How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Worcester home
Motion sensors are essential elements in a full-featured home security strategy, as they’ll tell you if an uninvited guest is sneaking around your house. Unfortunately, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing irritation and a bad night’s sleep for Worcester homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our tips on reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of household motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They sense shifts in infrared radiation inside their detection zone and can determine when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently triggered by:
- Pets jumping on furniture or counters
- Intense sunlight streaming through a window
- A variety of heat sources, like fireplaces and vents
- Drastic humidity or temperature changes, which cause components to be hypersensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional widespread option that senses motion by continually emitting and assessing electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors spot movement via modifications in the returning signal. Any unexpected movement, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan turns on, can set off an alarm.
Tips for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Worcester home
In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are particularly troublesome as they might desensitize you to actual risks. Moreover, frequent false alarms may become a frustration for local law enforcement and may impact response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help prevent them by adhering to these recommendations:
- Check the sensitivity settings of your devices and modify to your pet’s size and behavior.
- Avoid pointing them at busy places like food dispensers, even when you have pet-sensitive sensors.
- Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows exposed to heavy sunlight.
- Make sure areas are adequately insulated to help prevent extreme temperature fluctuations.
- Dust and clean equipment frequently to ensure proper function.
- Monitor batteries and change as needed. Many motion sensors will even tell you when batteries are running out.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure optimal positioning.
You may also opt for dual-technology devices that utilize both passive and active tools to identify activity, resulting in improved accuracy.
How can you utilize motion sensors in your Worcester smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into a new smart home is a terrific way to enhance your convenience and safety. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Receive automatic notifications on your mobile device when movement is spotted. You might also utilize them to update you when your kids get home from school.
- Program cameras to record any time a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust temperature levels or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This feature can help curb energy expenses.
Top smart home devices, like the models from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately identify actual threats and decrease false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in Worcester from Vivint when you plan your comprehensive smart home. Our sensors are animal-sensitive and allow you to configure a variety of automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and automatic mobile alerts. Contact (508) 392-5472 today to design your system.