How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Burlington home
Motion sensors are essential components in a comprehensive home security plan, as they’ll let you know if an unwanted guest is moving through your house. Regrettably, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing Burlington homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our suggestions for minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What initiates motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of home motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect activity. They sense fluctuations in infrared radiation in their detection zone and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently initiated by:
- Pets climbing on tabletops or sofas
- Intense sunlight shining through a window
- A variety of heat sources, such as ducts and fireplaces
- Sudden humidity or temperature fluctuations, which cause components to be hypersensitive or unresponsive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional frequently used option that discovers movement by continually emitting and assessing electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion sensors, they spot movement via modifications in the returning signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan turns on, can trigger an alarm.
Suggestions for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your Burlington home
In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be even more problematic as they can desensitize you to real threats. Additionally, repeated false alarms may become an annoyance for local law enforcement and may influence ensuing response times. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these recommendations:
- Investigate the sensitivity settings of your equipment and adjust to your furry friend’s size and behavior.
- Avoid directing them at high-traffic areas like food bowls, even when using pet-sensitive detectors.
- Avoid directing motion detectors at windows exposed to intense sunlight.
- Make certain spaces are properly insulated to help prevent drastic temperature fluctuations.
- Periodically dust and wipe off devices to keep sensors working properly.
- Monitor batteries and swap out as needed. Some motion sensors will even tell you when batteries are low.
- Consider a professional installation to ensure correct positioning.
You could also choose hybrid devices that utilize both active and passive means to sense motion, providing improved accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your Burlington smart home?
Installing motion sensors in a new smart home is a terrific way to improve your security and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Get immediate alerts on your smartphone when activity is found. You might program them to alert you when your kids get home from school.
- Have interior cameras to record when a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust temperature settings or lighting according to whether people are home. This capability can help lower utility costs.
Top-tier smart home motion sensors, like the ones offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect real threats and decrease false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors
Get the best motion sensors in Burlington from Vivint when you design your comprehensive smart home. Our devices are pet-friendly and allow you to configure a variety of automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery and automatic smartphone notifications. Contact (802) 945-2439 today to learn more.