These Smart Home Devices Will Keep Your Stuff Safe While You’re Away
When I was younger, safety wasn’t a big concern for me; I figured if someone wanted my used dining table so badly that they would break in, then they deserved it. Now my home requires the same meticulous preparation for the holidays as I do; I want to make sure the bags aren’t piling up at the door, the house isn’t flooded, and everyone is relatively safe. This is what smart technologies were created for. With a variety of devices, you can make it easier for caregivers to check your home, pets and plants, as well as protect you from fire, floods and break-ins, and ultimately ease your worries.
Smart cameras
Being able to see who comes and goes from your home is the best antidote to anxiety. While it would be great if the cameras prevented theft, they are unlikely to prevent it, but rather help you with clues and evidence afterwards. What cameras can do is help you check on your pets, make sure caregivers show up, and whether they are in the house or yard. Cameras allow you to focus on plants indoors or outdoors and make sure they’re doing well (if you’re that kind of person, which I am). More importantly, the cameras can tell you when there are packages in front of your house, which is a “come here” sign in case of theft. They also allow you to interact with the people who ring the doorbell, which further helps ensure that the house is not left unattended. Even if you’re unsure about the cameras you have in your home while you’re there, you may want to consider taking them out when you go out of town. I love being able to look after my dog when I’m not home. When it comes to smart cameras, I’m something of a proponent of the Eufy cameras.
Also check out these cameras:
Smart locks
How many neighbors have keys to your house? How often have they gotten lost or has a neighbor had trouble using them? A smart lock solves all these problems. You can issue codes to people remotely and assign them individually to each person so you know who is entering. You can cancel the code whenever you want. You can check if the door is locked at any time. Smart locks have batteries, so if you’re worried that losing Wi-Fi will affect your ability to log in, don’t worry.
Also check out this smart lock:
Smart lights
Most thieves know that the lights in your home are not always an indicator that someone is home, and yet simply lighting the premises makes it difficult for people to break in. Floodlights are especially useful outside. Using scheduled lighting will make it seem like someone is in the house, and motion-activated lighting on your smart cameras or on its own also helps. If you have pets, being able to turn the lights on and off means your pets aren’t in the dark at night, and many pets use the light on/off routine as a cue that it’s time to get up or go to bed.
These smart light bulbs are also worth a look:
Smart thermostats
With a smart thermostat, you can set it up from the airport so that when you get home, your home is at a comfortable enough temperature without wasting energy while you’re away. But there are other reasons: If you have pets, not working heating or air conditioning can be seriously dangerous. Even without pets, you can get your device fixed while you’re away instead of having to wait and suffer until you get home. Thermostats also do not necessarily have to influence the indoor climate control systems. You can use a certain temperature or humidity threshold to activate other smart objects. If the humidity rises suddenly, turn on the dehumidifier. If the temperature rises sharply, ask your sitter to check the water bowls more often. If it’s freezing outside, have someone cover the sidewalk with ice, etc.
Also pay attention to these thermostats:
Water leak detectors and shut-off valves
At some point, your water heater will fail, and you will only know about it when it floods the room it is in. A water leak detector can immediately tell you if this happens, allowing you to send someone. Likewise, it can tell you if water is flowing during a storm, if your drain is down, or if your sink is leaking. They’re cheap enough that they’re worth sticking anywhere there might be a problem. However, recognizing that there is a problem is very helpful because you need someone to deal with it. The smart shut-off valve is the killer piece of equipment here as it monitors the water flow and can determine when to shut off the water itself or activate it through an app to shut off. Combine these two smart devices and you have a powerful package to prevent floods or costly water leaks.
Another monitor worth considering:
Smart smoke detectors
Every home should have working smoke detectors; All a smart smoke detector has over a traditional model is the ability to alert you while you are away. The fire department will most likely beat up anyone you call and send them to the scene. But information always helps to understand what is happening at home. Some of these detectors are also carbon monoxide monitors, and if you have pets, knowing this information can be critical.
Customize to suit your needs
Every home is unique: What you can do to monitor home systems or meet needs will likely depend on your family. If you have a swimming pool, monitoring devices and robotic cleaners can help maintain it. Occupancy sensors can tell you exactly when pets or people enter or leave a room. There are hundreds of smart sensors available, and each one can be used in any way your creativity allows to monitor and alert you.