How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Columbia home

Motion sensors are critical elements in a full-featured home security plan, as they’ll alert you whenever an uninvited guest is sneaking around your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Columbia homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

The majority of residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They sense fluctuations in infrared radiation in their coverage zone and can tell when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are frequently initiated by: 

• Pets climbing on furniture or tabletops
• Bursts of direct light through a window
• Various heat sources, like vents and fireplaces
• Sudden temperature or humidity shifts, which cause devices to be hypersensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are an additional widespread option that discovers motion by continually sending out and evaluating electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors spot movement through changes in the returning signal. Any unforseen movement, like curtains moving when the HVAC fan kicks on, can set off an alarm.

Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Columbia home

Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly troublesome as they may numb you to genuine risks. Furthermore, recurring false alarms can become an annoyance for emergency providers and may affect response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by following these suggestions:

• Inspect the sensitivity parameters of your sensors and modify to your pet’s size and behavior.
• Avoid pointing them at busy spots like feeding stations, even when using animal-friendly detectors.
• Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows receiving bright sunlight.
• Make sure areas are properly insulated to minimize drastic temperature fluctuations.
• Regularly dust and wipe off equipment to keep sensors clear.
• Check batteries and swap out as needed. Certain motion sensors will even inform you when batteries are low.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure correct placement.

You may also choose hybrid devices that utilize both active and passive sensors to identify motion, leading to greater accuracy.

How to use motion sensors in your Columbia smart home?

Installing motion sensors in a new smart home is a fantastic way to enhance your security and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:

• Receive immediate alerts on your mobile device when activity is spotted. You might also program them to update you when your little ones come home from school.
• Configure indoor cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
• Adjust temperature levels or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help reduce utility expenses.

Leading smart home devices, like those installed by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to better detect actual threats and reduce false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the top motion sensors in Columbia from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are animal-sensitive and allow you to program various automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and instant mobile alerts. Contact (803) 921-0946 today to learn more.