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

Motion sensors are crucial elements in a comprehensive home security installation, as they’ll alert you whenever an unwelcome guest is sneaking around your house. Regrettably, they’re also susceptible to false alarms, causing annoyance and lost sleep for Wausau homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, review our tips on minimizing motion sensor false alarms.

What triggers motion detector false alarms?

Most home motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) technology to find movement. They track changes in infrared radiation inside their field of view and can tell when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are often triggered by: 

• Pets climbing on countertops or furniture
• Intense sunlight streaming through a window
• Different heat sources, like ducts and fireplaces
• Drastic humidity or temperature changes, which cause devices to be overly sensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are another common option that detects motion by constantly broadcasting and assessing electromagnetic waves. These active motion detectors pinpoint movement via alterations in the returning signal. Any unexpected activity, like curtains shifting when your HVAC fan kicks on, can initiate an alarm.

Tips for limiting motion sensor false alarms at your Wausau home

Aside from losing sleep, motion sensor false alarms are particularly problematic as they can numb you to actual threats. Furthermore, recurring false alarms might become a nuisance to first responders and may affect ensuing response times. Fortunately, you can help circumvent them by following these tips:

• Inspect the sensitivity settings of your equipment and modify to your pet’s behavior and size.
• Avoid directing them at busy places like feeding stations, even when you have animal-friendly detectors.
• Avoid directing motion detectors at windows receiving intense sunlight.
• Make certain rooms are sufficiently insulated to help prevent temperature shifts.
• Dust and wipe down devices periodically to ensure proper function.
• Monitor batteries and replace as needed. Certain motion sensors will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
• Get them installed professionally to ensure proper positioning.

You may also opt for multi-function devices that use both active and passive tools to identify motion, resulting in a higher degree of accuracy.

How can you use motion sensors in your Wausau smart home?

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

• Obtain automatic alerts on your smartphone any time motion is detected. You might use them to alert you when your little ones get home from school.
• Program cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor triggers.
• Change thermostat settings or lighting in accordance with your home’s occupancy. This feature can help lower utility costs.

Top smart home motion detectors, like the ones offered by Vivint, continue to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively recognize actual threats and minimize false alarms.

Design your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get leading motion sensors in Wausau from Vivint when you design your fully functional smart home. Our devices are animal-sensitive and permit you to initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery and automatic cell phone updates. Contact (715) 662-6232 today to learn more.