Here are some helpful things to consider when choosing where to install Google Nest Detects in your home. Depending on your home’s design and your security needs, you may want to start with entrances like the front and back doors, hallways, and windows that aren’t visible from the street. Since everyone’s homes and needs are different, there’s no single right place to put your Detects.
A Detect can sense different kinds of activities depending on whether you install it on a door, window, or wall. For a quick refresher, see the following article:
Finding the best spots to place your Detects depends largely on your home’s layout and your specific needs. Use these guidelines to help you pick out the best places to install Detects in your home.
Common entrances
A good general strategy is to put Detects in places where you think someone might try to enter your home, such as a door or window. Installing Detect on a door will help your security system know when the door has been opened, or someone has walked nearby, and trigger the alarm when your system is armed. Here are some common entrances to keep in mind.
- Front doors
- Back doors
- The door connecting your home and garage
- Side doors
- Patio doors
Strategic placement to get the most out of Detect’s motion sensing
Commonly traveled areas
An area someone would have to walk through after entering your home is a great candidate for placing a Detect. For example, you could put one at the top of a stairway or at the end of the hallway leading to the master bedroom.
Rooms with multiple windows
If you have a room with a lot of windows, you might not want to install a Detect on each one. A different approach could be to install a single Detect on a wall near those windows instead because it can sense motion when it’s installed on a wall.
For example, instead of placing a Detect on two or three different windows in the kitchen, you could install a single Detect on a wall or door that faces those windows.
Height requirements
The bottom of the Detect should be 5’0” to 6’4” (1.5-1.9 m) from the floor. If you mount it any higher or lower, it could cause false alarms.
If you have a dog that weighs less than 40 pounds, you can enable Reduced Sensitivity in the Nest app to help reduce false alarms from your dog’s activity. In order to use this option, Detect must be mounted exactly 6’4” (1.9 m) from the floor.
Where NOT to place Nest Detect
The Nest app will give you options for installing Detect on different types of doors and windows. Detect was not designed for installation on other types of doors and windows that are not specifically mentioned in the Nest app. Do not install Detects:
- Anywhere on your home’s exterior
- On overhead garage doors
- On gates or fences
- On pet doors
In addition, Detects will not prevent entry and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for locks or other safety measures. Do not install Detects on:
- Interior doors that connect the spaces inside your home
- Pool doors or gates
- Medicine cabinets
- Liquor cabinets
- Gun safes
- Any storage area containing hazardous or potentially dangerous items or substances
Step by step instructions to install Detect
For more information about installing Detect, visit the following article: