Should I Use Door & Window Sensors or Motion Detectors?

You should use both door and window sensors and motion detectors in your security setup. This will provide the best possible protection for your property, and it will make it extremely difficult for intruders to get around your sensors. That is why using both sensor types is ideal.

A small number of intruders may be able get around one type of security sensor. However, successfully eluding multiple types of sensors is immensely challenging. By using a combination of both door and window sensors and motion detectors, you will be able to provide the best protection for your home or business. Additionally, if one sensor fails, having another sensor as a backup plan can mean the difference between a burgled home and a successful capture.

A door and window contact can be placed on the frame of any door or window that can be opened. A magnet is placed on the moving portion of the door or window to let the user know if the structure is ever opened. However, it is possible (though very unlikely) that an intruder may be able to fool the sensor into believing that the door or window has remained closed, when really they have accessed the inside of your home or business. If this happens, your security system will be unable to detect the intruder if another protection method is not put into place.

Meanwhile, a motion detector typically works by using passive infrared (PIR) technology. This involves sensing any changes in infrared energy that occur in the immediate area. A person entering into a room with a properly functioning motion sensor will have a very difficult time fooling the device without getting caught. But if they are somehow able to avoid detection from the sensor, the security system may not pick them up.

Being able to avoid detection by both a door and window sensor and a motion detector is a very huge challenge for any intruder. That's why using the two devices together is typically the best way to protect a home or business. Using multiple detection methods is also helpful for situations in which one sensor fails for whatever reason. When it comes to security, it's always a good idea to have multiple protection plans in place so that you are prepared for any situation.