How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your St. Paul home
Motion sensors are essential components in a multi-layered home security plan, as they’ll tell you if dubious activity is transpiring at your house. Sadly, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for St. Paul homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our suggestions for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
The majority of home motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They monitor shifts in infrared radiation in their field of view and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are typically initiated by:
- Pets climbing on furniture or tabletops
- Bursts of direct daylight through a window
- Various heat sources, such as fireplaces and air ducts
- Rapid temperature or humidity shifts, which cause components to be hypersensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that senses motion by constantly sending out and evaluating electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors spot movement via alterations in the reflected signal. Any unexpected activity, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan starts up, can trigger an alarm.
Tips for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your St. Paul home
Aside from interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more disruptive as they may numb you to genuine threats. Moreover, repeated false alarms may become a nuisance to local law enforcement and may impact future response times. Thankfully, you can help avoid them by adhering to 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 detectors, it’s advisable not to point them at high-traffic spots like food dispensers.
- Avoid directing motion sensors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
- Make sure areas are sufficiently insulated to prevent extreme temperature shifts.
- Dust and wipe off components periodically to keep sensors clear.
- 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 might also invest in hybrid devices that utilize both active and passive means to identify motion, resulting in improved accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your St. Paul smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a fantastic way to enhance your security and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Obtain immediate alerts on your cell phone when activity is found. You might also utilize them to notify you when your kids arrive home from school.
- Have cameras to record when a motion sensor trips.
- Adjust lighting or temperature settings in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help lower energy bills.
Leading smart home motion detectors, like the models from Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize real threats and reduce false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in St. Paul from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and allow you to initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and instant mobile updates. Reach out to (651) 240-6686 today to get started.