Differences Between Motion Detector Vs Window Sensor
Overview
A burglar strikes every 25.7 seconds in the US, adding up to more than two burglaries every minute and over 3300 burglaries a day. Meanwhile, north of Canada’s border, a residential break-in occurs every 90 seconds–this amounted to 161,291 burglaries in 2019 alone. What’s worse is that once your home has been burglarized, it’s 12 times more likely to happen again.
It’s no wonder that so many people have insomnia, depression, or long-term post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after their home has been invaded. This is where being proactive comes in! Whether or not your home has been broken into, the more you do to take charge of the situation, the more agency you’ll have, and the safer you’ll feel–rightly so. Enter a key debate in the world of home security: motion detectors vs window sensors. Which mechanism will better protect your home?
What Are Motion Detectors?
A motion detector (AKA as a motion sensor) is the cornerstone of any security system because it detects when someone is in your home, using one or more technologies to detect movement in a given area. When a motion detector senses motion, it signals this immediately to your security system control panel, which in turn alerts you to a potential home invader.
Pros
- They will detect if someone enters through a window with great accuracy.
- If paired with other detection mechanisms such as window sensors, they offer a highly reliable home security perimeter.
- They trigger an alarm, which is typically very effective at keeping burglars out.
Cons
- They are responsible for many false positives due to improper setups or bad quality equipment.
- They are only triggered when someone crosses their range. If not set up correctly, they can have blind spots.
- Even motion detectors designed to be used with pets can’t always differentiate between a person and a pet, making them difficult for dog or cat owners to use.
What Are Window Sensors?
Window sensors are devices designed to detect when your windows are opened, or their glass panes are shattered. Some window sensors will not detect glass breaking without an additional glass break detector. While window sensors trigger very few false alarms, they only trigger an alarm if a window is used as an entry point. Window sensors are the most commonly used security devices.
Pros
- They will detect if an intruder enters via a window with great accuracy.
- If paired with other detection mechanisms such as motion detectors, they generate a very reliable home security perimeter.
- They set off an alarm, which is generally very effective at keeping intruders from entering, to begin with.
Cons
- They won’t be helpful if the burglar did not need to use a window to enter your home.
- They may occasionally trigger false positives in response to loud sounds.
- Securing every single window with a sensor can be expensive, especially in large houses.
Which Is More Appropriate?
So, the question remains: in the comparison of motion detectors vs window sensors, which is better suited to protect your home? The answer, most often, is both. To this effect, many security systems include both motion detectors and window sensors for more robust intruder detection with far fewer blind spots!
Motion Detectors
Since motion detectors detect when someone is already inside a home, it’s most appropriate to place them in an area an intruder would have to pass through to get to any other part of your home.
Window Sensors
Window sensors are most appropriate for any home in which motion is commonplace even when you’re not home–as is the case with pet owners. You can typically place them in any part of your window.
