How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your South Fulton home

Motion sensors are critical elements in a multi-layered home security plan, as they’ll let you know if unexpected activity is going on at your house. Sadly, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for South Fulton homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, review our tips on cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What initiates motion detector false alarms?

The majority of residential motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They monitor changes in infrared radiation in their detection zone and can recognize when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently initiated by: 

• Pets climbing on sofas or tabletops
• Streams of intense sunlight through a window
• Various heat sources, such as vents and fireplaces
• Drastic humidity or temperature shifts, which cause equipment to be overly sensitive or non-reactive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that senses motion by continuously emitting and assessing electromagnetic waves. These active motion detectors spot movement due to changes in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated movement, like curtains shifting when an HVAC fan kicks on, can trigger an alarm.

Ideas for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your South Fulton home

Beyond a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly troublesome as they might lower your sensitivity to real risks. Additionally, frequent false alarms may become an annoyance for local law enforcement and may affect ensuing response times. Luckily, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these recommendations:

• Inspect the sensitivity parameters of your equipment and change to your animal’s behavior and size.
• Even when you have animal-friendly motion detectors, it’s smart not to direct them at high-activity places like food dispensers.
• Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
• Make sure areas are adequately insulated to help prevent drastic temperature fluctuations.
• Dust and wipe off devices regularly to keep sensors working properly.
• Inspect batteries and swap out as needed. Many motion detectors will even tell you when batteries are low.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure correct positioning.

You may also opt for dual-technology devices that use both active and passive sensors to detect motion, leading to greater accuracy.

How should you use motion sensors in your South Fulton smart home?

Incorporating motion sensor into an automated smart home is a excellent way to boost your safety and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:

• Get immediate updates on your smartphone whenever movement is found. You could also utilize them to alert you when your children come home from school.
• Program indoor cameras to record when a motion sensor triggers.
• Alter temperature levels or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help curb energy costs.

Top-tier smart home motion sensors, like those from Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to better identify real threats and reduce false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors

Get the best motion sensors in South Fulton from Vivint when you design your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and allow you to configure a variety of automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and automatic cell phone notifications. Contact (731) 327-6123 today to get started.