Motion Detector False Alarm Tips
A motion detector can alert you to any motion occurring in a zone that might be considered unexpected or intrusive. On occasion, a device may be oversensitive to ambient motion, insect motion, temperature changes, dust particles, or pet activity.
The below tips can help with this issue:
- • Adjust the field of view by changing the direction the detector is pointed. It is best practice to aim a motion detector away from the side of the room which has windows, as shadows casting through the window can incorrectly alarm the system.
- • Install the detector away from any air vents, as the spectrum visible to the detector can include sudden variations in temperature, and this is most concentrated at heating and air vents. If the detector is overly sensitive, there are several adjustments that can be made to reduce sensitivity, depending on the particular model of the motion detector.
- • If pet activity may be the cause of false alarming, we suggest closing the affected area off to pets, giving you a more pet resistant option (motion detectors are not entirely pet-proof). Another option is to upgrade to an indoor camera with video analytics that can identify and disregard pet activity.
If none of the above solutions are effective, or if you wish to rule these out as a reason for persistent false alerts, you can try the towel test. Simply place an opaque towel securely over the motion detector so that it will not be disturbed by wind or other movements. Ensure it blocks out any light, temperature changes, or motion, and remains in place for 24 hours. If the motion detector alerts during this time, then the motion detector is likely defective.
Contact Brinks Home by text at 469.513.8685 for further assistance.