> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.chirpwireless.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.chirpwireless.io/alarm.md).

# Alarm

See how Chirp turns sensor readings into home alerts, with an Inbox, alarm rules, and contact settings.

Chirp alarms help your home reach the person who can respond. A leak sensor can start an alert on your phone, and an escalation chain can contact someone else if the event stays unresolved. The Inbox keeps the event visible until you mark it handled.

An **alarm** is the record of something needing attention. Its saved **alarm definition** sets the message, people, and notification behavior; an automation **rule** raises it when the appropriate sensor condition is met. Set these pieces up once and let Chirp follow that response when new events occur.

Start with [Set Up a Home Alert](/alarm/set-up-a-home-alert.md) to configure the notification and its responding automation. A separate [trigger](/rules-engine/triggers.md) can watch for a condition, such as a door staying open; the automation supplies the response.

## What you will find here

The Alarm page has three tabs:

* **Inbox** — Every alarm event that has fired, with its current status. Filter by severity or status, search by title, resolve alarms, or jump to the originating rule.
* **Alarm definitions** — Your alarm configurations. Each definition sets the severity, escalation chain, notification schedule, suppression window, and message for a specific type of alert. Click **Add alarm rule** to create a new one.
* **Settings** — Your contact methods. Add or verify email and SMS contacts, enable or disable delivery per channel, and manage push notification delivery through the [Chirp Alerts app](/alarm/chirp-alerts-app.md).

A **Notification Severity** button in the page header (visible on all tabs) opens a separate modal for controlling how often each severity level repeats.

## Severity levels

Chirp uses five severity levels to prioritize alarms:

| Level        | When to use it                                                                             |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Critical** | Emergencies requiring immediate action — water leaks, fire alarms, security breaches       |
| **High**     | Urgent situations that need prompt attention — freezer temperature spikes, failing sensors |
| **Medium**   | Important but not time-critical — humidity drifting out of range, unusual energy use       |
| **Low**      | Routine awareness — minor fluctuations, scheduled check-ins                                |
| **Info**     | Background monitoring — status confirmations, periodic health reports                      |

Each level has its own notification repeat policy that you can configure in [Notification Severity](/alarm/notification-severity.md).

## Escalation

When an alarm fires and nobody resolves it, Chirp can escalate — notifying additional people through additional channels after a configurable delay. This means your home is never left unattended just because one person missed a notification.

For full details, see [Escalation Chains](/alarm/escalation-chains.md).

## Where to go next

* [Set Up a Home Alert](/alarm/set-up-a-home-alert.md) — Walk through creating an alarm definition: name, severity, escalation chain, schedule, message.
* [Escalation Chains](/alarm/escalation-chains.md) — How multi-step escalation works for unresolved alarms.
* [Notification Severity](/alarm/notification-severity.md) — Configure how often each severity level repeats.
* [Check and Clear Alerts](/alarm/check-and-clear-alerts.md) — Review what has happened, resolve alarms, and keep your inbox manageable.
* [Manage Contact Methods](/alarm/manage-contact-methods.md) — Add email addresses, verify them, and manage notification channels.
* [Chirp Alerts App](/alarm/chirp-alerts-app.md) — Install the mobile app for push notifications. Critical alerts ring with an alarm sound and vibration until silenced or acknowledged.


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