How to minimize motion sensor false alarms in your Fort Worth home

Motion sensors are crucial components in a comprehensive home security strategy, as they’ll let you know if an uninvited guest is prowling around your house. Regrettably, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for Fort Worth homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, explore our recommendations for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

The bulk of home motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. They sense changes in infrared radiation inside their coverage zone and can determine when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are often initiated by: 

• Pets jumping on couches or countertops
• Direct sunlight coming through a window
• A variety of heat sources, such as ducts and fireplaces
• Drastic temperature or humidity fluctuations, which cause devices to be too sensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that detects movement by continuously sending out and assessing electromagnetic waves. Called active motion sensors, they pinpoint movement through alterations in the returning signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan turns on, can trigger an alarm.

Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Fort Worth home

Beyond interrupted sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more disruptive as they can desensitize you to real dangers. Additionally, recurring false alarms may become an annoyance for emergency providers and may impact response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help avoid them by following these recommendations:

• Check the sensitivity levels of your devices and adjust to your pet’s behavior and size.
• Avoid aiming them at high-traffic places like food bowls, even when you have animal-friendly sensors.
• Avoid aiming motion sensors at windows that receive intense sunlight.
• Make certain areas are sufficiently insulated to help prevent temperature changes.
• Frequently dust and clean equipment to ensure proper function.
• Inspect batteries and change as needed. Many motion sensors will even let you know when batteries are low.
• Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper placement.

You could also invest in multi-function devices that employ both active and passive tools to sense motion, leading to improved accuracy.

How can you utilize motion sensors in your Fort Worth smart home?

Integrating motion sensors into a modern smart home is a fantastic way to improve your security and convenience. You’ll be able to do the following:

• Receive automatic alerts on your smartphone whenever movement is detected. You could also utilize them to update you when your children arrive home from school.
• Have cameras to record any time a motion sensor is tripped.
• Adjust thermostat settings or lighting according to whether people are home. This capability can help reduce energy bills.

Leading smart home motion detectors, like the models offered by Vivint, continue to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively recognize threats and decrease false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors

Get leading motion sensors in Fort Worth from Vivint when you plan your fully functional smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and permit you to initiate various home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and instant smartphone notifications. Contact (817) 241-5844 today to learn more.