How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Scranton home
Motion sensors are essential components in a full-featured home security strategy, as they’ll let you know if an uninvited guest is sneaking around your house. Unfortunately, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing frustration and a bad night’s sleep for Scranton homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our suggestions for minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
The majority of residential motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They sense shifts in infrared radiation within their detection zone and can determine when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are often triggered by:
- Pets climbing on couches or tabletops
- Bright sunlight streaming through a window
- Different heat sources, like air ducts and fireplaces
- Sudden humidity or temperature shifts, which cause devices to be too sensitive or unresponsive
Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that detects movement by constantly broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion detectors, they recognize movement through alterations in the reflected signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains shifting when an HVAC fan starts up, can trigger an alarm.
Ideas for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Scranton home
Aside from interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly problematic as they can numb you to actual dangers. Moreover, frequent false alarms can become an annoyance for emergency providers and may impact response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help avoid them by following these suggestions:
- Investigate the sensitivity levels of your equipment and modify to your animal’s size and behavior.
- Even when you have pet-friendly motion detectors, it’s wise not to point them at high-traffic spots like food bowls.
- Avoid directing motion detectors at windows receiving heavy sunlight.
- Make certain spaces are properly insulated to prevent temperature shifts.
- Dust and wipe off devices frequently to ensure proper function.
- Inspect batteries and swap out as needed. Many devices will even let you know when batteries are low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure correct positioning.
You may also choose dual-technology devices that utilize both passive and active tools to sense activity, leading to greater accuracy.
How to utilize motion sensors in your Scranton smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into a new smart home is a excellent way to boost your safety and convenience. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Obtain immediate updates on your cell phone when motion is spotted. You might also program them to update you when your little ones come home from school.
- Configure indoor cameras to record any time a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust lighting or temperature levels in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help lower energy expenses.
Top-tier smart home motion detectors, like the ones from Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect actual threats and reduce false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the best motion sensors in Scranton from Vivint when you design your comprehensive smart home. Our sensors are pet-sensitive and permit you to initiate a variety of automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and automatic cell phone updates. Call (570) 775-5689 today to get started.