When you're planning to create your own smart home, the first step is deciding which factors play a role in the reason why you want to make your home a smart home. The appliances and devices you install in your home will depend on whether you want to be energy efficient, save money, improve your home security or if you wish to make things more convenient and streamlined within your home.
Below we will cover a variety of devices and appliances that will help you create your smart home.
Lights
Smart lights allow users to control their lights by voice or remotely through an app. Users can also schedule for the lights to turn on or off at certain times each day. Smart lights help users reduce the amount of unnecessary light and energy usage in their homes.
Thermostats
Smart thermostats connect to an app on your phone, from where you can schedule your heating to come on based on your daily schedule. You can also adjust the temperature of your home, turn your heating on and set up automation with other smart devices.
Smart thermostats can also be programmed to automatically adjust heating temperature settings in your home to ensure optimal performance and reduce energy wastage levels.
Doorbells and Cameras
Smart doorbells provide live video feeds and allow 2-way communication with people at your door. So, when you’re not at home you can easily see who is at your front door and talk to them to see what they need or to let them know where you are and whether you’ll be home soon etc.
Smart doorbells can also connect with smart cameras that are in a different area, like above your door or in the corner of your porch - so you will still be able to view who is at your door.
Smart Energy Monitors
A smart energy monitor allows the household to monitor the usage levels of electricity and gas in the home. It will present you with information regarding your energy usage and the amount you’re spending. This information will be useful so you can assess if there are areas where you can make changes to try to reduce the amount of energy you are using. For example, you could test switching certain appliances off and monitor how the energy usage levels and costs change.
Smart Blinds
Having smart blinds installed will make your life easier and more convenient! You can easily manage, open and close your smart blinds via. an app on your phone. You can also automate your smart blinds based on timers so they open and close at desired times. What’s more? You can automate different smart devices to work together with your smart blinds, so if you want to close your blinds and turn on lamps in the room, you can set this up through your smart home app.
You can also control your blinds with your voice through a smart home assistant. So, with a simple voice command, you can open and close your blinds.
Smart Appliances
There are now multiple smart appliance options on the market to replace your ‘white goods’. Smart appliances are more efficient and convenient, and they can help you to have a more connected smart home, where you can stay in control of everything.
If you are planning to turn your smart appliances on, like your oven or dishwasher, while you’re away from your house, it’s important to ensure that they are in good working order, serviced and that you don’t have them on for longer than is necessary.
Here are some examples of the ‘white good’ appliances that are now available as smart appliances:
● Smart ovens can be controlled through an app on your phone. The app allows you to turn the oven on or off and monitor the oven remotely, and it also provides you with information on maintaining your oven. Smart ovens often have a thermometer that allows you to check the temperature of meat dishes to ensure they are cooked properly. They also often have a self-cleaning function to save you from needing to clean out any splashes or stains in your oven!
● Smart washing machines often have a load-sensing function which will ensure that you only use the amount of water and detergent needed to sufficiently wash the clothes in the load. This helps you reduce your water and energy usage.
● Smart fridges allow you to see what is in your fridge from your phone, so if you’re out shopping you can check the app on your phone to check what stock you have in your fridge. Some models also allow you to see expiration dates which means you can easily control the stock in your fridge and ensure you use items up before they expire. So, overall, smart fridges help you to reduce food waste and are extremely convenient.
● Smart dishwashers are more efficient and often have the option for a cycle that will wash and dry a full load within an hour. They are also connected to an app on your phone where you can remotely start and stop cycles or monitor the cycle’s process. Overall, they can save you money in the long term due to their efficient nature.
Insuring your Smart Home
Are you looking to take out a home insurance policy for your smart home? Don’t worry, AXA can help you out with this. Our contents insurance offering will help you to protect your smart devices, appliances and electrical items.
One key thing to keep in mind in regards to insuring smart devices in your home is to ensure that you have adequate sums insured that will cover the cost of all smart devices in your home. This will avoid you being underinsured and will ensure that all of your smart devices are protected.
Talk to our team today and they will answer any questions you have about home insurance cover for your smart home. Or, if you’re ready, you can easily apply for a home insurance quote online through our website.
