The Best Smart Home Devices
We’re already taking smart technology for granted.
For example, who goes anywhere anymore without their phone tracking their steps, mapping their route, and listing how many calories they burned?
But some of the latest internet-of-things (IOT) advancements are happening in your home, and they’re more than just cool gadgets. Today’s most important smart home devices can help protect you and your family whether you're at home or far away on vacation.
The Best Smart Home Devices for Peace-of-Mind
- Nest Security Camera
- Smart Thermostats
- Kohler OnCue Home Generators
- Smart Sump Pumps
- Nest Video Doorbell
- Smart Smoke Alarms/CO Detectors
We'll explore the value of these innovative smart home systems in greater detail below.
How to Make Your Home a Smart Home?
All it takes to make your home a smart home is to buy smart home appliances and connect them to a WiFi network. You can then control everything from one mobile device, such as a smartphone or central hub like Google or Alexa.
Whether it’s protection from burglars or the weather, these smart home ideas can eliminate many worries and help you sleep more soundly at night.
Keep an Eye on Things
Ever hear the doorbell ring late at night and get afraid it’s Michael Myers with a hatchet when it’s only your neighbor saying their dog got in your yard?
Jokes aside, it’s nice to know who’s coming to visit. The Nest Video Doorbell provides 24/7 head-to-toe footage of anyone outside your door and includes a microphone for two-way communication. Built-in motion detectors will even alert you to someone who didn’t ring the doorbell.
Being out of town used to bring worries that your house would get broken into. Fortunately, today you have more options than just leaving the front room light on for a week to make it look like you’re home.
Modern smart cameras can record 1080p HD video inside your home, day or night, and send it to your phone, wherever you are. Motion detectors alert you to strange movement, while a microphone lets you hear what’s going on and can even send a message to your home’s speakers—imagine those burglars suddenly hearing your voice!
But it doesn’t have to be a break-in. An in-home security camera can also let you see if Fido jumped on the couch or if your teenage son decided to throw a wild party in your absence. In both instances, you can shout “Bad Boy!” through the microphone and see what happens.
Backup Your Home
Some home automation products are designed to protect your home from mother nature.
Smart sump pumps are a case-in-point. If you’re away from home, a smart sump pump can send alerts to your phone if flooding is imminent or there’s some issue with the pump. For added protection, a smart battery backup sump pump will automatically kick on if your primary pump fails.
This eliminates the constant worry and urge to check the sump pump during a torrential downpour. Keep your peace of mind, rain or shine. Learn more about shopping for smart sump pumps.
Similarly, WiFi-connected home standby generators can help you keep the lights on during a blackout. If you’re away from home, you’ll be notified when the power goes out and if your generator came on. Kohler OnCue technology even lets you turn appliances on or off if they are connected to a power management module.
Knowing your home is powered means no more worrying about all that refrigerator food going bad or enduring cold showers because the water heater couldn’t turn on. Smart automation backup systems put an end to problems that your parents would have panicked about.
Protect Your Well-Being
You’ve probably heard about the dangers of carbon monoxide. Known as the “invisible killer,” it sends roughly 4,000 Americans to the hospital each year. Fortunately, you can get smart carbon monoxide alarms that double as smoke detectors.
One example is the Nest Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm. You can install multiple alarms throughout your home. When one activates, all the others display the alert, letting you know where the smoke or gas was detected. This gives you extra time to react if the leak is on the opposite side of the home. It can also alert you when you're not at home, so you can call for help.
Another important way in which smart products can maintain your well being at home is by keeping the temperature ideal.
Smart thermostats, like ecobee, can detect how many people are in a room and adjust the temperature accordingly. They can also control your humidifier, dehumidifier, or ventilator.
Some models even include a fully-integrated voice assistant that you can talk to if you have a question, want to make a temperature adjustment, or need to order groceries. In addition, you have the option to adjust your home’s temperature remotely, say you’re staying late at the office.
Smart temperature controls mean you can always count on absolute comfort at home. No more worrying about getting out of bed into a freezing room or coming out of the midday heat into a stuffy home.
Get Smart
Sure, some people think it’s cool to have Alexa play their favorite Def Leppard song in the morning as a wake-up call (for better or worse). But modern smart home technology goes beyond the frivolous bells and whistles and gets at the heart of what matters—protecting your home and the people inside.
We're happy to help you find the best smart home devices for a safe and happy home. Please call us at 1 (800) 710-7499 to talk to our product experts.
