What Can Home Automation Control?

Automating your home


Today more than ever, seems like home security is number on most new home buyers to-dol list and home automation is a part of this security. With all the bad and evil things we see on the news, it has us concerned that those bad people are around every corner. Thankful for home automation systems, we can relax with extra protection.  


If you're considering home automation, you aren't alone, and if you're confused and still have questions what it is, we hope this article will clear some of that confusion up for you. 


You may think that home automation is about security, but there is more to home automation than security features, although that is the primary purpose for most homeowners. Smart technology is an integral part of everyone's lives today, so many options with so much excitement. With 30 million homes implementing some form of home automation, you have to wonder what it all about and what are we gaining from this futuristic way of living. 


Home automation is a complexity with simplicity that encompasses the activities of our home with a centralized control center by connecting our appliances and devices. Information is collected from each of these things with how we use them and when, then collated. With that information, home automation is then able to respond to our needs at a time we need them without us having to turn anything on or off. 


This all sounds amazing and helpful, but the question remains for many, "Why home automation is needed?". To offset that question, there are several smart reasons for a homeowner to ppt-in to this smart technology. Here are the main features of home automation and why you may want to consider it for your home: 


Safety and Security

Two main reasons more homeowners are having home automation systems installed, or self-installing, is for improved safety  and security. Home automation systems use information they collect from connected devices and motion sensors that know when you leave your home and then follows through with several tasks: 

  • Close the garage door
  • Lock all exterior doors
  • Turn off lights
  • Turn off appliances (coffee maker, curling iron)

Home automation also increases the safety of your home by turning on lights as you exit your home going out or exiting your car as you get home. The exterior motion detector lights also alert you when someone is around your home. 


A Watchful Eye

In addition to motion detectors outside your home, home automation includes  smart cameras and video doorbells. This isn't just for safety alerts of a prowler outside, but it can advise you when a elderly or sick family member needs helps. Watches for the elderly that may wander outside and watches over the kids when they are outside playing. 


Energy Savings

With home automation, you can control your cooling and heating bills, allowing you control almost half of your energy expenses. Smart appliances, smart lighting, and smart thermostats are all connected to a centralized control that you can program each of these things or it will act on its own and control the energy consumption in your home. 


How does home automation work?

Remember how your parents would leave a light and maybe a television on in the house when you went on vacation? Sometimes asking a neighbor to alternate the lights left on each day. With a  home automation system, that is no longer necessary! This is a network of electronic interfaces with hardware to create a communication between everyday devices with each other through the internet. There are sensors in each device that communicate by Wi-Fi, which also enables the homeowner to communicate and manage them by a smartphone or tablet. This can be done sitting in your home or sitting at the beach miles away.  


How do I make my home automation?

First, you need to decide if you are going for convenience or security or both. With many of the systems on the market today, you don't have to choose home automation vs home security, but the more bells and whistles you choose, the pricier it will get. So your budget is the first decision, then choose convenience or security. 


If you're looking for convenience that modern home technology can provide, like using voice commands to turn lights on and off. Or is your concerns about a break-in, or being alerted to a disaster like a busted water pipe or fire?  Or do you want both, which is possible with home automation system today.  Your budget, your desires, you decide.


What are the three types of automation?


There are three ways to implement home automation, choose the one that works best for you:  

  • Power Line : An inexpensive home automation system that doesn't need all the additional cables to communicate to the control unit. Instead, the data is transferred by existing power lines. Downside, there are additional items required that can make this a  complex system. 
  • Wired Home: All your home equipment is connected with this home automation system to a main controller using a communication cable. Actuators are used to attach the equipment, allowing communication with the main controller and the computer centralizes it all continuously by communicating with the main controller.
  • Wireless: This is the best of the best in technology for a home automation system. It is advanced and expanded using wireless technologies like Bluetooth, GSM, IR, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, etc., giving you that remote operation ability. 

Which home automation system is best?


  •  There are many different kinds of home automation ideas, choosing one that is best for your budget and needs, and considering your technical ability.  Here we offer what the industry has considered the best in three categories 
  • Best in Compatibility: Samsung SmartThings Hub – 3rd Gen
  • Best in Voice Control: Amazon Echo Plus – 2nd Gen 
  •  Best in Media: Logitech Harmony Hub 

Close in the running as the best is the Amazon Echo Dot – 3rd Gen as Best in Budget and the Google hub is neck-in-neck with Amazon. 


Home automation at one time was a luxury item, but today, it is a trend that has quickly become a must-have for homeowners, especially those that are technology geeks. The average American home is expected to have as many as 500 smart devices by the year 2022. That is less than two years from now! Get started when you call 501-860-6767 today!



Written By

Ryan Melton


You might also like...

What Would Cause Carbon Monoxide in a Home?
How long does carbon monoxide last in a house?Homeowners with boilers, central heating, cook stoves, gas fireplaces, water heaters, and other types...
Read More →
Are Glass Break Detectors Effective?
Glass break sensors for home protectionWith the changes and uncertainty in the world, more homeowners are having alarm system installed today than ...
Read More →