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

Motion sensors are critical components in a comprehensive home security strategy, as they’ll tell you if an unwanted guest is prowling around your house. Regrettably, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing Eugene homeowners to lose sleep. If you’re trying to find solutions, explore our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

The majority of household motion detectors utilize passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They monitor fluctuations in infrared radiation in their field of view and can tell when someone is moving by their heat signature. False alarms are typically triggered by: 

• Pets leaping on tabletops or furniture
• Bursts of direct light through a window
• Various heat sources, like air ducts and fireplaces
• Drastic temperature or humidity shifts, which cause devices to be too sensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are another frequently used option that senses activity by constantly broadcasting and analyzing electromagnetic waves. These active motion sensors recognize movement via alterations in the reflected signal. Any unexpected movement, like curtains swaying when your HVAC fan kicks on, can initiate an alarm.

Tips for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your Eugene home

Beyond losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms can be increasingly disruptive as they may numb you to real dangers. Moreover, repeated false alarms can become a nuisance to first responders and may impact future response times. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by adhering to these suggestions:

• Inspect the sensitivity levels of your equipment and modify to your pet’s size and behavior.
• Even when using pet-friendly motion detectors, it’s wise not to direct them at high-traffic places like food bowls.
• Avoid aiming motion detectors at windows exposed to bright sunlight.
• Ensure areas are properly insulated to prevent temperature shifts.
• Dust and clean devices periodically to ensure proper function.
• Monitor batteries and change as needed. Many devices will even inform you when batteries are running out.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure proper positioning.

You might also choose dual-technology devices that use both active and passive tools to identify motion, providing greater accuracy.

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

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

• Obtain automatic alerts on your smartphone whenever activity is found. You could also program them to alert you when your children come home from school.
• Program interior cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor trips.
• Adjust lighting or temperature settings according to whether people are home. This feature can help reduce utility expenses.

Top smart home motion sensors, like the models offered by Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively identify threats and reduce false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with advanced motion sensors

Get leading motion sensors in Eugene from Vivint when you plan your fully integrated smart home. Our tools are pet-friendly and let you initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also benefit from the five-year battery life and automatic cell phone updates. Reach out to (541) 313-4091 today to get started.