Tips to Optimize Your Smart Home

By Aurora McCausland

Are you new to the idea of a smart home? Perhaps you’ve dabbled in smart home automation, but are looking for new ways to optimize the smart home that you already have. One of the beautiful things about all of the technology that we currently have is that we can utilize it to make our daily life easier and simpler. Have you ever wished you could start your coffee remotely when you’re across the room? Or send a text to your spouse to ask when they’re coming home while your hands are full with a squirmy toddler and you don’t know where your phone is? All of this and so much more is accessible when you have a smart home.

Smart thermostat

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re new to this, one of the first things that you’re going to want to update in your home is your thermostat. There are a number of reasons for wanting to have a smart thermostat instead of the old one that was installed with your home. There are so many areas of your home, that having a smart thermostat will help you regulate temperature without wasting energy. This will save you money almost instantly. It’s all controlled from an easy app on your phone, and you can set your thermostat to only warm the rooms of your home that are inhabited if you so choose.

Smart light switches vs smart light bulbs

Usually, installing smart light switches is a better idea than just installing smart light bulbs. The reason for this is that with a smart light bulb to be voice activated, the switch has to be on. This means that power will always be going through that, which isn’t the most efficient option. Often, a smart light switch will eliminate this option and ensure that you are being conservative with your energy, as well.

Get a smart home hub

To keep all of your smart devices and commands in one central place, it’s probably best to get a smart home hub, such as a Google Hub or an Amazon Echo. With a simple voice command, you can access any aspect of your smart home and turn off lights, start your coffee maker, or check the traffic on your route to work while you’re in the shower.

Automate your garage door

Have you ever been sitting at work, stressed out that you may have left your garage door open, giving any passerby access to your garage and potentially your home? Having an automated garage door means you truly don’t have to worry about that anymore. You can not only open and close your garage door from your phone, but you can check in when you’re not there to see whether or not it’s opened and then close it remotely.

Automated door locks, anyone?

Another thing that we all forget too often. “Did I lock the door when I left?” When you’re in a rush, it’s hard to remember whether you pulled your keys out of your pocket to lock the door, or if you made a beeline to your car and forgot about the locks altogether. Conversely, you don’t have to fumble with your keys when you get home and it’s freezing cold outside. You can open your app before you even get out of your car, and unlock it with a quick tap, so you have easy access to get inside your home.

Security

A smart home is great for added security. Security cameras, doorbell videos, and alarm systems are just the beginning when it comes to ensuring that you are safe in your home. Make sure that anything that is automated can’t be voice activated from outside your home, and only from inside your home, to prevent someone being able to access your home.

What is your favorite thing about having a smart home? Let us know below.

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