How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Wichita Falls home
Motion sensors are essential elements in a full-featured home security installation, as they’ll tell you if unexpected activity is going on at your house. Sadly, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing Wichita Falls homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re searching for solutions, explore our tips on reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
Most home motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They track fluctuations in infrared radiation inside their field of view and can recognize when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are typically triggered by:
- Pets climbing on counters or furniture
- Flashes of direct light through a window
- Various heat sources, like fireplaces and air ducts
- Drastic temperature or humidity shifts, which cause equipment to be too sensitive or unresponsive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional widespread option that detects motion by continually emitting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. These active motion detectors spot movement via changes in the returning signal. Any unforseen motion, like curtains moving when an HVAC fan starts up, can set off an alarm.
Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Wichita Falls home
Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly problematic as they may numb you to real threats. Furthermore, repeated false alarms may become a nuisance to local law enforcement and may influence future response times. Thankfully, you can help avoid them by following these recommendations:
- Check the sensitivity parameters of your devices and change to your pet’s behavior and size.
- Avoid directing them at high-activity spots like food dispensers, even if you have animal-friendly sensors.
- Avoid aiming motion detectors at windows that receive bright sunlight.
- Make certain spaces are adequately insulated to prevent temperature shifts.
- Frequently dust and clean components to ensure proper function.
- Inspect batteries and change as needed. Certain motion sensors will even inform you when batteries are getting low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure proper positioning.
You might also invest in hybrid devices that employ both active and passive means to sense motion, resulting in greater accuracy.
How should you incorporate motion sensors into your Wichita Falls smart home?
Incorporating motion sensor into a new smart home is a excellent way to enhance your convenience and safety. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Obtain automatic notifications on your mobile device whenever activity is detected. You could also utilize them to alert you when your little ones arrive home from school.
- Program cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor trips.
- Adjust lighting or temperature levels based on your home’s occupancy. This capability can help curb utility costs.
Leading smart home motion detectors, like those installed by Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively identify real threats and reduce false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the best motion sensors in Wichita Falls from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our sensors are pet-sensitive and let you program numerous home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and instant mobile updates. Reach out to (940) 209-1266 today to design your system.