With severe winter weather upon us, now is one of the best times to build a smart home. The best smart home devices can help reduce energy usage and improve property safety in cold climates. You can also control it while you’re away to check on your home, or lower the temperature on warm days to reduce heating costs.
From frozen pipes to HVAC system failure, cold weather poses serious problems for homeowners to worry about. Read below to find out 5 ways to use a variety of smart home devices to give them a break and winterize your home effectively.
Regulate your body temperature with a smart thermostat
Climate control is the cornerstone of an energy-efficient smart home. The best smart thermostats, like the Ecobee 3 Lite ($145, Amazon), help you adjust your heating efficiently. Automatically raise the temperature when you are at home and lower the temperature before going to bed or when you are out. You can also set schedules, adjust the temperature remotely, and set up geofences to reduce the heat when you get home. Make sure to keep the temperature at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to prevent pipes from freezing.
Monitor your pipes with smart leak sensors
Freezing pipes can lead to bursting. A smart water leak sensor like the Govee Wi-Fi Water Sensor ($25, Amazon) is a small investment that can save you a lot of money and major headaches down the road. Place this internet-connected detector next to your pipes (bathroom, laundry room, etc.) and it will check for water droplets in your pipes and give you a freeze warning. When integrated into your smart home platform, this detector can send notifications to your phone, make announcements on your smart speaker, and even flash a light to let you know if an IV is occurring. This is especially helpful when you’re on the go so you can act quickly.
Check the status of your room with a smart speaker with a built-in temperature sensor
The latest Echo Dot ($60, Amazon) and HomePod ($299, Best Buy) smart speakers have built-in temperature sensors. These allow you to monitor and automatically lower the temperature or set alerts if a room in your home is too cold or at risk of freezing. These are ideal for areas prone to extreme temperature changes, such as basements and garages.
Control fans and space heaters with smart plugs
Smart plugs allow you to remotely connect and control older, “defunct” appliances like fans and heaters. Never leave your device plugged in when you are away from home. Also, always use high wattage (15A or higher) smart plugs with energy monitoring capabilities. You can schedule your space heater to heat specific areas, such as your bedroom before bed or your office before work, to maximize comfort. If your plug supports energy monitoring, you can also adjust your usage patterns to maximize efficiency.
Reduce energy usage with smart lights
Prevent the winter blues and keep your home cozy with lights that turn on automatically. You can schedule times for specific room lights to work, or set them to turn on automatically when you enter a room using motion sensors. If you have a multicolor RGB bulb like this one from Kasa ($17 on Amazon), you can also set up mood lighting. Simulating your natural day/night cycle during this dark month can help keep your circadian rhythm on track and help you sleep better. If you’re going to be out for an extended period of time, you can set up an Away Mode routine to turn lights on and off in different rooms to make it look like someone is home for added security.