Smart Home Technology
A complete guide to smart home technology
VISIT all WARMZILLA smart home technology
Everything you need to know about smart home technology
Smart home devices aren’t just a fad or a trend. They are here to transform your daily habits and give you more control over the little things, as well as protecting your hard-earned cash.
Smart home devices offer more than just the ease of turning the light or heating off with a simple voice command or app button when we’re in bed, but in fact, they save us time, energy and money.
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Smart speakers are among the most sought-after tech money can buy. With a smart speaker, you can play your favourite music or radio, set timers, create a shopping list, and even add items to your basket.
When you connect the smart speaker to smart devices in your home, such as smart thermostats, alarm systems, smart lights etc., you’ll start to see how it could transform your daily habits. With that, you’ll be able to turn the heating on/off simply by using your voice, talk to guests at the door using your smart speaker and switch the lights on/off without getting off your couch! If you’re looking for a new smart speaker, here are the features you’ll need to look out for;
Introduction
Smart home devices aren’t just a fad or a trend. They are here to transform your daily habits and give you more control over the little things, as well as protecting your hard-earned cash.
Smart home devices offer more than just the ease of turning the light or heating off with a simple button when we’re in bed, but in fact, they save us time, energy and money.
You can now ask Alexa about the weather forecast when you’re choosing what to wear, ask Google Nest to set your alarm system on your way out and even get your home toasty and warm ready for your arrival. Sounds great, right? Turns out, that could be just the start when it comes to the smart revolution.
With the help of smart devices, you’ll see your heating and electricity bills come down, thanks to the automation of these daily tasks and the devices’ smart features. Leaving the house without turning the heating off could be costly, but with the Geotracking features, your smart thermostat knows that your home is empty and turns the heating off and sends you a notification. The same applies to smart lights. The automation of these little tasks helps you save energy and money.
Here, we’ll discuss some of those smart devices, what they do, how they work, their costs and everything you need to know before investing in them.
Smart home devices;
- Smart Alarm Systems
- Smart Speakers
- Video Doorbells
- Smart Thermostats
- Smart TRVs
Smart Alarm Systems
Securing your home doesn’t have to break the bank. The new smart alarm systems are simple to install and more affordable. You don’t need to pay hefty prices for professional installation, and you’re no longer tied to lengthy contracts.
If you’re on holiday and just want to take a peek at your house, you can do that with a few simple buttons on your phone when you install the home security cameras. You can even make your smart home security system more holistic when you get integrated smart alarm parts such as sirens, sensors and keypads in addition to the security cameras to take your home safety to the next level
We’ve listed some features to look for when shopping for a smart alarm system.
Smart Alarm System Features
- Outdoor siren/outdoor sounder – a box outside your home; it deters criminals with sound and light. Some smart alarm kits don’t include a siren, you’ll have to add it separately to your package.
- Pet-friendly sensors – It’s your pet’s home too! Look for Alarm Systems which lets them roam when you’re not home. Some smart alarm systems allow you to change the setting so the alarm can ignore pets and only detect intruders.
- Multiple users – Check out the system’s mobile app to see if multiple users can control the alarm.
- Geo-location tracking – can use the location on your phone or/and your family members’ phones to find out if there’s no one home. If so, you’ll be notified with a reminder to set the alarm.
- Device compatibility – Some alarm systems will only work with devices if they are the same brand, but others can work with all brands, i.e. Amazon Alexa, Google Nest and Philips Hue.
- IFTTT – IFTTT will play a huge role if the devices are compatible. IFTTT is a software platform which allows you to connect your devices and let them work together based on set routines.
- Software updates are the way to add new features to your alarm system, fix bugs, maintain your system and provide protection against hackers. You’ll need to dig deeper into your preferred smart alarm system to find out about the frequency of the updates (and costs, if any!).
- Optional Cellular Backup will help you continue monitoring your home in the event that your system goes offline. It is an essential feature, especially if you live in rural areas.
- Assisted Monitoring service – you can add an extra layer of protection with the optional Assisted Monitoring service. Check if your preferred alarm system has this option.
- Warranty – warranties are there for extra peace of mind; however, they vary depending on models and alarm system brands. So, read the preferred brand terms and conditions before buying the kit.
The 3 best alarm systems are; Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit, Hive HomeShield and Yale IA320 Starter Kit. Here’s our verdict;
- The easiest smart alarm system to install yourself – Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit
- The best smart alarm system for poor Wi-Fi connection – Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit
- The best smart alarm system features – Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit
- The best smart alarm system for a garage or a shed – Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm
- The most affordable smart alarm system – Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm (No subscription required)
- The loudest smart alarm system – Hive HomeShield
- The best smart alarm system for flats and small homes – Hive HomeShield
Smart Speakers
Smart speakers are among the most sought-after tech money can buy. With a smart speaker, you can play your favourite music or radio, set timers, create a shopping list, and even add items to your basket.
