How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your St. Louis home
Motion sensors are crucial elements in a full-featured home security installation, as they’ll let you know if suspicious activity is going on at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing St. Louis homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re searching for solutions, review our suggestions for reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What initiates motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to find activity. They monitor fluctuations in infrared radiation inside their detection zone and can determine when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are often caused by:
- Pets climbing on furniture or countertops
- Streams of direct light through a window
- Various heat sources, such as ducts and fireplaces
- Rapid temperature or humidity shifts, which cause components to be overly sensitive or non-functional
Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that detects movement by continuously broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors pinpoint movement due to changes in the returning signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains shifting when the HVAC fan starts up, can trigger an alarm.
Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your St. Louis home
In addition to a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly disruptive as they might numb you to real threats. Moreover, repeated false alarms might become an annoyance for emergency providers and may impact response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these tips:
- Investigate the sensitivity levels of your equipment and adjust to your furry friend’s size and behavior.
- Even when you have pet-friendly motion detectors, it’s smart not to aim them at high-traffic areas like food dispensers.
- Avoid directing motion sensors at windows that receive intense sunlight.
- Make certain rooms are sufficiently insulated to prevent temperature changes.
- Dust and wipe off equipment periodically to keep sensors clear.
- Monitor batteries and replace as needed. Some motion detectors will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure correct placement.
You may also opt for dual-technology devices that use both active and passive tools to identify movement, resulting in a higher degree of accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your St. Louis smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into a modern smart home is a fantastic way to enhance your safety and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Receive instant alerts on your smartphone when motion is spotted. You could also utilize them to alert you when your children arrive home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record any time a motion sensor trips.
- Adjust temperature levels or lighting according to whether people are home. This capability can help reduce utility expenses.
Top smart home motion sensors, like the ones from Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize real threats and decrease false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in St. Louis from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are pet-sensitive and permit you to program numerous automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery and automatic mobile updates. Contact (314) 866-4556 today to learn more.