How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Sandy Springs home

Motion sensors are crucial components in a multi-layered home security plan, as they’ll tell you if an unwanted guest is sneaking around your house. Unfortunately, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing annoyance and a bad night’s sleep for Sandy Springs homeowners. If you’re searching for solutions, explore our tips on cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

The bulk of residential motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They sense fluctuations in infrared radiation within their detection zone and can recognize when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are frequently triggered by: 

• Pets jumping on counters or sofas
• Direct sunlight coming through a window
• Various heat sources, such as air ducts and fireplaces
• Drastic temperature or humidity shifts, which cause equipment to be overly sensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that senses movement by continuously broadcasting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors pinpoint movement through alterations in the returning signal. Any unexpected movement, like curtains moving when the HVAC fan turns on, can set off an alarm.

Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Sandy Springs home

Aside from a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly problematic as they might desensitize you to genuine risks. Furthermore, recurring false alarms can become an annoyance for first responders and may impact response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help circumvent them by following these tips:

• Check the sensitivity parameters of your sensors and adjust to your animal’s size and behavior.
• Avoid pointing them at high-activity places like food dispensers, even when you have pet-sensitive detectors.
• Avoid aiming motion detectors at windows exposed to bright sunlight.
• Make sure areas are adequately insulated to help prevent temperature changes.
• Dust and clean equipment frequently to keep sensors working properly.
• Monitor batteries and swap out as needed. Some devices will even tell you when batteries are low.
• Consider a professional installation to ensure proper positioning.

You might also invest in dual-technology devices that use both passive and active sensors to detect movement, resulting in greater accuracy.

How to incorporate motion sensors into your Sandy Springs smart home?

Integrating motion sensors into a modern smart home is a fantastic way to boost your convenience and security. You’ll have the ability to do the following:

• Get automatic alerts on your mobile device whenever activity is found. You might also utilize them to update you when your children get home from school.
• Have indoor cameras to record when a motion sensor trips.
• Alter lighting or temperature settings according to whether people are home. This capability can help reduce energy bills.

Leading smart home devices, like the models from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively detect actual threats and minimize false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get leading motion sensors in Sandy Springs from Vivint when you customize your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are pet-sensitive and allow you to program various home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and automatic smartphone notifications. Call (470) 466-8688 today to get started.