How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Brooklyn home
Motion sensors are essential aspects in a comprehensive home security strategy, as they’ll let you know if suspicious activity is occurring at your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Brooklyn homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, check out our tips on reducing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
Most household motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They track changes in infrared radiation within their detection zone and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are often initiated by:
- Pets climbing on countertops or couches
- Bursts of bright light through a window
- Various heat sources, such as fireplaces and vents
- Sudden temperature or humidity fluctuations, which cause components to be overly sensitive or non-reactive
Microwave motion sensors are another common option that discovers activity by constantly sending out and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Called active motion detectors, they recognize movement through modifications in the reflected signal. Any unforseen activity, like curtains moving when an HVAC fan starts up, can set off an alarm.
Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Brooklyn home
Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly disruptive as they might numb you to actual risks. Furthermore, frequent false alarms might become an annoyance for local law enforcement and may affect response times in the future. Luckily, you can help prevent them by adhering to these recommendations:
- Inspect the sensitivity levels of your sensors and modify to your animal’s size and behavior.
- Even when you have pet-friendly motion detectors, it’s smart not to direct them at high-activity spots like feeding stations.
- Avoid directing motion sensors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
- Ensure rooms are sufficiently insulated to prevent temperature fluctuations.
- Dust and clean equipment regularly to keep sensors working properly.
- Check batteries and swap out as needed. Certain devices will even inform you when batteries are running out.
- Consider a professional installation to ensure correct placement.
You could also opt for multi-function devices that utilize both passive and active means to detect movement, resulting in improved accuracy.
How should you utilize motion sensors in your Brooklyn smart home?
Integrating motion sensors into a modern smart home is a terrific way to enhance your safety and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Receive immediate updates on your cell phone whenever movement is detected. You might also use them to update you when your kids arrive home from school.
- Configure indoor cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor is tripped.
- Adjust temperature settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help curb energy bills.
Leading smart home devices, like the ones offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to better recognize threats and reduce false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors
Get the top motion sensors in Brooklyn from Vivint when you plan your fully integrated smart home. Our devices are pet-sensitive and let you program various home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and instant cell phone updates. Call (929) 552-2194 today to get started.