How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Fort Wayne home
Motion sensors are critical components in a full-featured home security installation, as they’ll alert you whenever an unwanted guest is sneaking around your house. Sadly, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing Fort Wayne homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, check out our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
The majority of household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to find activity. They track shifts in infrared radiation in their field of view and can tell when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are often caused by:
- Pets climbing on sofas or countertops
- Bursts of bright light through a window
- A variety of heat sources, like fireplaces and air ducts
- Sudden temperature or humidity changes, which cause equipment to be hypersensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that detects motion by continuously emitting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors pinpoint movement through modifications in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated activity, like curtains shifting when your HVAC fan starts up, can initiate an alarm.
Tips for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Fort Wayne home
Beyond a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more troublesome as they might desensitize you to real threats. Additionally, recurring false alarms might become a nuisance to local law enforcement and may affect ensuing response times. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these recommendations:
- Check the sensitivity parameters of your devices and change to your pet’s size and behavior.
- Even if you have animal-friendly motion sensors, it’s smart not to aim them at busy areas like feeding stations.
- Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows exposed to bright sunlight.
- Make sure spaces are sufficiently insulated to help prevent temperature shifts.
- Dust and wipe down equipment regularly to keep sensors working properly.
- Monitor batteries and replace as needed. Some devices will even let you know when batteries are low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure correct positioning.
You might also choose multi-function devices that employ both passive and active tools to detect movement, leading to greater accuracy.
How can you utilize motion sensors in your Fort Wayne smart home?
Installing motion sensors in a modern smart home is a terrific way to improve your convenience and security. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Get instant notifications on your smartphone any time movement is found. You could also use them to alert you when your little ones arrive home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor trips.
- Adjust lighting or temperature levels based on your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help reduce energy costs.
Top-tier smart home motion detectors, like the ones offered by Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to better detect real threats and minimize false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get the best motion sensors in Fort Wayne from Vivint when you plan your fully functional smart home. Our devices are pet-friendly and let you initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery life and automatic cell phone notifications. Call (260) 286-9602 today to design your system.