Home Security Motion Sensors and Pets: Can They Coexist?
According to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association and the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, more than half of all U.S. households own at least one dog or cat.
Why We Love Our Pets
There’s nothing quite like the companionship offered by a pet. They’ll be there to greet you at the door when your return home, and they’ll probably lounge by your side throughout day. They don’t hold grudges or complain, at least not as much as your spouse, your mom or others in your life do!
But if you’re one of the millions of pet owners, you might be wondering whether or not your furry four-legged companion will trigger a false alarm with your home’s security system.
A typical residential alarm system consists of several different components, including the control panel, door sensors, window sensors, a siren, and one or more motion sensors. The sensors protect the main points of entry into your home, triggering the alarm if an intruder passes through them. The motion sensors, however, are your home’s last line of defense. Even if a burglar is able to sneak past the sensor, the motion sensor will capture his or her movement; thus, triggering the alarm.
Motion Sensors and Pets
But how do motion sensors handle the presence of pets? Will your dog or cat trigger the alarm? These are some of the questions that many homeowners have regarding alarm systems.
Some of the older model alarm systems would trigger in the presence of dogs or cats, but thankfully this isn’t a problem with most of the newer alarm systems. A typical modern-day alarm system uses a special type of motion-sensing technology known as passive infrared (PIR). Once the system is armed and the motion sensor activated, it will scan the surrounding environment as it searches for changes in thermal energy (AKA heat). If there’s a heat signature moving throughout the environment, the motion sensor will trip the alarm.
While dogs, cats and other common household pets emit heat, it’s usually not enough for a PIR motion sensor to pick up. Again, security system companies and their installers acknowledge the fact that half of U.S. households own a dog or cat, and as such, they’ve adjusted their alarm systems so the motion sensors will not pick up on the activity of a dog or cat.
Of course, there are other types of motion-sensing technologies used in alarm systems, as well, some of which include Microwave (MW), area reflective, ultrasonic and vibration. These other technologies, however, are used less frequently than PIR. PIR is an effective and reliable means for capturing motion, and without triggering movements from pets.
The bottom line is that you can rest assured knowing that your dog or cat isn’t going to cause a false alarm. Assuming you have a new alarm system that was manufactured by a reputable company, pets won’t trip the motion sensor.
Contact Cultris Security today to find out more about how a modern security system can protect your home! Call 281-506-8466 or visit us online!
Image attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cloneofsnake/
