How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your San Bernardino home
Motion sensors are critical elements in a comprehensive home security installation, as they’ll tell you if suspicious activity is occurring at your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing San Bernardino homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re searching for solutions, explore our suggestions for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to find activity. They monitor shifts in infrared radiation inside their field of view and can tell when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are typically caused by:
- Pets climbing on sofas or counters
- Streams of direct daylight through a window
- A variety of heat sources, like fireplaces and ducts
- Drastic temperature or humidity fluctuations, which cause components to be hypersensitive or unresponsive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that discovers movement by constantly sending out and analyzing electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion sensors, they pinpoint movement due to changes in the returning signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains shifting when the HVAC fan starts up, can trigger an alarm.
Ideas for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your San Bernardino home
Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more disruptive as they might lower your sensitivity to actual dangers. Additionally, frequent false alarms might become a frustration for first responders and may affect future response times. Thankfully, you can help avoid them by following these recommendations:
- Investigate the sensitivity settings of your equipment and modify to your animal’s behavior and size.
- Even when using animal-friendly motion sensors, it’s advisable not to direct them at high-activity places like feeding stations.
- Avoid directing motion detectors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
- Ensure spaces are properly insulated to minimize extreme temperature shifts.
- Dust and clean components frequently to keep sensors working properly.
- Monitor batteries and swap out as needed. Many motion detectors will even inform you when batteries are getting low.
- Consider a professional installation to ensure proper placement.
You could also invest in dual-technology devices that utilize both passive and active tools to sense movement, resulting in greater accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your San Bernardino smart home?
Incorporating motion sensor into a new smart home is a terrific way to improve your security and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Receive immediate alerts on your smartphone any time activity is spotted. You could also program them to alert you when your children come home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
- Change lighting or temperature levels in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This feature can help lower energy bills.
Top-tier smart home motion detectors, like the models installed by Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively recognize actual threats and decrease false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in San Bernardino from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our sensors are pet-sensitive and allow you to initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and automatic mobile updates. Call (909) 324-3685 today to design your system.