Are You Receiving Too Many Alerts From Your Cove System?
Feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of notifications from your Cove security system can be frustrating. Instead of providing peace of mind, an overly sensitive system can cause "alert fatigue," leading you to ignore potentially important notifications. The good news is that you can fine-tune your Cove system to be both responsive and intelligent.
This guide is designed to help you diagnose why you are receiving too many alerts and provide you with clear, actionable steps to resolve the issue. By making a few adjustments to your settings and sensor placement, you can ensure you only get notified about the events that truly matter.
Common Causes for Excessive Cove Alerts
Before diving into solutions, it’s helpful to understand what might be causing the problem. The issue is rarely a fault with the system itself but rather how it is configured and interacting with its environment.
- High Motion Sensitivity: The most common culprit. If your motion sensor's sensitivity is set to high, it will pick up on minor movements, such as pets, swaying curtains, or even shifting shadows.
- Poor Sensor Placement: A motion sensor pointed directly at a window, a heat source like a radiator, or an air conditioning vent can easily be triggered by temperature changes or movement outside.
- Environmental Factors: Passing cars, flashing lights, or even insects flying close to a camera lens can be misinterpreted as a threat, leading to an unwanted notification.
- Incorrect System Mode: You might be receiving alerts from interior sensors even when you are at home if your system is not correctly set to "Home" mode, which typically bypasses certain sensors.
Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing Cove Alerts
Follow these steps to regain control over your Cove security notifications. We recommend going through them in order, as the simplest fix is often the most effective.
1. Adjust Motion Detector Sensitivity
Your first port of call should be the sensitivity settings within the Cove app. Cove's motion detectors are designed to be adjustable to suit different home environments.
- Open the Cove App: Log in to your account on your smartphone.
- Navigate to Devices: Find the list of your installed sensors and cameras.
- Select the Problematic Sensor: Choose the motion detector that is sending the most frequent alerts.
- Find Sensitivity Settings: Look for an option labelled "Motion Sensitivity" or "Detection Settings."
- Lower the Setting: You will likely see a slider or options such as High, Medium, and Low. If it's on High, reduce it to Medium. If it's already on Medium, try Low.
- Save and Test: Save your changes and monitor the sensor's activity for the next 24 hours to see if the number of alerts has decreased.
2. Optimise Sensor and Camera Placement
Where your devices are placed is critical for accuracy. A small change in position or angle can make a huge difference.
- Motion Sensors:
- Ideal Height: Install motion sensors about 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) off the ground.
- Avoid Heat Sources: Keep them away from radiators, heating vents, sunny windows, and kitchen appliances.
- Pet-Friendly Placement: If you have pets, avoid pointing sensors towards stairs or furniture they are likely to climb on. The sensor's pet-friendly feature works best when pets are on the floor.
- Cameras:
- Avoid Direct Light: Do not point cameras directly at a light source or a window that gets a lot of direct sunlight, as this can cause false alerts due to light changes.
- Limit Moving Objects: Try to position cameras so that their view doesn't include irrelevant moving objects like rustling trees, flags, or busy roads.
3. Utilise Custom Modes and Rules
Your Cove system has different modes, such as "Away" and "Home," which you can customise. By properly configuring these, you can control which sensors are active at any given time.
- Home Mode: Ensure your "Home" mode is set up to bypass interior motion sensors while keeping perimeter sensors (doors and windows) active. This stops you or your family from triggering alerts while moving around inside.
- Custom Schedules: Explore the app for scheduling options. You might want to have higher sensitivity or more notifications enabled during the night or when you are away, and fewer during the day when you are home.
4. Check Door and Window Sensor Alignment
Sometimes, a door or window sensor can send false alerts if the two parts (the sensor and the magnet) are misaligned.
- Inspect the Gap: Check the gap between the sensor and its magnet when the door or window is closed. It should be no more than about 1-2 cm.
- Secure a Firm Fit: Ensure both parts are securely attached to the frame and the door/window itself. If they are loose, they could shift and trigger an alert.
If the Problem Persists
If you have tried all the steps above and are still being inundated with alerts, it might be time to contact support. There could be a more specific technical issue with a sensor or your hub. Keep a log of when the false alerts occur and which sensor is responsible, as this information will be very helpful for the support team.
By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you can transform your Cove system from a source of annoyance into a reliable and precise security partner.