Everyone would like a home that would protect loved ones from dangerous situations, and seemingly simple activities in and around a home can sometimes have disastrous results. Check out these tips for avoiding mayhem:
Smart Lighting
You leave for the day and forget to turn the outside light on, then return after dark only to stumble up the third stair with an armload of groceries. You may avoid breaking an arm but the dozen eggs in your bag may not survive. A relatively easy solution is to connect your lighting, inside and out, to any one of the many smart lighting apps currently available so that you can turn the lights on before you get home.
Thermostats, Hot Water Heaters and Bugs, Oh My!
Whether you are building new or remodeling there are monitors that should be on your list as they assist with the safety of your family and your home. Using a smart app with your water heater or thermostat can not only make your home safer but can save you money. Many of the current systems available today allow you to include any or all your home’s utilities—even the main electrical box, and you can check their status when you are away. There is even a detection device for pests like termites.
Just Because You Can’t See It
Of course, we all know what a natural gas leak smells like because providers of odorless natural gas have been adding a chemical called mercaptan for years. But did you know there are other dangerous gasses that are odorless?
Like smoke detectors, which all homes absolutely must have, there are devices that can detect high levels of carbon monoxide or radon–just a couple of the noxious gasses that are a danger to people and pets.
Whether you live in a big, expensive city like Chicago or a cheaper place like Columbus, Ohio, it won’t matter, these devices can usually simply be plugged into an existing electrical outlet and can save lives no matter where you live.
Water, Water Everywhere
We bathe in it, we drink it, we cook with it and even play in it. The very thing that comprises 60% of our bodies and 71% of the earth is also responsible for an average of 3,536 deaths per year, according to the CDC.
These are labeled non-boating related incidents and that means the water in and around your homes needs to be monitored. If you have children and pets and you have a pool of any size, a smart app connected to a device that can sound an alarm is vital. Smart bathroom faucets allow you to detect water that is running and they also can detect water temperature.
Families with small children or adults with cognitive limitations should consider installing these.
There are so many ways to keep you and your home safe and with the advent of smart technology it becomes easier to do every year. Manufacturers of AI and voice-activated assistants have begun to realize the consumer may not have an advanced engineering degree and manufacturers are making it easier to install, program, set up and use smart home apps and devices.