The worst time to discover your CCTV wasn't recording is right after something happens that you needed it to capture. A short monthly routine prevents that.
A simple monthly check
- Review a short clip from each camera to confirm it's actually recording, not just displaying live.
- Wipe camera lenses clean — dust and cobwebs blur footage more than most people expect.
- Confirm the date and time stamp on the recording is accurate; a wrong timestamp can make footage useless as evidence.
- Check the recorder's free storage and confirm older footage is overwriting as expected, not stalling out.
- Test that the backup power (if fitted) actually keeps the system running through a short simulated outage.
Common causes of 'blank' footage
- A loose or corroded cable connection, especially outdoors after rain.
- A full hard drive that's stopped overwriting due to a settings error.
- Camera view physically blocked or knocked out of position.
- Power interruption with no working backup for the recorder.
Key takeaways
- Check that cameras are actually recording, not just displaying live, every month.
- A dirty lens or wrong timestamp can quietly ruin otherwise useful footage.
- Confirm backup power works before you need it to.
- Keep login details and installer contact accessible, not buried somewhere.
