False Alarm Causes

Our Motion Sensors have been designed to avoid false alarms. However, if you’ve experienced one, there are a few potential issues that may cause them:

• Direct sunlight hitting the sensor can trigger a false alarm. 

• Heating vents located in the room. If they are located within the sensor’s field of vision, they may cause false alarms. 

• Curtains moving in front of a warm radiator in the sensor's field of view

• Pets that are able to get too close to the sensor. Pets under 60 pounds generally don’t trigger Motion Sensors, but if they get close enough to the sensor (within a few feet), smaller dogs or cats may still be able to trigger it.

• We also recommend avoiding pointing the Motion Sensor at a couch or bed that the dog or cat may jump onto. 

• A bolt of lightning creating a sudden burst of light and heat.

• Open windows that allow the Motion Sensor to pick up on outdoor motion.

• A small insect crawling right in front of it.

• Force that vibrates or moves the sensor, like a strong gust of wind.

Avoiding False Alarm Triggers

Environmental triggers are rare, but they can cause false alarms. Sunlight, lighting, or outdoor motion through your window can be avoided by placing your Motion Sensor in a corner where it will not be directly hit by sunlight throughout the day. 

If you suspect that heating vents may be responsible for false alarms, position your sensor in a part of the room where it will not see the hot or cold air vent. As long as the change in the room’s ambient temperature is gradual, the sensor should not trigger.

For homes with pets, it’s crucial that you enable Pet Mode within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App. You can turn this setting on at any time by taking these steps:

1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App and navigate to the “My System” gear on the bottom of the screen.

2. Select “Device Settings”.

3. Select the Motion Sensor Gen 2 you would like to customize.

4. Under “Motion Sensitivity”, Select “Pet Mode”.

5. Toggle Pet Mode on.

6. Tap “send to base” on the bottom of the screen when you are done.

Canceling a False Alarm

If an Entry-, Motion-, or Glassbreak-triggered alarm is disarmed within 30 seconds of the initial alarm signal, our Monitoring Center will consider this a false alarm. That means you will not receive a phone call and a request for emergency services will not be issued.

After 30 seconds, the Monitoring Center will attempt to reach the Primary Contacts for your system to inform you of the alarm and determine whether or not emergency services are needed. They'll ask for your safeword if you wish to cancel the request for dispatch (not send the police). Otherwise, the Monitoring Center will request police dispatch to the location of your system. 

Please note, giving the wrong safeword will result in an immediate request for dispatch and you won't be told you got it wrong to protect anyone who may be under duress. Missing the phone calls to your primary contacts will also result in a request for police dispatch. See our What Happens During the Event of an Alarm? article for more information on what happens during an alarm.