When you connect the smart speaker to smart devices in your home, such as smart thermostats, alarm systems, smart lights etc., you’ll start to see how it could transform your daily habits. With that, you’ll be able to turn the heating on/off simply by using your voice, talk to guests at the door using your smart speaker and switch the lights on/off without getting off your couch! If you’re looking for a new smart speaker, here are the features you’ll need to look out for;
Smart Speaker Features
- Design – this can differ from one person to another, pick one that you know you’ll like the look of. Some smart speakers look sleeker than others, and some come in different colours to blend into any room!
- Audio quality – your speaker should simply ‘sound good’. The audio quality can differ from one brand to another. Some speakers like Amazon Echo have a great reputation for audio quality.
- Microphone – make sure your smart speaker has got a good microphone to avoid the frustration of repeating a command!
- Mic mute option – Optional if you want the smart speaker to stop listening.
- Easy to set up – Your new smart speaker should be easy to set up. Most smart speakers have the ‘plug-and-play’ feature, which lets you enjoy your speaker without needing complex setups.
- Privacy – Ensure you look into the smart speakers’ T&Cs – especially around data privacy and how they store your data! Your smart speaker is your new roommate, so make sure your roommate can be trusted with your data.
- Compatibility – this will depend on your current ecosystem. So, for example, if you have Amazon devices at home, i.e. a Ring doorbell., it might make sense to get an Amazon Echo. But this shouldn’t be the only factor because the newer smart speakers can be compatible with different brands.
- Cost – some smart speakers can cost less than £50, and some retail for £300. Expect to pay between £30-£150 for a good smart speaker.
Video Doorbells
Smart Video Doorbells are an excellent addition to your home, and they complete your Smart Alarm Systems.
Video Doorbells let you see who’s at your door and talk to them without being there. It’s like an answering machine for your front door.
When you connect your Smart Video Doorbell to your phone (and smart speakers), you’ll get real-time alerts when someone rings the bell. You can also talk to them, hear them and see them, but they can’t see you!
Some Smart Doorbells come with motion sensors that notify you when someone reaches your front door – even before they press the button! And the newer versions have new and exciting features, but what features should you look at when buying a video doorbell?
Video Doorbell Features
- Design – While most new video doorbells have sleek designs. Some might look better next to your front door than others. This purely depends on your own home aesthetics and personal preference.
- Power (battery powered vs hardwired) – some smart doorbells like Ring Pro are hardwired into the existing wires of your original doorbell, while others are powered by a battery. You might want to consider the battery doorbells if you don’t have existing wires. It’s worth looking at the battery life too, to know how often you’ll need to charge it.
- Audio – Two-way audio is one of the most important features when it comes to a video doorbell, and it allows you to talk to people at your front door without having to be there. Ideally, look for the Two-way audio feature with noise cancellation, as they produce the best audio quality.
- Resolution – New video doorbell camera quality can reach up to 1080p max, and some video doorbells have camera quality as low as 480p. Aim for the highest resolution you can find.
- Field View – Another feature related to the doorbell’s camera. This is how the camera can see. With a field view of 180°, you can see everything on your front door. A 90° field view lets you see to the front and a peak of the sides. When you buy a new video doorbell, look for the one with the widest view.
- Night Vision lets you see who’s at your front door, even on dark nights, especially when you need it most during winter. It gives you peace of mind around the clock. Some video doorbells are sharper than others, so opt for a doorbell with the clearest night vision.
- Motion Detection – The built-in motion sensor will detect movement at your door and alert you. It can detect people, pets, and even moving cars. With some video doorbells, you can set ‘zones’ to get notifications when movement is detected in a specific area. This is handy for those who live near a busy street.
- Cloud storage – with cloud storage, you can store and retrieve footage for 30 days to go back to them if and when you need to.
- Available support – App support and customer live chat. These two are also important aspects when choosing the right video doorbell for your home.
- Warranty – always compare warranties as they’re a vote of confidence from the brand. Warranties give you the peace of mind you need when buying a new video doorbell. Generally speaking, these doorbells come with a 1-2 year warranty.
This blog lists the best video doorbells available in the market and compares models side-by-side, so check it out!
Smart Thermostats
Your thermostat controls 60% of your energy bill, and with the rise in gas prices, installing a smart thermostat could be more important than ever. Smart thermostats are becoming more popular here in the UK. Smart thermostats offer great features like turning the heating on/off on your app, while some even offer smarter features like learning your heating needs and adjusting the room temperature automatically to help you save energy.
It’s time to install a smart thermostat and take control of your heating, but first, you need to know which features to look for.
