How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Lakeland home
Motion sensors are crucial elements in a multi-layered home security strategy, as they’ll alert you whenever unexpected activity is transpiring at your house. Sadly, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing Lakeland homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our recommendations for minimizing motion sensor false alarms.
What triggers motion detector false alarms?
Most household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They track fluctuations in infrared radiation in their coverage zone and can tell when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are frequently triggered by:
- Pets leaping on countertops or sofas
- Flashes of bright sunlight through a window
- Various heat sources, such as ducts and fireplaces
- Drastic humidity or temperature changes, which cause equipment to be overly sensitive or non-functional
Microwave motion sensors are another widespread option that discovers movement by constantly emitting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion sensors, they recognize movement via modifications in the reflected signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains shifting when the HVAC fan starts up, can initiate an alarm.
Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Lakeland home
Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more disruptive as they can numb you to genuine threats. Furthermore, frequent false alarms may become a nuisance to first responders and may affect response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help avoid them by adhering to these recommendations:
- Check the sensitivity settings of your sensors and adjust to your animal’s behavior and size.
- Even when you have pet-friendly motion sensors, it’s wise not to point them at busy spots like feeding stations.
- Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows exposed to heavy sunlight.
- Make certain areas are sufficiently insulated to minimize temperature changes.
- Dust and wipe down components regularly to keep sensors working properly.
- Inspect batteries and change as needed. Many motion detectors will even inform you when batteries are running out.
- Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper positioning.
You might also invest in multi-function devices that employ both active and passive means to sense activity, providing a higher degree of accuracy.
How can you incorporate motion sensors into your Lakeland smart home?
Installing motion sensors in a modern smart home is a terrific way to boost your convenience and safety. You’ll be able to do the following:
- Receive immediate notifications on your smartphone any time activity is detected. You could also utilize them to notify you when your kids arrive home from school.
- Configure interior cameras to record any time a motion sensor is tripped.
- Change thermostat settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help reduce energy bills.
Leading smart home motion sensors, like the ones from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect real threats and reduce false alarms.
Design your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors
Get leading motion sensors in Lakeland from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and let you initiate numerous home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and automatic mobile notifications. Call (863) 591-5048 today to design your system.