How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Greenville home
Motion sensors are essential components in a comprehensive home security plan, as they’ll tell you if an uninvited guest is moving through your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing annoyance and lost sleep for Greenville homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, check out our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of residential motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They track changes in infrared radiation inside their coverage zone and can determine when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently triggered by:
- Pets climbing on couches or counters
- Bursts of direct daylight through a window
- Different heat sources, like fireplaces and air ducts
- Drastic temperature or humidity shifts, which cause devices to be too sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional frequently used option that senses activity by continuously sending out and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Referred to as active motion sensors, they recognize movement via alterations in the reflected signal. Any unexpected movement, like curtains shifting when the HVAC fan turns on, can trigger an alarm.
Tips for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Greenville home
In addition to a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly problematic as they may numb you to real threats. Furthermore, frequent false alarms may become a frustration for first responders and may affect response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help prevent them by following these suggestions:
- Inspect the sensitivity levels of your equipment and change to your animal’s size and behavior.
- Even when using pet-sensitive motion detectors, it’s wise not to aim them at high-traffic spots like feeding stations.
- Avoid directing motion detectors at windows that receive intense sunlight.
- Make sure spaces are sufficiently insulated to help prevent drastic temperature shifts.
- Dust and wipe down devices regularly to keep sensors clear.
- Monitor batteries and swap out as needed. Certain motion detectors will even tell you when batteries are running out.
- Let a pro do the installation to ensure optimal positioning.
You may also choose hybrid devices that utilize both active and passive means to detect activity, resulting in greater accuracy.
How can you utilize motion sensors in your Greenville smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a terrific way to improve your safety and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Get immediate notifications on your cell phone whenever activity is spotted. You could also utilize them to update you when your little ones arrive home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record any time a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust lighting or temperature settings in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help reduce utility bills.
Top smart home motion sensors, like those from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively recognize threats and minimize false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in Greenville from Vivint when you plan your fully functional smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and allow you to configure numerous home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and automatic smartphone updates. Contact (252) 648-6502 today to learn more.