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

Motion sensors are crucial elements in a comprehensive home security plan, as they’ll let you know if an uninvited guest is moving through your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Fort Lauderdale homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re looking for solutions, review our suggestions for cutting down on motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

Most home motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect activity. They sense shifts in infrared radiation inside their coverage zone and can tell when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are often initiated by: 

• Pets jumping on counters or furniture
• Streams of direct sunlight through a window
• Different heat sources, like air ducts and fireplaces
• Rapid humidity or temperature shifts, which cause components to be overly sensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that detects movement by continually sending out and assessing electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors spot movement due to changes in the reflected signal. Any unanticipated activity, like curtains shifting when your HVAC fan starts up, can set off an alarm.

Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Fort Lauderdale home

In addition to a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly troublesome as they might numb you to real dangers. Moreover, repeated false alarms may become a frustration for emergency providers and may influence future response times. Luckily, you can help prevent them by adhering to these tips:

• Inspect the sensitivity settings of your equipment and adjust to your pet’s behavior and size.
• Even when you have pet-friendly motion sensors, it’s advisable not to direct them at high-activity spots like food dispensers.
• Avoid aiming motion detectors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
• Make certain areas are adequately insulated to prevent extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Periodically dust and clean equipment to ensure proper function.
• Inspect batteries and swap out as needed. Certain devices will even let you know when batteries are running out.
• Consider a professional installation to ensure optimal positioning.

You could also invest in dual-technology devices that employ both active and passive sensors to detect activity, leading to a higher degree of accuracy.

How to use motion sensors in your Fort Lauderdale smart home?

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

• Receive automatic alerts on your cell phone when motion is spotted. You might use them to notify you when your kids arrive home from school.
• Have interior cameras to record any time a motion sensor trips.
• Change lighting or temperature settings according to whether people are home. This feature can help lower energy expenses.

Top smart home motion sensors, like those from Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively identify actual threats and minimize false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the top motion sensors in Fort Lauderdale from Vivint when you plan your comprehensive smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and let you initiate a variety of automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery and automatic smartphone notifications. Call (954) 287-0437 today to get started.