How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Ann Arbor home
Motion sensors are essential aspects in a multi-layered home security installation, as they’ll let you know if dubious activity is going on at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing Ann Arbor homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
Most household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect activity. They monitor shifts in infrared radiation in their coverage zone and can recognize when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are often caused by:
- Pets climbing on sofas or tabletops
- Direct sunlight streaming through a window
- Different heat sources, like fireplaces and ducts
- Rapid temperature or humidity fluctuations, which cause equipment to be overly sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that detects activity by constantly emitting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Referred to as active motion detectors, they recognize movement via changes in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated motion, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan turns on, can initiate an alarm.
Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Ann Arbor home
In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly troublesome as they can desensitize you to genuine dangers. Moreover, frequent false alarms might become a frustration for emergency providers and may affect response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help prevent them by following these tips:
- Inspect the sensitivity parameters of your devices and adjust to your pet’s behavior and size.
- Avoid aiming them at high-traffic spots like food dispensers, even when you have animal-friendly sensors.
- Avoid directing motion detectors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
- Ensure rooms are adequately insulated to help prevent extreme temperature changes.
- Dust and wipe down devices frequently to keep sensors working properly.
- Monitor batteries and change as needed. Some devices will even inform you when batteries are low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure correct placement.
You could also choose multi-function devices that use both active and passive means to detect motion, resulting in greater accuracy.
How should you use motion sensors in your Ann Arbor smart home?
Installing motion sensors in an automated smart home is a terrific way to improve your security and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Obtain automatic updates on your mobile device whenever movement is found. You could also utilize them to alert you when your kids come home from school.
- Configure indoor cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
- Change lighting or temperature settings in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help curb utility bills.
Top-tier smart home motion sensors, like the models from Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively detect threats and reduce false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in Ann Arbor from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our sensors are pet-friendly and allow you to initiate a variety of automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and instant mobile alerts. Call (734) 206-7166 today to design your system.