The picture has gone blurry or hazy
Usually one of three things.
The lens is dirty. Dust builds up on outdoor cameras here quickly, and a hazy picture is often nothing more than that. Worth cleaning gently before assuming a fault.
There is condensation inside the housing. If the picture is clear at some times and foggy at others, particularly in the morning, moisture has got into the camera. That usually means the seal has failed and the camera needs replacing.
The camera has degraded. Outdoor cameras in this climate have a working life. Heat and sun eventually affect the sensor and the housing, and the picture softens permanently.
One or more cameras show nothing
A dead channel is usually a cable fault, a power problem or a failed camera. Working out which requires testing at the camera and at the recorder.
Sometimes it is simpler than expected. Connections work loose, particularly where cable runs outdoors or has been disturbed by other work on the property. If a camera stopped working shortly after building work, that is often the cause.
The picture is fine but nothing is recording
This is the one that matters most, and it usually means the hard drive has failed. Drives run continuously for years and eventually die. The cameras keep showing live images, so the system looks fine, and nobody notices until footage is needed.
It can also mean the drive is full and settings have stopped it overwriting, or that recording was switched off for a specific channel and never turned back on.
If recording matters to you, it is worth checking now that you can play back footage from a week ago, rather than finding out when it counts.
Footage from the date I need is gone
Not usually a fault. The drive filled and overwrote it. See the storage guide for how retention works and how to extend it.
The app has stopped working
Very common, and rarely a problem with the cameras. Remote viewing usually breaks after an internet provider change, a new router, a firmware or app update, or a change of phone.
Most of these are configuration issues that can be fixed without touching the cameras.
Night picture is poor but daytime is fine
Either the infrared illuminators have failed, or the camera never had adequate night performance for the position. If it worked before and does not now, it is likely a failure. If it was always poor at night, it is a specification issue and needs a better camera in that position.
Spiders and insects nesting in front of outdoor cameras are also a genuine and frequent cause of poor night images, as webs reflect the infrared straight back into the lens.
What is worth trying yourself
Clean the lens. Check the connections at the recorder are seated. Restart the recorder. Check whether the drive is recognised in the recorder's menu. Try playing back footage from a few days ago to confirm recording works.
Beyond that, diagnosis usually needs testing at the camera end.
Getting it repaired
We can assess many common systems, including installations completed by another company. Compatibility, parts availability and equipment condition are checked before repair work is approved.