How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Amarillo home

Motion sensors are crucial elements in a comprehensive home security strategy, as they’ll alert you whenever unexpected activity is occurring at your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Amarillo homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re searching for solutions, review our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

Most residential motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect activity. They track shifts in infrared radiation within their field of view and can determine when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are often caused by: 

• Pets jumping on couches or countertops
• Intense sunlight shining through a window
• Different heat sources, such as fireplaces and air ducts
• Drastic humidity or temperature fluctuations, which cause components to be too sensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that discovers activity by continuously sending out and analyzing electromagnetic waves. Referred to as active motion detectors, they pinpoint movement through modifications in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated activity, like curtains moving when your HVAC fan turns on, can initiate an alarm.

Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Amarillo home

Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly troublesome as they may numb you to genuine risks. Additionally, recurring false alarms can become a nuisance to local law enforcement and may impact response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help avoid them by implementing these tips:

• Inspect the sensitivity parameters of your sensors and modify to your pet’s size and behavior.
• Even when you have pet-sensitive motion detectors, it’s wise not to aim them at high-traffic areas like food bowls.
• Avoid aiming motion detectors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
• Make certain spaces are adequately insulated to minimize extreme temperature changes.
• Regularly dust and wipe down devices to ensure proper function.
• Monitor batteries and change as needed. Many motion sensors will even inform you when batteries are getting low.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure correct placement.

You may also invest in hybrid devices that use both active and passive means to sense activity, leading to greater accuracy.

How can you incorporate motion sensors into your Amarillo smart home?

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

• Get instant updates on your cell phone whenever motion is detected. You could also utilize them to alert you when your children get home from school.
• Configure cameras to record any time a motion sensor trips.
• Alter temperature settings or lighting according to whether people are home. This capability can help lower energy bills.

Top-tier smart home motion sensors, like the ones installed by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to better recognize threats and reduce false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the top motion sensors in Amarillo from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and permit you to configure various home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery and instant cell phone notifications. Contact (806) 615-4222 today to design your system.