How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Seattle home
Motion sensors are critical aspects in a full-featured home security installation, as they’ll let you know if suspicious activity is occurring at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing Seattle homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, check out our suggestions for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They monitor changes in infrared radiation within their detection zone and can determine when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are typically initiated by:
- Pets leaping on counters or furniture
- Flashes of direct sunlight through a window
- A variety of heat sources, like ducts and fireplaces
- Drastic temperature or humidity shifts, which cause components to be hypersensitive or unresponsive
Microwave motion sensors are another widespread option that detects activity by continually broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Called active motion sensors, they recognize movement via alterations in the reflected signal. Any unforseen motion, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan starts up, can set off an alarm.
Ideas for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your Seattle home
Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly problematic as they might desensitize you to real dangers. Additionally, repeated false alarms might become a nuisance to first responders and may impact ensuing response times. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by following these tips:
- Investigate the sensitivity levels of your equipment and modify to your animal’s size and behavior.
- Even when you have animal-friendly motion sensors, it’s wise not to aim them at high-traffic areas like food dispensers.
- Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows receiving heavy sunlight.
- Make sure rooms are adequately insulated to prevent temperature changes.
- Frequently dust and clean devices to ensure proper function.
- Monitor batteries and replace as needed. Some devices will even inform you when batteries are low.
- Consider a professional installation to ensure correct positioning.
You could also choose multi-function devices that utilize both passive and active tools to detect motion, resulting in greater accuracy.
How can you use motion sensors in your Seattle smart home?
Incorporating motion sensor into a modern smart home is a fantastic way to enhance your safety and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Receive automatic alerts on your mobile device any time activity is found. You might program them to alert you when your little ones come home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust lighting or thermostat settings based on your home’s occupancy. This capability can help curb energy bills.
Top smart home devices, like the ones installed by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect actual threats and reduce false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in Seattle from Vivint when you customize your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are pet-sensitive and let you initiate a variety of home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and immediate mobile updates. Call (206) 590-6257 today to design your system.