How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your San Jose home
Motion sensors are critical elements in a full-featured home security installation, as they’ll tell you if suspicious activity is transpiring at your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for San Jose homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, explore our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
The bulk of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect activity. They track shifts in infrared radiation within their detection zone and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently initiated by:
- Pets leaping on counters or couches
- Direct sunlight streaming through a window
- Different heat sources, such as ducts and fireplaces
- Drastic humidity or temperature changes, which cause components to be overly sensitive or non-functional
Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that senses movement by continually broadcasting and assessing electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion detectors, they recognize movement due to modifications in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated activity, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan kicks on, can initiate an alarm.
Ideas for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your San Jose home
In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are particularly disruptive as they can lower your sensitivity to genuine threats. Furthermore, repeated false alarms can become a frustration for emergency providers and may influence future response times. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by following these tips:
- Investigate the sensitivity parameters of your equipment and modify to your furry friend’s behavior and size.
- Avoid directing them at high-activity areas like food bowls, even if you have animal-friendly detectors.
- Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows receiving bright sunlight.
- Make certain spaces are properly insulated to help prevent extreme temperature shifts.
- Periodically dust and wipe down devices to keep sensors working properly.
- Inspect batteries and swap out as needed. Certain motion detectors will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
- Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper placement.
You might also invest in multi-function devices that use both passive and active means to sense activity, providing greater accuracy.
How can you use motion sensors in your San Jose smart home?
Installing motion sensors in a modern smart home is a terrific way to boost your safety and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Get automatic alerts on your mobile device whenever movement is spotted. You might use them to notify you when your little ones come home from school.
- Have cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
- Adjust temperature levels or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This capability can help reduce utility bills.
Leading smart home devices, like the ones from Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize real threats and minimize false alarms.
Create your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors
Get the best motion sensors in San Jose from Vivint when you customize your fully functional smart home. Our tools are animal-sensitive and allow you to initiate various automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery life and immediate mobile alerts. Reach out to (408) 790-0318 today to get started.