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

Motion sensors are essential components in a comprehensive home security strategy, as they’ll let you know if an unwelcome guest is prowling around your house. Regrettably, they’re also vulnerable to false alarms, causing Mesa homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re searching for solutions, review our recommendations for minimizing motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

The bulk of residential motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They track shifts in infrared radiation within their detection zone and can recognize when someone is in motion by their heat signature. False alarms are typically caused by: 

• Pets jumping on furniture or counters
• Streams of intense daylight through a window
• A variety of heat sources, like air ducts and fireplaces
• Sudden humidity or temperature changes, which cause components to be overly sensitive or unresponsive

Microwave motion sensors are an additional common option that detects motion by continually broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors pinpoint movement due to alterations in the reflected signal. Any unexpected motion, like curtains swaying when an HVAC fan turns on, can set off an alarm.

Suggestions for decreasing motion sensor false alarms at your Mesa home

Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are even more disruptive as they can numb you to real dangers. Furthermore, repeated false alarms can become a nuisance to local law enforcement and may impact future response times. Luckily, you can help prevent them by following these recommendations:

• Inspect the sensitivity settings of your equipment and adjust to your pet’s behavior and size.
• Even when using pet-sensitive motion sensors, it’s smart not to direct them at high-traffic areas like feeding stations.
• Avoid aiming motion detectors at windows exposed to bright sunlight.
• Make sure rooms are properly insulated to minimize temperature shifts.
• Dust and wipe off components regularly to keep sensors working properly.
• Monitor batteries and change as needed. Many motion detectors will even tell you when batteries are running out.
• Let a pro do the installation to ensure proper positioning.

You might also opt for dual-technology devices that employ both active and passive tools to detect motion, leading to greater accuracy.

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

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

• Obtain instant updates on your mobile device whenever motion is spotted. You could also use them to notify you when your little ones come home from school.
• Have interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor trips.
• Alter thermostat settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This capability can help curb energy bills.

Leading smart home motion sensors, like the models offered by Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately recognize real threats and reduce false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get leading motion sensors in Mesa from Vivint when you customize your fully functional smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and allow you to configure a variety of home automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and instant mobile updates. Contact (480) 568-6350 today to get started.