How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Provo home
Motion sensors are essential components in a full-featured home security installation, as they’ll tell you if an unwelcome guest is sneaking around your house. Sadly, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing Provo homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, check out our suggestions for reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They track changes in infrared radiation within their coverage zone and can recognize when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are often initiated by:
- Pets jumping on furniture or counters
- Direct sunlight shining through a window
- Various heat sources, like ducts and fireplaces
- Drastic humidity or temperature shifts, which cause equipment to be overly sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that discovers motion by continuously broadcasting and assessing electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors pinpoint movement through changes in the returning signal. Any unforseen movement, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan turns on, can trigger an alarm.
Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Provo home
In addition to a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly disruptive as they might numb you to actual threats. Furthermore, recurring false alarms can become an annoyance for emergency providers and may impact ensuing response times. Fortunately, you can help prevent them by following these recommendations:
- Investigate the sensitivity settings of your devices and modify to your pet’s size and behavior.
- Even if you have pet-sensitive motion sensors, it’s smart not to point them at busy areas like feeding stations.
- Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows exposed to heavy sunlight.
- Make certain rooms are properly insulated to help prevent extreme temperature changes.
- Frequently dust and wipe off devices to keep sensors clear.
- Check batteries and change as needed. Many motion sensors will even let you know when batteries are low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure proper placement.
You could also choose dual-technology devices that use both passive and active sensors to sense movement, resulting in greater accuracy.
How should you incorporate motion sensors into your Provo smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a terrific way to enhance your security and convenience. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Receive instant alerts on your mobile device any time movement is detected. You might utilize them to notify you when your little ones arrive home from school.
- Configure interior cameras to record when a motion sensor trips.
- Alter lighting or temperature settings according to whether people are home. This capability can help curb energy bills.
Top smart home motion sensors, like those from Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively detect real threats and minimize false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in Provo from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are pet-sensitive and let you program various home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and immediate smartphone updates. Reach out to (385) 455-7233 today to design your system.