Incorporating technology into your home is one of the most popular ways to upgrade your home without breaking the bank. There are different ways to integrate technology into our day to day lifestyle at home. Here are the top eight ways on how to make a smart home.
How to Make a Smart Home Tip #1: Buy a Smart Lock
Having a smart lock, like a Yale lock, is a great way to make your home smarter. These locks allow you to go keyless. No more digging in your purse or pockets trying to find your keys, or being late in the morning because you can’t remember where you left them. Instead, just walk out of your house, close the door and put your finger on the Yale logo. This will instantly lock your home. Even if you forget to do that, you can still lock your home through their app.
#2: Integrate Smart Lights
Having smart lights allows you to control the brightness, color, and schedule of your lightbulbs. There’s nothing worse than getting in bed only to realize that the hall light is still on. Instead of having to get up, just control the lights through an app. This is also a great option for families who travel frequently and want to make sure their house doesn’t look empty by installing smart lights. You can set a schedule for when you’re gone, or control it through an app.
Smart Home Tip #3 Smart Thermostat
Not only can smart thermostats save you money, they can also make your home more energy efficient. Some thermostats come with motion sensors to evaluate whether or not you’re at home, while others can create a daily schedule. They also have the ability to be controlled online through your smartphone or through an internet browser.
How to Make a Smart Home Tip #4: Install Security Cameras
Having security cameras is a great way to create a smart home, while also securing your household. There are options for security cameras. You can have outdoor security cameras so you can have a glimpse of what is happening outside your home, when your family members come home, or when packages are delivered. These security cameras can be a standard camera, or can be a doorbell camera to see what’s happening at your front door at all times.
You can also have indoor security cameras, which is helpful for households with nannies, pet sitters, or if a house has contractors in and out during a renovation. Indoor cameras can be in plain sight or hidden. If you’re opting to hide your security cameras, make sure to do it in an effective way. If you want to hide them, don’t hide near your front door, as having a visible camera can deter intruders. There are plenty of great spots to place a hidden camera, like a nursery or in the living room.
#5: Buy a Virtual Voice Controlled Assistant:
Virtual voice controlled assistants are a great way to control your smart home appliances by the sound of your voice. There are two big companies when it comes to these assistants: Google and Amazon.
Google Home
The Google Assistant voice assistant comes in four different versions. There’s the Google Nest Mini, the Google Home Mini, Google Home and Google Home Max. These four speakers allow you to talk, ask questions, and make commands for your smart home appliances. You can easily say, “Hey Google, change the temperature to 70 degrees.”
As far as intelligence, the Google assistants are the strongest of the options. This is because artificial intelligence is powered by Google, often leading to the most correct response.
Amazon Alexa
The Amazon Alexa comes in multiple Echo forms, from smaller devices to screens that can broadcast live camera footage. This virtual assistant comes to life by simply saying “Alexa.” You can use Alexa to play music, set schedules (link), play games, create a shopping list, control lights, or buy something from Amazon.
Tip #6: Add Water and Freeze Sensors to Pipes
Having a freeze sensor and a water sensor can prevent frozen pipes and alert you when there’s a flood. These sensors are positioned right to a pipe to read the temperature or detect when there’s water. Those alerts are sent right to your phone, or some sensors can even call you to inform you. This is especially useful if you have an extra property that isn’t monitored 24/7 or if you travel frequently for work. Here are the most popular spots to put water or freeze sensors.
- Washing Machine
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- Sinks
- Toilets
- Furnaces and Boilers
- Hot Water Heaters
- Large Fish Tanks
Upgrade Your Home with ONIT
As you can tell, having a smart home is a great way to increase your productivity and efficiency in your household. Teaming up with ONIT is the best way to make sure you learn your equipment and how to get the most out of it. To learn more about how to outfit your home, visit us online or give us a call today at 1-833-433-0331.