Via Modernize
*Guest Post from Kelsey Reaves from modernize.com
How to Make Your Home Ready for Your Departure (Using Home Automation)
When we think of home automation, we think of convenience: the coffee that’s already brewed fresh when we wake up, the window shades that slide down at the touch of a device as day comes to a close. But more importantly, home automation makes us think of safety, safety for when our families are sleeping comfortably in their beds and when no one is in the house at all.
Smart home gadgets allows us to go on vacation without worrying about what could be going wrong at home. As you prepare to leave, here are a few ways you can set up your house and devices to feel more confident. Head over to
Modernize for more home ideas and inspiration.
Automate Your Garage Door
Via
SmartThings
We’ve all been there. You’re an hour into your flight when a daunting question pops into your head: Did I shut the garage door? By automating your garage door and connecting it to your device, you can avoid the panic that comes when you just can’t remember. You can also avoid the frustration of knowing it’s too late to do anything about it. Home automation systems like
SmartThings offer garage door control via a handy sensor and a relay switch. You can check in to make sure you closed it—and in case the unthinkable has happened, you can close the door with the tap of your phone screen.
Install a Smart Thermostat
You don’t want your HVAC system fighting to cool or heat your home when you’re gone for weeks at a time. But you also don’t want to come home to a stuffy or ice-cold house. A regular programmable thermostat could probably do the trick when it comes to your system staying off and kicking in when you want it to. But only a smart thermostat, like the
Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat, can let you know what the optimum settings are for energy efficiency and how long it will take for your home to heat up or cool down when you’re on the return journey so that you know when to turn it back on.
Program Your Lights
Most people leave a few lights on when they go on vacation to give the illusion that someone is home. This is great for deterring intruders, but not too great for your energy bill. With light automation systems like
Lutron, you can program a vacation setting that will make it look like you’re following your daily routine, turning certain lights on and raising and lowering the shades when needed.
Protect Your Home with a Security System
Via
Piper
But if misleading would-be burglars with the lights isn’t quite enough to get rid of your worry while you’re away, you may want a security system that connects directly to your device. Home automation security systems like
Piper can help you manage and track the safety of your house and property. Tapping into your home’s video surveillance and receiving security notifications will help you focus on what’s going on around you rather than wringing your knuckles about what’s happening back at the nest.
Sound-off: How do you prepare for your departure? Let us know below
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