How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Memphis home
Motion sensors are essential elements in a multi-layered home security installation, as they’ll alert you whenever suspicious activity is occurring at your house. Sadly, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing Memphis homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, review our recommendations for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
The majority of household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They monitor shifts in infrared radiation in their detection zone and can recognize when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are typically initiated by:
- Pets leaping on sofas or tabletops
- Bursts of bright sunlight through a window
- A variety of heat sources, such as fireplaces and ducts
- Sudden temperature or humidity shifts, which cause components to be overly sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that senses activity by constantly broadcasting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. Called active motion sensors, they pinpoint movement through changes in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated activity, like curtains moving when the HVAC fan kicks on, can initiate an alarm.
Ideas for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Memphis home
Aside from losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly disruptive as they can numb you to genuine dangers. Additionally, recurring false alarms might become an annoyance for emergency providers and may affect future response times. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by following these suggestions:
- Check the sensitivity levels of your equipment and change to your pet’s size and behavior.
- Even when you have pet-sensitive motion detectors, it’s wise not to point them at high-activity spots like feeding stations.
- Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows receiving bright sunlight.
- Make sure rooms are sufficiently insulated to minimize extreme temperature changes.
- Dust and wipe down components periodically to ensure proper function.
- Monitor batteries and change as needed. Many devices will even tell you when batteries are low.
- Let a pro do the installation to ensure correct positioning.
You could also choose hybrid devices that use both active and passive means to identify movement, providing improved accuracy.
How can you utilize motion sensors in your Memphis smart home?
Incorporating motion sensor into a new smart home is a fantastic way to boost your security and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Get immediate updates on your smartphone any time motion is spotted. You might also use them to notify you when your children arrive home from school.
- Have indoor cameras to record any time a motion sensor trips.
- Alter temperature settings or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This feature can help curb energy bills.
Leading smart home devices, like those installed by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect threats and decrease false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get the best motion sensors in Memphis from Vivint when you design your fully integrated smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and allow you to configure numerous automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and instant mobile alerts. Contact (901) 763-6618 today to design your system.