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

Motion sensors are crucial aspects in a multi-layered home security plan, as they’ll let you know if an uninvited guest is sneaking around your house. Sadly, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing annoyance and a bad night’s sleep for McAllen homeowners. If you’re searching for solutions, review our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

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

• Pets leaping on tabletops or sofas
• Bursts of intense light through a window
• Different heat sources, like ducts and fireplaces
• Rapid temperature or humidity changes, which cause devices to be hypersensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are an additional widespread option that detects movement by continually broadcasting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. These active motion detectors recognize movement via alterations in the returning signal. Any unexpected activity, like curtains swaying when the HVAC fan starts up, can initiate an alarm.

Ideas for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your McAllen home

In addition to losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be even more disruptive as they might desensitize you to real dangers. Furthermore, recurring false alarms may become an annoyance for local law enforcement and may influence response times in the future. Thankfully, you can help avoid them by adhering to these suggestions:

• Check the sensitivity settings of your equipment and change to your pet’s behavior and size.
• Avoid pointing them at high-traffic areas like food bowls, even if you have pet-sensitive sensors.
• Avoid directing motion sensors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
• Make sure rooms are adequately insulated to prevent drastic temperature fluctuations.
• Dust and clean devices regularly to ensure proper function.
• Monitor batteries and change as needed. Some devices will even inform you when batteries are low.
• Consider a professional installation to ensure proper positioning.

You might also opt for multi-function devices that employ both active and passive means to identify motion, leading to a higher degree of accuracy.

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

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

• Receive automatic alerts on your mobile device when movement is found. You could also program them to notify you when your little ones get home from school.
• Configure interior cameras to record when a motion sensor trips.
• Alter lighting or thermostat settings according to whether people are home. This feature can help reduce utility bills.

Leading smart home motion detectors, like the ones offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize threats and reduce false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with reliable motion sensors

Get the top motion sensors in McAllen from Vivint when you customize your fully integrated smart home. Our sensors are animal-sensitive and allow you to program a variety of home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and instant smartphone notifications. Contact (956) 303-1646 today to learn more.