How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Fresno home
Motion sensors are crucial aspects in a full-featured home security plan, as they’ll let you know if suspicious activity is occurring at your house. Sadly, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for Fresno homeowners. If you’re searching for solutions, explore our suggestions for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.
What causes motion detector false alarms?
The majority of household motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They track fluctuations in infrared radiation within their field of view and can tell when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently initiated by:
- Pets jumping on furniture or counters
- Streams of bright daylight through a window
- A variety of heat sources, like vents and fireplaces
- Drastic temperature or humidity fluctuations, which cause components to be too sensitive or non-functional
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that detects activity by continuously broadcasting and assessing electromagnetic waves. Called active motion sensors, they recognize movement via changes in the reflected signal. Any unforseen motion, like curtains shifting when the HVAC fan turns on, can set off an alarm.
Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Fresno home
Beyond interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly troublesome as they may numb you to real dangers. Additionally, frequent false alarms can become a frustration for emergency providers and may affect future response times. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by following these recommendations:
- Investigate the sensitivity settings of your sensors and adjust to your pet’s size and behavior.
- Even when you have pet-sensitive motion sensors, it’s wise not to direct them at high-traffic areas like food dispensers.
- Avoid directing motion detectors at windows receiving bright sunlight.
- Make sure areas are properly insulated to help prevent temperature fluctuations.
- Frequently dust and wipe down devices to keep sensors working properly.
- Inspect batteries and change as needed. Many motion sensors will even let you know when batteries are low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure proper positioning.
You might also invest in hybrid devices that employ both active and passive tools to identify motion, providing a higher degree of accuracy.
How to use motion sensors in your Fresno smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a fantastic way to enhance your convenience and safety. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Receive instant notifications on your mobile device whenever activity is detected. You might also utilize them to update you when your little ones come home from school.
- Configure cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor is tripped.
- Change thermostat settings or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help curb utility costs.
Top-tier smart home motion detectors, like the ones installed by Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to better recognize threats and decrease false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in Fresno from Vivint when you plan your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are animal-sensitive and let you initiate numerous home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and immediate mobile updates. Reach out to (559) 354-6624 today to get started.