for a long time, so chances are that you have older ADT equipment in your home.
Their newest ADT panel is called the Command center. It is a touch screen keypad that comes with the ADT smart home app on your phone. You will be able to watch ADT cameras and control smart home devices around the home with it.
Most people are ok with a more traditional home security system without all the bells and whistles. The only thing that I would recommend is making sure that the ADT system is cellular based. This means that ADT monitoring will call out to the police department using cell towers instead of your landline.
This method of monitoring is the most reliable for home safety, because you don’t have to worry about someone cutting the landline on the outside of the home or trying to hack into your wifi.
Other than this feature, everything else is just a “nice to have” feature.
If you want a full list of home security systems that use cellular monitoring then you can read my review on the best home security systems.
Can I use this ADT equipment with another security company?
Most ADT equipment can be used with another security company. Your ADT panel and any ADT security cameras will not work with other companies. Those will be replaced by the new security company. However, any wired sensor that is in the home will work with the following companies.
- Vivint
- SimpliSafe (requires their own sensors, but will install alongside existing wired systems)
- Ring
- ADP Security
- Any other local security company that uses 2Gig, GE, or Honeywell equipment
Some wireless ADT sensors will not work with these security systems. It is always a good idea to call in advance to ask about compatibility before signing a contract.
If you’re thinking about switching from ADT to another home security company, I’d recommend looking at Vivint or SimpliSafe as alternatives. Vivint offers similar professional monitoring and smart home services with comparable packages. SimpliSafe is a good option if you want a home security system without a long-term contract, since they offer month-to-month monitoring.
I accidentally triggered the ADT alarm, how do I turn it off?
If you set the ADT alarm off by accident then you will want to put in the pin code to turn it off.
If you don’t have the pin code then you will want to unplug the ADT panel and remove the battery.
If you just unplug the ADT panel, the backup battery will still power the security system for another 3-4 hours at least. Here are some instructions on how to replace the battery. These steps will help you to actually remove the battery from the ADT security system.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an ADT security system without paying for monitoring?
Yes. The ADT alarm siren and sensors will still work without professional monitoring. You just won't have ADT dispatching police or fire services, and you won't have access to the ADT app.
How much does ADT monitoring cost per month?
ADT monitoring starts at $42.99 per month for the base home security package. If you add ADT cameras, the pricing goes up to $48.99 per month.
Does ADT require a contract?
Yes, ADT requires a minimum 12-month monitoring contract. If you finance ADT equipment, the contract length can extend up to 36 months to match the financing period.
Can I transfer ADT security service to my new home?
Yes. ADT offers a movers program that helps you transfer your ADT monitoring service to your new home. Contact ADT customer service to set this up before your move.
What smart home devices work with ADT security systems?
ADT security systems work with Z-Wave smart home devices including smart locks, thermostats, garage door openers, and smart lights. ADT is also compatible with Nest products.
Will ADT equipment work with other home security companies?
Wired sensors from an ADT system will work with most other security companies like Vivint and Ring. However, the ADT panel and ADT cameras will not transfer to a different security company.
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