How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your St. Petersburg home

Motion sensors are crucial aspects in a comprehensive home security plan, as they’ll let you know if an unwelcome guest is moving through your house. Unfortunately, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing St. Petersburg homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, explore our suggestions for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

Most household motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to find activity. They sense changes in infrared radiation inside their coverage zone and can tell when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are typically caused by: 

• Pets leaping on furniture or counters
• Bursts of intense light through a window
• Different heat sources, such as air ducts and fireplaces
• Sudden temperature or humidity shifts, which cause equipment to be hypersensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional frequently used option that senses motion by constantly emitting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Known as active motion detectors, they spot movement via modifications in the returning signal. Any unanticipated motion, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan kicks on, can set off an alarm.

Ideas for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your St. Petersburg home

In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be even more problematic as they may numb you to real threats. Additionally, recurring false alarms might become a frustration for emergency providers and may affect future response times. Thankfully, you can help prevent them by adhering to these recommendations:

• Check the sensitivity parameters of your sensors and adjust to your furry friend’s behavior and size.
• Even when you have pet-friendly motion sensors, it’s advisable not to aim them at busy areas like food dispensers.
• Avoid directing motion sensors at windows that receive heavy sunlight.
• Make certain spaces are properly insulated to prevent drastic temperature fluctuations.
• Dust and wipe off components regularly to keep sensors working properly.
• Inspect batteries and change as needed. Certain motion detectors will even let you know when batteries are running out.
• Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper placement.

You may also invest in hybrid devices that use both active and passive means to sense movement, providing improved accuracy.

How should you use motion sensors in your St. Petersburg smart home?

Incorporating motion sensor into an automated smart home is a excellent way to boost your convenience and security. You’ll have the ability to do the following:

• Get instant updates on your smartphone any time motion is found. You could also program them to update you when your kids come home from school.
• Configure interior cameras to record when a motion sensor triggers.
• Change temperature levels or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help curb energy bills.

Leading smart home devices, like the models from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to better identify threats and reduce false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors

Get the best motion sensors in St. Petersburg from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our tools are pet-sensitive and allow you to configure various automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery life and instant mobile notifications. Contact (727) 353-8318 today to get started.