How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Cincinnati home

Motion sensors are critical aspects in a multi-layered home security plan, as they’ll alert you whenever suspicious activity is going on at your house. Regrettably, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing irritation and lost sleep for Cincinnati homeowners. If you’re searching for solutions, check out our suggestions for reducing motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

Most household motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify movement. They sense fluctuations in infrared radiation in their field of view and can recognize when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are typically caused by: 

• Pets leaping on furniture or countertops
• Flashes of intense daylight through a window
• Different heat sources, like air ducts and fireplaces
• Drastic humidity or temperature shifts, which cause devices to be too sensitive or non-reactive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional widespread option that detects movement by constantly broadcasting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. These active motion detectors pinpoint movement through modifications in the returning signal. Any unforseen movement, like curtains swaying when an HVAC fan turns on, can trigger an alarm.

Tips for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Cincinnati home

Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are particularly problematic as they may lower your sensitivity to actual dangers. Furthermore, repeated false alarms might become an annoyance for emergency providers and may influence response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help avoid them by implementing these suggestions:

• Inspect the sensitivity settings of your equipment and change to your animal’s size and behavior.
• Avoid directing them at high-activity spots like feeding stations, even when using pet-friendly sensors.
• Avoid directing motion detectors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
• Make sure spaces are properly insulated to minimize extreme temperature changes.
• Dust and wipe off devices periodically to ensure proper function.
• Check batteries and change as needed. Some devices will even let you know when batteries are running out.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure optimal positioning.

You might also invest in dual-technology devices that utilize both passive and active tools to identify movement, providing a higher degree of accuracy.

How should you utilize motion sensors in your Cincinnati smart home?

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

• Obtain automatic notifications on your cell phone whenever motion is detected. You could also program them to update you when your little ones arrive home from school.
• Have interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor trips.
• Adjust temperature settings or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help curb energy bills.

Top smart home devices, like the ones from Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively identify threats and decrease false alarms.

Create your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the best motion sensors in Cincinnati from Vivint when you plan your comprehensive smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and allow you to initiate numerous home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and immediate mobile updates. Call (513) 506-9171 today to design your system.