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Just had a motion sensor go nuts in a finished attic space
I was finishing up a job in a house in Portland, putting the last motion sensor in a converted attic bedroom. The space had a steep sloped ceiling and I mounted the sensor high on the wall, like I usually do. About an hour after I left, the homeowner called me, frantic, saying the alarm kept going off every few minutes. I drove back and found the sensor was picking up heat from a small HVAC duct that ran right behind the drywall where I mounted it. The duct would heat up, cool down, and trigger the sensor on a cycle. I had to relocate the sensor about four feet over, away from any hidden mechanicals. It was a simple fix, but a good reminder to really check what's behind the wall, even in a finished space. Anyone else run into weird triggers from stuff hidden in the walls?
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granthunt5mo ago
Got to disagree with the idea that checking behind the wall is the main takeaway here. The real issue was mounting a sensor right where an HVAC duct runs, that's just asking for trouble. You should always know where the mechanicals are before you drill, finished space or not. A stud finder with AC detection is basic gear for a reason. This feels like a planning problem, not a weird hidden trigger.
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irisowens5mo ago
Honestly though, how many people actually own a stud finder that detects wiring and pipes? Most guys I know just have the basic magnetic kind. So if you're in a finished space with no blueprints, what's your move besides cutting a small hole to look?
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phoenix_bailey4mo ago
My cousin hit a water line once.
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ivanbell5mo ago
Used to think checking walls was overkill, but this exact thing changed my mind fast!
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