Roomba is an efficient little machine, but no one wants it getting under their feet while it cleans the house. Most people prefer to let their Roomba work while the house is empty and return home to a lovely clean floor. However, if you switch your security system on, is it going to think Roomba is an intruder?
Roomba won’t set off a Simplisafe alarm system. The alarm system uses infrared sensors and is triggered by heat sources, and Roomba is not hot enough for the sensors to pick it up. Additionally, if your cameras are set up correctly, Roomba won’t enter their field of view.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss in more detail why Roomba doesn’t trigger a Simplisafe alarm. I’ll also discuss why people think Roomba will set off an alarm and how you can set up Simplisafe to ensure it ignores robot vacuum cleaners.
Why Doesn’t Roomba Trigger a Simplisafe Alarm?
Simplisafe is an infrared alarm system: this means it uses infrared motion sensors to detect movement within the home. However, the sensitivity of the sensors can be set to a level where it knows to ignore both Roomba and pets.
While Roomba could still technically trigger the alarm, many Simplisafe alarm owners say they have never experienced that. The only time the system may pick up the Roomba is if it’s running hotter than usual. This shouldn’t be the case for a well-functioning Roomba, and it could indicate that your robot needs servicing.
Simplisafe also recommends angling the cameras a specific way so the motion sensor doesn’t pick up Roomba’s movements. I’ll discuss this technique later on in this article.
How Do Infrared Alarm Systems Work?
Infrared motion sensors work by detecting moving heat signatures. Living creatures give off a distinct heat signature, making it easy for an infrared alarm system to tell whether or not someone is in the house.
The average human body temperature is 99°F (37°C). Normal skin temperature, on the other hand, is usually between 91°F (32°C) and 95°F (35°C). An infrared alarm system can be “trained” to trigger when it senses temperatures within these ranges.
Machines also generate warmth, but a well-functioning Roomba shouldn’t emit enough heat to be picked up by an infrared camera. This allows the alarm system to ignore the Roomba while it cleans.
Why Do People Think the Roomba Sets Off Alarms?
Older home alarm systems are entirely based on motion sensors, meaning that the alarm will be set off by any movement within a sensor’s range. This initially posed a problem for pet owners as animals aren’t particularly good at sitting still all day. When robot vacuums started becoming popular, homeowners realized they were also an issue for motion sensor alarms.
More modern alarms allow you to adjust the sensitivity level of your motion detector, meaning you can “tell” it to only trigger when it senses something larger than the average pet. However, more and more alarm systems are moving toward infrared, which is far more efficient at understanding what is – and isn’t – a threat.
How Do I Set Up the Cameras so Simplisafe Isn’t Triggered by Roomba?
Changing your camera angle and height are two ways to prevent Simplisafe from being triggered by Roomba. To understand how this works, keep in mind that the sensor’s reach spans 45 degrees in three directions: left, right, and downwards. However, the camera does not have a view above this range.
Turning the camera upside down flips the range so you will get 45º to the left, the right, and upwards. This means that floor-level activity, such as the movement of your Roomba, won’t be detected by the camera.
At a height of 4.5 ft (1.37m), your Roomba is less likely to fall within your camera’s range. However, at that level, the sensors can still detect an intruder who is standing upright. So, if someone breaks into your home, the camera will immediately sense them unless they spend the entire time crouched close to the floor.
Other Solutions for Running Your Roomba
While the above advice is excellent for those who wouldn’t mind angling their cameras upside down, some people may not be comfortable changing the camera view in this way.
If you don’t want to change your camera’s angle or position, you can first run a test while at home to see if the Simplisafe is triggered when you set Roomba off. If the Roomba triggers the alarm, you might want to consider making the adjustments to your camera.
If you’re still not keen about Roomba being on while the alarm is set, the only other viable solution is to only have your Roomba on while you’re in the house. The added advantage of this is that if the Roomba gets stuck, you’re on hand to rescue it.
What Else Can I Use in the Home That Simplisafe Won’t Trigger?
Simplisafe allows you to adjust the motion sensitivity on its alarms. Therefore, if you have other types of robot cleaners, you can adjust the sensitivity of your alarm until you find a level where Simplisafe ignores them but is still able to pick up human motion.
Although Simplisafe is clever and doesn’t tend to trigger false alarms, remember that it’s still just a machine and, therefore, not fail-safe. This means you could still experience the odd occasion where the alarm is triggered despite there being no threat.
If you experience a false alarm, try to determine the source and the reason why your security system was triggered. Either eliminate or move the trigger source or alter your Simplisafe’s settings so that it doesn’t happen again.
Final Thoughts
Thankfully, it’s possible to keep your home safe and clean simultaneously. When designing its alarm systems, Simplisafe kept non-threatening movements in mind and made it easy for homeowners to avoid false alarm triggers.
Simplisafe has a wide range of alarm systems to suit every home. Whether you want something out-of-the-box, ready-to-go, or something a little more bespoke, you can get a top-notch system from Simplisafe.
