How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Shreveport home
Motion sensors are crucial elements in a multi-layered home security strategy, as they’ll tell you if an unwanted guest is sneaking around your house. Unfortunately, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for Shreveport homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our suggestions for minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
Most household motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They track shifts in infrared radiation in their field of view and can determine when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are typically initiated by:
- Pets jumping on counters or furniture
- Direct sunlight shining through a window
- Different heat sources, like vents and fireplaces
- Rapid temperature or humidity changes, which cause components to be too sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that discovers movement by continuously broadcasting and assessing electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion detectors, they pinpoint movement due to modifications in the reflected signal. Any unexpected movement, like curtains shifting when the HVAC fan kicks on, can set off an alarm.
Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Shreveport home
Aside from a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly problematic as they might lower your sensitivity to real dangers. Moreover, frequent false alarms might become an annoyance for emergency providers and may impact response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help avoid them by following these recommendations:
- Investigate the sensitivity parameters of your devices and change to your pet’s behavior and size.
- Even when using animal-friendly motion detectors, it’s advisable not to aim them at high-traffic areas like food dispensers.
- Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
- Make certain areas are adequately insulated to minimize temperature changes.
- Dust and wipe off equipment periodically to keep sensors clear.
- Monitor batteries and replace as needed. Certain devices will even tell you when batteries are getting low.
- Get them installed professionally to ensure correct positioning.
You could also choose hybrid devices that use both passive and active means to sense movement, providing greater accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your Shreveport smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a fantastic way to enhance your convenience and security. You’ll have the ability to do the following:
- Receive instant notifications on your smartphone when activity is found. You might use them to update you when your kids get home from school.
- Program indoor cameras to record any time a motion sensor trips.
- Change lighting or temperature settings in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help reduce energy expenses.
Top smart home devices, like the ones installed by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize actual threats and decrease false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in Shreveport from Vivint when you customize your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and let you initiate a variety of home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and immediate cell phone updates. Reach out to (318) 612-1329 today to learn more.