Smart Thermostat Features
- Multi-Room Controls – Many smart thermostats will have the option for multi-room controls, allowing you to have more control over how you heat your home. This is particularly useful in the case of bigger homes, as many of us may be heating rooms that we aren’t using. By having multi-room controls, you can independently control the temperature of individual rooms, allowing you to use your heating more efficiently. You will, however, need to invest in additional thermostats, or what’s known as smart thermostatic radiator valves, in order to kick things off, which can be costly, but remember, it’s an investment. It could save you a few quid in the long run.
- Hot water controls – If you have a separate hot water tank, you may also be able to control your hot water via your smart thermostat. Particularly useful if you’re away from home a lot, you can have the option to turn your hot water on ready for a nice hot bath or shower when you get home, all via an app on your phone or tablet. Let’s face it, we’ve all suffered a cold shower on return from a holiday because we forgot to turn the hot water back on!
- Geofencing – A common feature that many smart thermostats now adopt is geofencing. This is where technology is used to create a virtual boundary around a real-life area – in this case, your home. A smart thermostat will detect when you enter or leave your ‘boundary’ and will either heat or cool your home accordingly. Devices such as the Google Nest have this feature, which is ideal for people who don’t have a set schedule or are in and out of the house all day, as it will ensure you’ll never heat an empty home.
- Draught detection – This is a pretty straightforward one! Many smart thermostats can detect draughts in your home to prevent you from wasting heat and, more importantly, money! In some cases, they can even send a notification to your smartphone or tablet to alert you as well.
- Safety & Holiday Modes – While this is a feature that many regular thermostats have and smart ones, it’s still pretty important. If you’re going away, this feature will ensure that your heating switches on if the temperature drops below a safe level, most commonly during winter. This means your pipes won’t freeze, saving you from a whole lot of stress and hassle on your return.
- Learn from your preferences – Ideal for creatures of habit! After a few days of use, certain smart thermostats will pick up on how you use your heating and program to your preferences. A popular device that holds this feature is the Nest Learning Thermostat. Simply adjust your temperature as you would normally for the first couple of days, and the device will learn your preferred temperatures and program itself accordingly. Don’t worry, there’s still the option to override it when you need to!
- Compatible with Other Smart Home Devices – If you already have a smart home device in your home, you’ll usually be able to pair your smart thermostat too. Most of them are compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, allowing you to ask Alexa or Google to turn the heating up or down or to set it to a certain temperature. While most will work with Amazon Echo and Google Home, a smaller number of smart thermostats will also be compatible with the likes of Apple HomeKit and Microsoft Cortana too, but it’s always a good idea to check the specifications first!
Here, we’ve put together a summary of the best smart thermostats in 2022;
- The easiest to use – Nest Learning Thermostat
- The most flexible – tado° V3+
- The best Multi-zone control – tado° V3+
- The best design aka Thermostat Eleganza Extravaganza – Nest Learning Thermostat
- The best reporting – tado° V3+
- The most budget-friendly – Honeywell T6
- The best connectivity with smart devices – Honeywell T6
- The simplest installation – tado° V3+
Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)
Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves AKA Smart Radiator Valves AKA Smart TRV’s, can transform the way you heat your home. They can take your home heating game to the next level by automating the whole process (or at least most of it).
Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves replace your traditional radiator valve, allowing you to control the heating through your smartphone.
If you combine Smart TRVs with smart thermostats, you’ll be able to create a heating schedule which is unique to your home!
By using Smart TRVs, you’ll enjoy savings on your heating bills and reduce your carbon emissions.
Smart TRVs assess your room’s temperature and turn your heating on/off to get to the perfect temperature. Smart TRVs allow you to heat parts of your home as and when you need them to ensure that you’re not wasting money heating an empty room. Want to buy new Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)? Here’s what you need to look for:
Smart TRV Features
- Connectivity (Hub vs WiFi) – The majority of smart TRVs need a hub to communicate with other smart devices (including smart thermostats and smartphone apps). If you decide you don’t want to install a hub, you can opt for a Wi-Fi smart TRV but bear in mind that it comes will fewer features, and you may not be able to connect it with your smart thermostat.
- Works with smart devices – some smart TRVs work with other smart speakers like Amazon Alexa and Google Nest.
- Compatibility with radiators – Most Smart TRVs are compatible with the existing radiator valves, which means you don’t need to install a new radiator to have one. The head of the old TRV will be removed, and the new smart TRV head will be screwed on. The installation process is usually easy and simple, you can DIY it! In contrast, the set up should be done by a trained heating engineer.
- Monitoring through smart heating apps – Have a quick look at the smart TRV’s app and see if you like its functionality. Another quick tip, take a look at the app reviews to see what other users think about it.