How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your San Antonio home
Motion sensors are essential elements in a comprehensive home security installation, as they’ll let you know if suspicious activity is occurring at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing irritation and a bad night’s sleep for San Antonio homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, explore our recommendations for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.
What initiates motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They track shifts in infrared radiation in their coverage zone and can determine when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are typically triggered by:
- Pets leaping on sofas or countertops
- Direct sunlight streaming through a window
- A variety of heat sources, such as fireplaces and air ducts
- Rapid humidity or temperature shifts, which cause components to be hypersensitive or non-functional
Microwave motion sensors are another widespread option that detects activity by constantly broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. These active motion detectors recognize movement through alterations in the reflected signal. Any unexpected movement, like curtains swaying when an HVAC fan starts up, can set off an alarm.
Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your San Antonio home
Aside from losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be even more troublesome as they may desensitize you to actual threats. Moreover, frequent false alarms may become an annoyance for emergency providers and may affect future response times. Luckily, you can help avoid them by implementing these recommendations:
- Investigate the sensitivity levels of your sensors and adjust to your furry friend’s size and behavior.
- Avoid pointing them at high-activity places like food bowls, even when using pet-sensitive sensors.
- Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows that receive intense sunlight.
- Make sure areas are adequately insulated to minimize temperature shifts.
- Periodically dust and wipe down equipment to ensure proper function.
- Monitor batteries and replace as needed. Many motion sensors will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
- Consider a professional installation to ensure proper positioning.
You could also choose dual-technology devices that use both passive and active sensors to identify motion, leading to greater accuracy.
How can you use motion sensors in your San Antonio smart home?
Incorporating motion sensor into a new smart home is a excellent way to boost your safety and convenience. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Receive immediate updates on your mobile device when movement is found. You could also utilize them to alert you when your kids come home from school.
- Configure interior cameras to record when a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust lighting or temperature settings based on your home’s occupancy. This feature can help reduce utility costs.
Top-tier smart home motion sensors, like the models from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize actual threats and decrease false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in San Antonio from Vivint when you plan your fully functional smart home. Our tools are animal-sensitive and let you program a variety of home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and instant smartphone notifications. Contact (210) 934-3694 today to get started.