Watched a house go from constant false alarms to zero in 6 weeks after one simple change

I had this one customer up in Vancouver, their system was triggering false alarms like crazy, sometimes 3 times a week. I went through every sensor with a fine-tooth comb for months, swapped batteries, re-aimed motion detectors, the whole works. Then I noticed their cat, a big Maine Coon, could squeeze under the beam of their motion sensor by jumping on a table. I adjusted the sensor height by about 8 inches and moved it away from the table, and boom, not one false alarm since. Anyone else had a pet mess with their installs like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

jake_torres681mo ago

Honestly, I used to think people were just too quick to blame their pets for false alarms. I figured it was more about bad equipment or lazy installers. But after a few years in the field, I've totally changed my mind on that. You're absolutely right, "cats are always the culprit." I had one house where the owners swore their cat never went near the living room, but I spotted it climbing onto a bookshelf right in front of a motion detector. That's why I always ask folks about their pets now before I even start tweaking anything. It saves so much time just knowing what kind of animal you're dealing with upfront.

jamesm382mo ago

Cats are always the culprit.

felix_williams712mo ago

I hear you on that. Our neighbor's cat has taken over our backyard and I've lost count of how many times I've had to clean up after it. It's gotten to the point where I can't leave any of our outdoor cushions outside or they'll get torn up.