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How to reduce motion sensor false alarms in your Logan home

April 30, 2025
Modern motion sensors attached to walls in a home

Motion sensors are essential elements in a full-featured home security strategy, as they’ll tell you if unexpected activity is transpiring at your house. Unfortunately, they’re also prone to false alarms, causing frustration and lost sleep for Logan homeowners. If you’re trying to find solutions, check out our recommendations for reducing motion sensor false alarms.

What causes motion detector false alarms?

Most residential motion detectors employ passive infrared (PIR) technology to identify activity. They track changes in infrared radiation inside their coverage zone and can recognize when something is in motion by its heat signature. False alarms are often initiated by: 

  • Pets climbing on sofas or tabletops
  • Bursts of bright light through a window
  • Different heat sources, like fireplaces and vents
  • Sudden humidity or temperature fluctuations, which cause equipment to be too sensitive or non-functional

Microwave motion sensors are an additional frequently used option that senses motion by constantly broadcasting and evaluating electromagnetic waves. Referred to as active motion sensors, they spot movement due to changes in the reflected signal. Any unforseen activity, like curtains moving when your HVAC fan turns on, can trigger an alarm.

Tips for reducing motion sensor false alarms at your Logan home

In addition to a lack of sleep, motion sensor false alarms are increasingly troublesome as they can desensitize you to real threats. Additionally, repeated false alarms can become a nuisance to emergency providers and may affect response times in the future. Fortunately, you can help avoid them by adhering to these tips:

  • Investigate the sensitivity settings of your sensors and modify to your animal’s size and behavior.
  • Even when you have pet-sensitive motion sensors, it’s advisable not to aim them at high-traffic areas like food dispensers.
  • Avoid pointing motion sensors at windows receiving heavy sunlight.
  • Ensure areas are sufficiently insulated to help prevent temperature shifts.
  • Regularly dust and wipe down components to keep sensors clear.
  • Check batteries and swap out as needed. Many motion sensors will even let you know when batteries are getting low.
  • Get them installed professionally to ensure proper placement.

You could also opt for multi-function devices that employ both passive and active means to sense movement, leading to greater accuracy.

How should you utilize motion sensors in your Logan smart home?

Integrating motion sensors into an automated smart home is a excellent way to boost your security and convenience. You’ll have the ability to do the following:

  • Get immediate alerts on your cell phone whenever movement is spotted. You could also program them to alert you when your little ones arrive home from school.
  • Program cameras to record automatically whenever a motion sensor is tripped.
  • Adjust temperature levels or lighting based on your home’s occupancy. This functionality can help lower energy bills.

Leading smart home devices, like the models offered by Vivint, continue to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to better recognize actual threats and decrease false alarms.

Build your Vivint smart home with dependable motion sensors

Get the best motion sensors in Logan from Vivint when you design your fully integrated smart home. Our devices are pet-friendly and permit you to initiate numerous automation actions. You’ll also enjoy a five-year battery life and immediate smartphone updates. Contact (562) 376-5457 today to get started.