Most people only find out their CCTV system stopped recording when they need the footage. A few minutes of regular checking prevents that. This checklist shows what to look at, and how often, so your cameras, recorder, and hard drive keep working.
Why CCTV needs maintenance
A CCTV system runs 24 hours a day in heat, humidity, rain, and dust. Lenses get dirty, cables loosen, hard drives wear out, and settings change after a power cut. None of these problems announce themselves, and a camera can look fine while recording nothing.
Weekly checks (two minutes)
- Open live view and confirm every camera shows a picture.
- Play back footage from each camera, from a few days ago, to confirm it is really being recorded. Read how to tell if a CCTV camera is recording.
- Check the recorder status for any hard drive or camera-offline warnings.
Monthly checks (ten minutes)
- Clean the camera lenses with a soft, dry cloth. Dust, spider webs, and water marks blur the image, and spider webs cause false motion alerts at night.
- Check night footage after dark, to make sure night vision works on every camera.
- Check the date and time on the recorder, so recordings are easy to find.
- Look at the hard drive health in the recorder settings, and confirm how many days of footage are stored.
- Check the UPS, if you have one, and make sure it is switched on and not beeping.
Every six to twelve months
- Inspect cables and connectors for damage, loose connections, and water getting into junction boxes.
- Check camera angles. Cameras can shift over time, or a growing tree can block the view.
- Update the firmware of cameras and recorder when updates are available, to fix bugs and security issues. Do this carefully, and not during a storm or a power cut.
- Change passwords, and remove old users from the recorder and the phone app.
- Review your storage needs. If you have added cameras, you may need a bigger hard drive. Our CCTV storage guide explains how to estimate it.
After a power cut or storm
Check that every camera is back online, the recorder is recording again, and the date and time are correct. Sudden power loss is one of the most common causes of hard drive problems, which is one more reason to put the recorder, switch, and router on a UPS.
Keep a simple maintenance log
Write down the date of each check, what you looked at, and anything you changed: a cleaned lens, a firmware update, a replaced hard drive, or a camera that was moved. A log takes a minute to keep, and it helps you notice patterns, such as a camera that keeps going offline after rain, and it helps whoever services the system next. It also shows how long the hard drive has been running, so you can plan its replacement.
Signs something is wrong
- A camera shows a black or frozen picture
- Footage has gaps, or the oldest recording is only a day or two old
- The recorder beeps or shows a hard drive error
- Night footage is washed out, with a bright glare
- You stop receiving alerts on your phone
Replace the hard drive before it fails
Surveillance hard drives run continuously and wear out over time. If the recorder reports errors, or the drive is several years old, plan to replace it, and copy any important footage first.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a hard drive be replaced?
There is no fixed number, because it depends on the drive and how hard it works. Replace it if the recorder shows errors, and plan ahead for older drives rather than waiting for a failure.
Can I clean the lens with water?
Use a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, and avoid harsh chemicals. Switch off the camera's power first if you need to reach a high or exposed camera safely.
Does CCTV need a regular service?
A professional check every year is a good idea for larger systems, because it covers cables, angles, firmware, and storage in one visit. For small home systems, the checklist above is often enough.
Need help keeping your system working?
We install and support CCTV systems across Sri Lanka. See our CCTV installation service, or contact us if your cameras need a check.