How to Find The Best Smart Home System

What is a smart home system you may ask? In short, a smart home system is one that connects all your smart devices to a central wifi driven hub where it controls lighting, temperature, security, convenience and other devices. This system can then be operated by “preset timers” or via your smart phone, even remotely. A smart home system can enhance your lifestyle by offering you more convenience, more relaxation and enjoyment and save you money by making your home more energy efficient and secure. There is a difference between a Smart Home system and a Home Automation system

A Smart Home System is Operated Off Various Manufacturers Apps:

An Amazon Echo can connect through your smart phone and be scheduled to wake you up gently in the morning by:

• starting your coffee machine
• Putting on your favorite wake up music
• setting your meditation music
• Switch the lights on gently first then becoming brighter over a few minutes
• Open the drapes
• Read your favorite motivation wake up pod cast or even your affirmations
• Start your shower and make it the perfect temperature to step into
• Read you list of things to do that day from your calendar
• Tell you what the weather is like for the day
• Give you a traffic update
• And remind you to leave on time for work
• Lock the door behind you and secure your home
• Then set off the irobot to vacuum the floors so the floors are clean when you get home.

And that is just the start of the day! Imagine what else can be done.

How Can I get Started with a Smart Home System?

You probably don’t realize it, however you probably are more “smart” devices  than you think. Lets look at the smart home system items you probably have in your possession already:

• Do you have an Amazon Echo or a Google Play device?
• What about a smart TV?
• Do you have a smart bathroom scale that records your weight and body stats and links to your phone App?
• What about your exercise equipment, is that connected to your mobile phone app?
• Is your irrigation system automated?
• Do you have a video doorbell or similar?
• What about a security system where you can watch what is happening around your home or inside your home when you are not there?

If you have any or many of these items thats a great start already. You can slowly add items to your internet connection one item at a time. My advice is, as you replace appliances, choose the latest and best smart appliances so you keep up with the latest smart technology. A simple quick and easy thing to do is pair and program your amazon alexa / google play device with you mobile phone. Add the smart bulbs to your living areas and bedroom and connect them via bluetooth to your mobile phone and Alexa. You can set the schedule when the lights turn on and turn off. You can climb into bed and get comfy and then say Alexa, “Goodnight” and she switches off all my lights and secures the house while you head to dreamland.

Home Automation Is Slightly Different

Home Automation is a little different to a Smart Home systems.

Home Automation is run from a smart device setup and wired into your home (can be wireless) and is a system that performs every action from one main hub or one main app on your phone. The automation system sets the mood automatically and is pre-programmed to recognize or is voice activated. It would have detection settings to know when you turn on the television, the lights dim and the room “mood” changes without opening apps on your device. It’s pre programmed. It also detects when it is raining and will switch off your irrigation system for that day. It is also pre-programmed to know that when your mobile phone is pulling into the driveway and the alarm disables and the garage door opens, the lights come on and the music begins to play. Home Automation is a sequence of events programmed into your hub for luxury living.

Smart Home Appliances

Refrigerator

A smart refrigerator can detect what items are in your fridge and what the expiry date is. It can give you a recipe based on the items in your fridge so meal times can be fun again. If the fridge needs repair or maintenance, it will identify what is wrong and let you know to call a repair man. It is energy efficient and some even have the ability for you to leave a note on the fridge from a remote location to remind a family member about a responsibility or a send them a “love note.”

Dishwasher

A smart dishwasher can be programmed from your smart phone or via amazon echo. Adjust the wash time, have it switch on at the most energy efficient time of the day or add extra dry time to your cycle.

Microwave

A smart microwave will listen to voice commands, turn convection on or off, extend cooking time and switch on and off in time for dinner. An app on your smart phone or a amazon echo dot will get the job done.

Washing Machine and Tumble Dryer

Store your custom washing cycles or add commands from the app to your smart washing machine. On the dryer choose to include fluff only or wrinkle free load. Smart devices can be programmed to start and end at the time to suit you and extend drying time or increase the heat if you needed to.

Television

Television has been a smart item for many, many years and I think with the added voice activations and instructions life has gotten so much easier. Search via voice or set sleep timers to suit your needs makes smart TV an absolute must today.

Coffee Maker

The smart coffee maker is the no.1 must have for the coffee connoiseur. Get your coffee right when you need it and available to pour on time every time. There are great brands available and life gets easier and easier after your morning cuppa.

Smart Shower

Enjoy your shower at the perfect temperature every day. Schedule it to turn on at a specific time or on demand, adjust the temperature using your voice and pause it when you need to. Let the shower tell you when it is ready and set to your custom preferences.

Security Systems

Your smart security system will monitor your cameras allow you to view footage. It will warn you if someone is in your yard or at your door. It allows remote door locking, and security surveillance. You can talk to someone at your front door without even opening the door. The security system can alert you if there is smoke detected or if the HVAC has turned off and the house temperature has changed. Whats not to love about a security system?

Summary

There are so many amazing smart appliances to make our lives so much more comfortable. If you need to replace your appliances or add new ones, always look for the best smart appliances and the top of the range smartest options. Technology advances at a tremendous rate so take the opportunities to buy the best Smart Home Systems.