How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Stamford home
Motion sensors are essential aspects in a multi-layered home security strategy, as they’ll tell you if an uninvited guest is moving through your house. Regrettably, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing frustration and a bad night’s sleep for Stamford homeowners. If you’re searching for solutions, explore our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
Most household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They track fluctuations in infrared radiation inside their field of view and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently initiated by:
- Pets leaping on sofas or counters
- Intense sunlight streaming through a window
- A variety of heat sources, such as air ducts and fireplaces
- Sudden humidity or temperature shifts, which cause devices to be too sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that senses motion by continuously sending out and analyzing electromagnetic waves. Referred to as active motion sensors, they pinpoint movement due to alterations in the returning signal. Any unforseen movement, like curtains moving when the HVAC fan starts up, can trigger an alarm.
Tips for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Stamford home
Beyond a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly problematic as they may numb you to real risks. Furthermore, frequent false alarms can become an annoyance for emergency providers and may influence ensuing response times. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by implementing these suggestions:
- Check the sensitivity parameters of your equipment and modify to your animal’s behavior and size.
- Avoid pointing them at busy areas like food bowls, even when using pet-friendly detectors.
- Avoid pointing motion detectors at windows receiving heavy sunlight.
- Make certain rooms are properly insulated to help prevent drastic temperature shifts.
- Regularly dust and wipe down equipment to keep sensors clear.
- Monitor batteries and swap out as needed. Certain motion sensors will even tell you when batteries are running out.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure optimal placement.
You may also opt for multi-function devices that use both passive and active sensors to sense movement, leading to a higher degree of accuracy.
How can you utilize motion sensors in your Stamford smart home?
Installing motion sensors in an automated smart home is a excellent way to enhance your security and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Obtain immediate alerts on your mobile device when movement is spotted. You could also program them to alert you when your little ones get home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
- Change temperature settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This feature can help lower energy costs.
Leading smart home motion detectors, like the ones from Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize actual threats and decrease false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in Stamford from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and let you configure a variety of automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery life and automatic cell phone notifications. Call (475) 250-2250 today to learn more.