How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Joliet home
Motion sensors are essential aspects in a multi-layered home security plan, as they’ll alert you whenever dubious activity is transpiring at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Joliet homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re looking for solutions, explore our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
The majority of home motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They track fluctuations in infrared radiation within their coverage zone and can tell when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are often caused by:
- Pets jumping on countertops or furniture
- Streams of bright sunlight through a window
- Various heat sources, like fireplaces and ducts
- Sudden humidity or temperature fluctuations, which cause equipment to be overly sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that senses motion by continually sending out and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion detectors, they pinpoint movement due to changes in the returning signal. Any unforseen motion, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan kicks on, can trigger an alarm.
Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Joliet home
Beyond interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly problematic as they might desensitize you to genuine threats. Furthermore, recurring false alarms may become an annoyance for first responders and may impact future response times. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by following these suggestions:
- Check the sensitivity levels of your sensors and adjust to your furry friend’s behavior and size.
- Even when you have animal-friendly motion sensors, it’s smart not to point them at high-traffic places like feeding stations.
- Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows exposed to heavy sunlight.
- Make sure spaces are adequately insulated to help prevent extreme temperature changes.
- Periodically dust and wipe off components to keep sensors working properly.
- Inspect batteries and replace as needed. Some devices will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure correct positioning.
You may also opt for dual-technology devices that use both active and passive means to detect movement, providing improved accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your Joliet smart home?
Installing motion sensors in a modern smart home is a excellent way to enhance your security and convenience. You’ll have the opportunity to do the following:
- Get instant notifications on your cell phone any time motion is detected. You might utilize them to alert you when your little ones come home from school.
- Program interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
- Change lighting or thermostat settings according to whether people are home. This feature can help lower utility expenses.
Top smart home motion detectors, like the models offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect threats and reduce false alarms.
Build your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in Joliet from Vivint when you plan your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are animal-sensitive and allow you to initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and instant cell phone alerts. Call (815) 427-4864 today to get started.