How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Elizabethtown home

Motion sensors are essential components in a multi-layered home security strategy, as they’ll let you know if suspicious activity is transpiring at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Elizabethtown homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re searching for solutions, check out our recommendations for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

The bulk of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They sense fluctuations in infrared radiation in their coverage zone and can determine when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are frequently caused by: 

• Pets leaping on furniture or countertops
• Intense sunlight shining through a window
• Different heat sources, like ducts and fireplaces
• Drastic temperature or humidity changes, which cause equipment to be hypersensitive or non-reactive

Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that detects movement by continuously broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion sensors, they recognize movement via modifications in the reflected signal. Any unforseen movement, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan starts up, can trigger an alarm.

Ideas for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Elizabethtown home

Aside from a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be particularly problematic as they can desensitize you to genuine dangers. Moreover, repeated false alarms can become an annoyance for emergency providers and may affect future response times. Luckily, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these recommendations:

• Inspect the sensitivity settings of your equipment and adjust to your animal’s size and behavior.
• Avoid aiming them at high-traffic spots like food bowls, even if you have pet-sensitive sensors.
• Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
• Ensure areas are adequately insulated to prevent temperature fluctuations.
• Dust and clean components periodically to ensure proper function.
• Check batteries and change as needed. Many motion detectors will even tell you when batteries are low.
• Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper positioning.

You could also opt for multi-function devices that employ both passive and active tools to detect motion, providing a higher degree of accuracy.

How can you use motion sensors in your Elizabethtown smart home?

Installing motion sensors in a modern smart home is a excellent way to improve your convenience and safety. You’ll have the ability to do the following:

• Receive automatic updates on your cell phone any time movement is found. You could also utilize them to alert you when your kids come home from school.
• Configure indoor cameras to record when a motion sensor is tripped.
• Change lighting or thermostat settings in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help reduce utility bills.

Top smart home motion sensors, like those offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to better detect actual threats and decrease false alarms.

Create your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors

Get the top motion sensors in Elizabethtown from Vivint when you design your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and allow you to program numerous automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery life and automatic smartphone alerts. Reach out to (270) 550-1814 today to get started.