Can smart home sensors really detect cockroaches?

If you bugged With cockroach problems on the rise (no excuses), you may be wondering if your smart home can help. Could you deploy sensors or even cameras to find pests like cockroaches and see if they’re causing problems? Or could these bugs be causing problems for your home security systems, like false alarms?

Questions like these are important, because cockroaches can indeed have an impact on smart home technology, and you can use devices to detect a new infestation or even track down pest entry points. Let’s go over the answers to common questions about how this all works.

Can Home Security Motion Detectors Detect Cockroaches and Other Pests?

Yes. Most smart home motion sensors use PIR, or passive infrared technology, which detects nearby infrared light, allowing them to detect people and objects. Because these sensors don’t have to actively create infrared light themselves, they’re great at saving battery life, but they’re sensitive enough to be triggered by nearby roaches — especially if a roach happens to crawl directly over the sensor.

Since home sensors are usually placed next to doors, cabinets and windowsills, this often happens when cockroaches are present. In addition, cockroaches can be attracted to the heat signals that some sensors give off.

Sensors like these and the more advanced motion detectors in home security cameras can also detect bats, mice, raccoons, squirrels, termites, and a host of other pests. Cockroaches are simply well-placed to trigger indoor sensors, especially in the middle of the night.

Can cockroaches actually trigger an emergency alarm system?

Depending on how your home security system is set up, they can. Cockroaches that are climbing around an armed system can trigger it and send you an alert. However, most home security systems will not directly contact the police or give you a false alarm ticket. And while monitoring companies may contact you with a concern, they will not send emergency services for a cockroach.

There have been cases of anxious homeowners calling the police because their system went off while they were away. only for the police to discover it was a cockroach create the alarm. That is why it is useful to link a security system to a smart camera, so that you can see via the live image whether you get an alarm and can see whether there is really an intruder.

Can I use a smart home sensor to detect insects under my devices?

It is possible, but it can take some work. You need compact sensors that can easily fit into these dark spaces and careful positioning to detect the movement of roaches scurrying across the floor. It probably works better for larger pests like mice — in fact, here’s a whole story of a homeowner who installed sensors in various locations to track how mice entered the kitchen. All entry points were also exposed, including how they crawled under doors.

Can night vision cameras detect the presence of cockroaches and other pests?

That’s not likely. In our testing, we’ve found that home security cameras ignore small movements, so they won’t be triggered by leaves swaying, etc. Cockroaches and other insects are simply too small for the camera’s sensors to trigger. You could try placing a camera on the floor and using it in conjunction with a PIR motion sensor to monitor the live view for cockroach activity. In these cases, the night vision feature on modern cameras could be a plus.

Is there a way to stop getting notifications about cockroaches at night if my sensors keep getting tripped?

You have a few options. First, we recommend placing the adhesive sensors a few inches higher, which is still enough to tag people (or pets) but makes it less likely that cockroaches will get close.

If that doesn’t work, check your app settings to see if you can disable certain sensors at night or create schedules that only allow sensors to activate at certain times. There’s usually a way to fix your problem. If the issues persist, you can simply mute notifications from your smart home app at night.

Can cockroaches set off smoke detectors?

They can’t set off smoke detector sensors, but they can cause related problems. If insects find their way into smoke detector wiring, they can set off false alarms. This has happened before, and it’s a sign that you should call a pest control company ASAP.

Can Home Automation Keep Cockroaches Away?

Not effective. Some suggest hooking up a strobe light to a motion sensor or using a sensor with a built-in flash, but that’s not a guaranteed deterrent, especially for light-averse pests like cockroaches. Get rid of pests by sealing even the smallest entry points, removing food sources, and calling in experts if necessary.

Can cockroaches damage my smart home devices?

If they get into the wiring, they can cause damage. Homeowners have found that cockroaches make a mess behind keyboards, security hubs, and even in Wi-Fi routers.

Can pest control use sensors to detect cockroaches in my home?

In some cases, perhaps. Some pest control companies set up their own sensor systems to detect larger pests such as rats as part of a pest control plan. It is unusual to use these sensors for small pests such as cockroaches, although some pest control companies may use thermal imaging and other tricks to see where large groups of cockroaches are hiding.

In addition to finding ways to deal with insects, you can also check out our guides on how to properly install security cameras, non-toxic sprays you can use to repel pests, and houseplants that can help keep bugs at bay.