How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Little Rock home

Motion sensors are crucial aspects in a full-featured home security strategy, as they’ll let you know if an unwanted guest is prowling around your house. Sadly, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing annoyance and lost sleep for Little Rock homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, explore our recommendations for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

The bulk of household motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They monitor shifts in infrared radiation inside their detection zone and can tell when something is moving by its heat signature. False alarms are frequently caused by: 

• Pets climbing on countertops or furniture
• Streams of intense daylight through a window
• Different heat sources, such as fireplaces and air ducts
• Drastic humidity or temperature changes, which cause components to be too sensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are an additional frequently used option that detects movement by continuously sending out and evaluating electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors recognize movement through modifications in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated activity, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan starts up, can set off an alarm.

Tips for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Little Rock home

In addition to interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be even more troublesome as they can numb you to actual threats. Additionally, recurring false alarms might become a frustration for local law enforcement and may affect future response times. Luckily, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these suggestions:

• Check the sensitivity parameters of your equipment and adjust to your pet’s size and behavior.
• Avoid directing them at busy places like food bowls, even when you have pet-friendly detectors.
• Avoid pointing motion detectors at windows exposed to heavy sunlight.
• Ensure areas are adequately insulated to minimize drastic temperature fluctuations.
• Periodically dust and wipe down equipment to ensure proper function.
• Inspect batteries and replace as needed. Many devices will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
• Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper positioning.

You might also opt for dual-technology devices that utilize both passive and active tools to sense activity, providing improved accuracy.

How to use motion sensors in your Little Rock smart home?

Incorporating motion sensor into a modern smart home is a excellent way to boost your safety and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:

• Obtain automatic updates on your smartphone any time motion is detected. You could also use them to update you when your little ones get home from school.
• Configure cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
• Change thermostat settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This feature can help reduce energy costs.

Top smart home motion sensors, like those installed by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively identify threats and decrease false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the top motion sensors in Little Rock from Vivint when you plan your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and let you program various automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and instant mobile alerts. Reach out to (501) 510-8749 today to learn more.