How to Keep Pace with Smart Home Living

Ongoing advancements in smart home technology have added convenience and control to everyday lives. Common tasks like watching TV, turning on lights, and securing our homes can now be done with the swipe of a smartphone app from virtually anywhere. Yet the more automated our homes become, the more difficult our lives can be. Here are 7 ways to keep your home smart, safe, and uncomplicated.

Change default usernames and passwords. Hackers are getting cleverer by the minute. Keep your smart home devices safe by changing usernames and passwords to something unique and strong. Even then, periodic changes can help provide even greater security.

Choose compatible products. Do a little research before purchasing smart home devices to ensure they will work with existing controls and in combination with other electronic devices.

Complete updates on devices and apps. Sure, those notifications can get a little annoying, but failing to complete updates can put you at greater risk of being hacked.

Think about your Wi-Fi. Since smart home devices operate on your home’s internet, they could slow down the internet speed. Be prepared to add more bandwidth to support your smarter home.

Remove your login info before you move. Don’t forget to clear your login info from any devices that are being left behind. While you’re at it, leave instructions for the new owner on how to add theirs.

Keep it simple. A smart coffee maker sounds convenient, right? Until you realize you have to reach for your phone, enter your code to unlock it, open the app, and tap “brew”. Or you could just program your coffee maker to turn on automatically at a pre-set time, so your coffee is ready when you want it to be.

Nest, the Self-Learning Thermostat Smart home technology extends to your heating and cooling systems, too. With a Nest thermostat, for example, you can control and change home temperatures from any remote location with Wi-Fi access. It’s also a programmable thermostat that learns your schedule and home comfort habits to make changes without you having to lift a finger.

If you’re ready for a whole new level of convenience plus increased energy savings, contact Bob Boldt HVAC today for more information or to schedule installation.