Understanding and Preventing False Alarms
Updated
Your SimpliSafe® system is always ready to keep you secure and alert you to potential threats. While uncommon, false alarms can happen, so it’s important to install your devices correctly and take the proper precautions to prevent false alarms from happening.
If you have just experienced a false alarm, please see our What To Do After A Real Or False Alarm Event article for next steps.
We recommend viewing each section below to learn more about preventing false alarms for our devices. However, you can use the anchor links below to jump to a specific section.
Preventing False Alarms for Entry Sensors
Entry Sensors will trigger an alarm once the sensor and magnet pieces of the device become farther than 2 inches apart. To prevent an Entry Sensor from triggering a false alarm, make sure that neither piece of the sensor has fallen to the ground and that both pieces are less than 1.5 inches apart.
If one part of the Entry Sensor did fall, ensure that the surface where your sensor is mounted has been thoroughly cleaned and dried to help the adhesive stick better. Please see our Adhering Sensors to Surfaces article for more information.
If you have an Entry Sensor on a recessed door or window, the sensor and magnet pieces of the device may not be close enough together, which can cause a false alarm. In instances like that, we recommend using our slim magnet so the two pieces of the device can comfortably sit close together. If you need a slim magnet, please reach out to our Support team to get one.
Preventing False Alarms for Smoke Detectors
Our Smoke Detector and Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector use photoelectric sensors, meaning that they detect smoke through the distortion of a light beam inside the detector. Photoelectric sensors detect smoke faster than other detector types, but can also occasionally result in a false alarm.
We do not recommend mounting the Smoke Detector and Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector in an area that gets steamy, as the device’s photoelectric sensor can incorrectly detect steam as smoke. So placing these devices near a bathroom is not recommended.
We also recommend cleaning the device once a month to clear out any potential dust or debris from its detecting chamber. For more details on preventing false alarms, please refer to our Preventing False Alarms From the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector or Preventing False Alarms From the Smoke Detector articles in the Help Center.
Preventing False Alarms for Motion Sensors
Motion Sensors use their passive infrared (PIR) sensor to detect sources of heat moving around a room. If a pet was able to get close enough to a Motion Sensor, or direct sunlight hit the device, that could trigger a false alarm.
To learn more about preventing false alarms for your Motion Sensor, visit our Motion Sensor Gen 2 False Alarms or Motion Sensor Gen 1 False Alarms articles for more information.
Preventing False Alarms for Water Sensors
Water Sensors trigger an alarm once all the metal contacts on the bottom of the device detect a liquid. Unusually hot, humid, and steamy conditions can cause the Water Sensor to trigger a false alarm, so if the Water Sensor was placed in a very steamy bathroom that could cause it to trigger.
It’s also important to make sure that the Water Sensor is placed on a flat surface. Other items touching the metal contacts on the bottom of the Water Sensor can cause it to trigger a false alarm, so confirm that nothing is physically touching its contacts.
Preventing False Alarms for Temperature Sensors
Temperature Sensors trigger an alarm once it detects a temperature above or below your set range. We do not recommend placing the Temperature Sensor near a boiler or furnace, as their residual heat could trigger it to cause a false alarm. Instead, we recommend putting the Temperature Sensor near your thermostat or in a climate-controlled room for a more accurate reading.
Need More Help?
If you still cannot identify why one of your devices triggered a false alarm, please contact our Support team and they can help provide additional assistance.