How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Cleveland home

Motion sensors are critical components in a full-featured home security plan, as they’ll tell you if an uninvited guest is sneaking around your house. Regrettably, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing annoyance and lost sleep for Cleveland homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, explore our tips on reducing motion sensor false alarms.

What initiates motion detector false alarms?

The majority of home motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They sense shifts in infrared radiation inside their coverage zone and can tell when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are typically initiated by: 

• Pets jumping on sofas or tabletops
• Bright sunlight shining through a window
• A variety of heat sources, like vents and fireplaces
• Rapid temperature or humidity changes, which cause equipment to be hypersensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that discovers activity by continuously sending out and analyzing electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion detectors, they spot movement via changes in the returning signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains shifting when an HVAC fan kicks on, can initiate an alarm.

Suggestions for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your Cleveland home

Beyond interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly troublesome as they may numb you to genuine threats. Moreover, repeated false alarms may become a nuisance to emergency providers and may influence ensuing response times. Thankfully, you can help prevent them by adhering to these suggestions:

• Check the sensitivity levels of your sensors and modify to your pet’s behavior and size.
• Avoid pointing them at busy places like feeding stations, even when using pet-friendly detectors.
• Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
• Make sure spaces are sufficiently insulated to minimize temperature shifts.
• Frequently dust and wipe down devices to keep sensors clear.
• Inspect batteries and change as needed. Many motion sensors will even tell you when batteries are low.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure correct positioning.

You may also choose hybrid devices that use both active and passive tools to detect motion, leading to improved accuracy.

How should you utilize motion sensors in your Cleveland smart home?

Integrating motion sensors into a new smart home is a terrific way to improve your convenience and safety. You’ll be able to do the following:

• Get instant updates on your mobile device whenever motion is spotted. You might also use them to alert you when your kids arrive home from school.
• Configure indoor cameras to record any time a motion sensor trips.
• Adjust lighting or temperature levels based on your home’s occupancy. This feature can help lower energy expenses.

Leading smart home devices, like the ones offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively detect real threats and reduce false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the best motion sensors in Cleveland from Vivint when you plan your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and permit you to initiate a variety of automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery life and immediate mobile alerts. Call (216) 616-8604 today to learn more.