How to cut down on motion sensor false alarms in your Bloomington home

Motion sensors are crucial components in a full-featured home security plan, as they’ll let you know if an uninvited guest is moving through your house. Unfortunately, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing irritation and lost sleep for Bloomington homeowners. If you’re looking for solutions, check out our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

The bulk of household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to find activity. They monitor changes in infrared radiation inside their detection zone and can tell when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are typically caused by: 

• Pets jumping on countertops or couches
• Intense sunlight coming through a window
• Various heat sources, such as ducts and fireplaces
• Sudden temperature or humidity fluctuations, which cause devices to be hypersensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that senses movement by continually sending out and assessing electromagnetic waves. Called active motion detectors, they recognize movement due to modifications in the reflected signal. Any unforseen activity, like curtains moving when the HVAC fan kicks on, can trigger an alarm.

Suggestions for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Bloomington home

Aside from a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more problematic as they might lower your sensitivity to real dangers. Additionally, frequent false alarms may become a frustration for emergency providers and may affect ensuing response times. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these suggestions:

• Investigate the sensitivity levels of your devices and change to your furry friend’s behavior and size.
• Even when using pet-sensitive motion sensors, it’s advisable not to direct them at high-traffic places like food dispensers.
• Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows receiving heavy sunlight.
• Ensure rooms are properly insulated to prevent drastic temperature shifts.
• Dust and wipe down devices regularly to ensure proper function.
• Inspect batteries and swap out as needed. Certain motion sensors will even inform you when batteries are running out.
• Consider a professional installation to ensure correct placement.

You may also choose multi-function devices that employ both passive and active means to sense activity, leading to improved accuracy.

How should you incorporate motion sensors into your Bloomington smart home?

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

• Receive immediate updates on your smartphone whenever movement is found. You might program them to update you when your children get home from school.
• Have cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
• Alter lighting or thermostat settings according to whether people are home. This feature can help reduce energy bills.

Leading smart home motion detectors, like the models from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to better detect real threats and minimize false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors

Get the best motion sensors in Bloomington from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our sensors are animal-sensitive and let you configure numerous home automation actions. You’ll also appreciate the five-year battery and automatic smartphone alerts. Reach out to (309) 332-1140 today to design your system.