With a desire to simplify day-to-day activities and add comfort to not only your home but life in general, the use of a wide variety of automation has proliferated, becoming an integral part of today’s lifestyle. As a matter of fact, over 90% of Americans own and use smart home devices on a daily basis. Utilizing available smart home equipment could save homeowners up to 30 minutes daily while at the same time reducing costs on operating a home by almost $2,000 annually.
Nearly all smart home devices link to the Internet, allowing you to operate them either with a smartphone or via voice assist while at home In addition, they can be manipulated when you’re not at home. As new advances are made on what seems like a daily basis, users have increased options for their dwellings.
With an ability to personalize the equipment you incorporate into your home based on your comfort level, it is suggested that homeowners consider the following devices to enhance convenience and reduce stress.
Lighting
Incorporating smart lighting and using upgraded bulbs enables you to control your home’s lighting while at home and when you’re away. With this technology, it is possible to program lights or use voice commands to activate “scenes” for entertaining, morning time, evening time, and even an emergency. For example, it can help to make sure lights are on when arriving home or creating a timing sequence when you are away to make it appear someone is home.
Kitchen Devices
As the hub of a home, the kitchen can include a variety of devices, including a scale to not only weigh ingredients but suggest recipes and translate measurements and a smart grill that watches food’s internal temperature as it cooks. It is now possible to speak to your refrigerator, as voice recognition allows you to modify the grocery list, order food online, seek recipes, check expiration dates, and more. In addition, some models have screens that allow you to “place” notes on the refrigerator, while others feature cameras, enabling you to see inside without opening the door.
Home Security
High-end securing systems now include cameras for inside and outside the house, along with a secured keypad, door and window systems, and motion detectors. This allows homeowners to monitor and watch video on their smart devices, as well as having the system synced with a professional security company to offer additional protection. In some cases, these systems can be linked to your neighbors or local authorities.
Thermostats
In addition to quickly being able to change the temperature within a home by using its base or an app on a mobile device, smart thermostats now feature movement sensors that identify when activity is occurring in the home, automatically adapting a home’s heating to match peak times. In addition to convenience, homeowners increase command over their energy bill, reducing costs and consumption.
Water Monitor
Making sure a home’s water supply is functioning properly is possible with a water monitor, as salt levels in the water are checked as well as whether hazardous sediment is lurking in the system. A monitor also examines water usage, showing peak times and providing suggestions on ways to save water.
Leak Technology
A typical household leak can waste 10,000 gallons of water annually. In addition, leaks can be the origin of significant damage to a home’s foundation, structure, and interior. By affixing a water monitor to your pipes, ultrasonic technology is used to expose leaks throughout the system. Set up requires little time and the monitor provides data to an app on your smart device, transmitting an alert if it appears there is an issue.
Energy Monitor
In addition to allowing homeowners to have an overall picture of their consumption, an energy meter provides ideas on how to reduce usage, which in turn will reduce costs and enhance the environment. More sophisticated monitors provide specifics on which appliances and equipment are consuming the most energy. These work particularly well with the addition of a solar collection and storage system to get the most out of your investment.
Smoke Detectors
It is common knowledge that all homes should have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. New models feature alarms that indicate the specific area of danger so it can be averted as well as sensors that determine how fast the fire is traveling.
Air Quality Monitor
Monitoring indoor air quality is necessary to maintain the health of those who reside in the home. An indoor air monitor advises when there is a variation in air quality, such as the level of humidity in the room and the quantity of volatile organic compounds in the air. These devices are portable, so they can be moved between rooms to determine levels throughout the home.
At Balsitis Contracting, we will work with you to incorporate this type of automation throughout your home to make it safe and comfortable. Call 262-203-3952, e-mail info@balsitiscontracting.com, or complete our online form to begin the process.