Smart Homes: Room by Room

With the explosive growth of Smart Home technology, thousands of homeowners are now enjoying the comfort, convenience and cost-saving advantages that smart devices and appliances offer. Here are some of the most sought-after products that can turn any residence into a Smart Home!

Close to Your Hearth

The kitchen is the heart of the home, making it the preferred place for a voice-assist Smart Home hub such as the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod or Google Home. These hubs operate a variety of smart devices throughout your Smart Home using hands-free voice commands.  

The Futuristic Fridge

Samsung offers a smart hub with Bixby digital assistant built into your refrigerator. The Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator features a 21.5-inch "Connected Touch" computer screen installed in its door. It can display shopping lists, order food deliveries, track expiration dates, provide nutritional information, and display recipes. It also allows you to see the interior of the refrigerator without opening the door. The Family Hub refrigerator can also integrate with the Ring doorbell, allowing you to view your front stoop directly on your refrigerator's screen.

Other Connected Kitchen Appliances

Samsung makes other Wi-Fi enabled kitchen appliances, including wall ovens and cooktops. You can use a smartphone or tablet app to turn the units on or off, preheat the oven, and monitor and adjust cooking temperatures from anywhere. Other options for smart appliances include the LG EasyClean electric and gas ranges, and dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers. With built-in Wi-Fi connections, you can remotely turn them on or off, monitor their status and cycles, and diagnose problems. At home, you can use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice control to perform the same functions.

Outside the Home

The Ring Wireless Video Doorbell alerts you to visitors and lets you see and speak to outsiders via your smart phone, Amazon Show, or Amazon Spot. It also lets you see and speak to outsiders via Amazon Show, a tabletop Echo Alexa device with Dolby sound speakers and a high-definition 7-inch screen. Ring Motion-Sensing Security Cams with built-in floodlights let you hear and see outside after dark, and even challenge an intruder if necessary. The Nest Doorbell offers similar approach detection, two-way audio, and 24/7 video surveillance at your door, as well as the ability to play prerecorded responses. This smart device recognizes friends and family members through facial-recognition capability. It also offers a subscription service that provides up to 30 days of full-time video recording for maximum home security. Nest offers a suite of home security devices that can be linked through a Smart Home voice command hub. This includes wireless exterior as well as interior cameras, remote control Yale Door Locks, and wireless sensors that detect door and window movement.

Heat and Cool, Room By Room

Control comfort levels throughout the home and manage heating and air conditioning with a "learning" thermostat. The Nest Learning Thermostat is simple to program to adjust temperature and usage, and it gradually learns about your temperature preferences over time to anticipate your climate control needs. The Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector is an accessory that alerts you to respiratory hazards, and signals the Nest Thermostat to shut down your furnace or blower fan if dangers are detected.

Connect with Cams

Smart networked products offer comfort and convenience in bedrooms as well. Wireless cameras and audio devices are a must in the nursery, as well as in older children's playrooms or in an elderly family member's room for security and peace of mind.

Sensors for Security

The Nest Detect monitors door and window access in out-of-the-way bedrooms, and keeps certain rooms off-limits. Count on Nest's smart motion sensing to know what type of motion is normal, and what isn't. A Samsung SmartThings Hub can be used in garages, attics, basements, and other areas to keep track of temperatures and unwelcome animal or insect intrusions. This inexpensive, easy-to-set-up hub can be used alone, with Echo and Google Home systems, or with your smartphone or home computer. A SmartThings Water Leak Sensor will detect moisture on a floor, such as when a water heater tank fails or a plumbing line bursts. SmartThings Multi-Purpose Sensors can also detect unwelcome pest activity and temperature changes. They can trigger smart thermostats or portable heating units to automatically cycle on to prevent freezing. A SmartThings Smart Outlet can conveniently turn appliances, lights and other devices on or off when you enter and leave a room.

Remote Control for Every Room

Philips Hue light bulbs can operate with your smart phone. You can also use voice control by means of Alexa, Google Home, or an Apple Home Kit. These lights can be remotely dimmed, programmed to switch on or off at pre-programmed times, and change color on demand. Belkin WeMo Mini smart plugs allow easy automation of a variety of household appliances, including operation at preset intervals and remote control capabilities. Smart plugs can also operate space heaters or window air conditioners in homes to maximize energy efficiency and control.

Wake-Up Call

The Amazon Spot provides a welcome alternative to traditional bedside alarm clocks. Like other Echo products, Spot uses Alexa voice control to wake you on time, provide morning news and weather, play music, and even read an audiobook. Your Spot can also integrate with your Ring doorbell, as well as other security cameras. You can also use it to make calls to other Echo products throughout the house, or set it up for hands-free video phone calls.

The Digital Den

In the media room or den, high-quality voice-assist audio speakers like those from Sonos or JBL conveniently link to your television and Smart Home system through an Echo Pod or Google Home Mini. Make existing televisions and gaming consoles "smart" with a Logitech Harmony One Touch Screen Universal Remote, a handheld all-in-one device that controls up to 15 home entertainment devices including Wii, Xbox One and Xbox 360 gaming consoles, as well as Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. Compatibility with other devices is not an issue, as it supports over 270,000 electronic devices from more than 6,000 brands. Harmony One's large color touch screen illuminates to make it easy to see and navigate. Scroll to the command section you want and tap "watch TV," "watch a movie," or one of the many other preset commands. Customize this remote to integrate with voice assistants, add commands, or program up to 50 of your favorite channels.

Garage Gear

In the garage, install a Garage Door Opener that links to Echo or Google Home voice control hubs, or to your smartphone. MyQ will send you alerts whenever a garage door opens or shuts, adding an extra level of security. If you want to add this kind of control to your current garage opener, install the MyQ Smart Garage Hub, which is compatible with most brands of garage door openers made after 1993. A Smart Home is a combination of connected devices in every room that work together to keep you and your family safe, secure, and streamlined in your daily activities. Consult with the Smart Home experts at P.C. Richard & Son today to learn more about transforming your residence into a Smart Home!