How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Fayetteville home
Motion sensors are crucial components in a full-featured home security strategy, as they’ll alert you whenever dubious activity is going on at your house. Sadly, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing irritation and lost sleep for Fayetteville homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, review our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What initiates motion detector false alarms?
Most home motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect activity. They track shifts in infrared radiation in their detection zone and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently caused by:
- Pets leaping on counters or couches
- Bursts of direct sunlight through a window
- Various heat sources, like fireplaces and ducts
- Sudden humidity or temperature shifts, which cause equipment to be too sensitive or non-functional
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that discovers activity by continuously sending out and assessing electromagnetic waves. Called active motion sensors, they recognize movement through alterations in the returning signal. Any unforseen activity, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan kicks on, can trigger an alarm.
Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Fayetteville home
In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be even more disruptive as they might lower your sensitivity to actual dangers. Additionally, recurring false alarms can become an annoyance for local law enforcement and may influence ensuing response times. Luckily, you can help prevent them by adhering to these tips:
- Check the sensitivity settings of your devices and change to your pet’s size and behavior.
- Even if you have animal-friendly motion detectors, it’s wise not to aim them at high-traffic places like feeding stations.
- Avoid pointing motion detectors at windows exposed to bright sunlight.
- Make certain spaces are sufficiently insulated to help prevent temperature shifts.
- Dust and wipe down devices periodically to keep sensors clear.
- Monitor batteries and swap out as needed. Some motion sensors will even inform you when batteries are getting low.
- Consider a professional installation to ensure optimal placement.
You may also invest in dual-technology devices that utilize both active and passive sensors to identify motion, providing a higher degree of accuracy.
How to incorporate motion sensors into your Fayetteville smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a excellent way to improve your security and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Receive immediate notifications on your smartphone when activity is found. You might also use them to alert you when your little ones come home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record any time a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust temperature settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This feature can help curb energy expenses.
Leading smart home devices, like those from Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately identify real threats and decrease false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in Fayetteville from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and allow you to configure a variety of automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and automatic cell phone alerts. Contact (479) 364-5616 today to design your system.