Home Automation Systems are one of the latest technological advances that is becoming the new norm. Whether it’s a system that controls your home security, entertainment, temperature settings, or all of the above and more, you can find a system that fits your budget and can make your life easier than ever before.
And it doesn’t matter if you rent or own a house, or operate a business space, there are a variety of tasks that can be optimized to help make your life run smoothly. As with everything, there are pros and cons of Home Automation Systems which you should take into account. While the good outweighs the bad, and even some of the cons might not affect most people, it’s great to know everything about them before you have one installed.
The Pros
Convenience
One of the top reasons that everyone wants a smart home is for convenience. Nowadays, everything comes with the ability to be connected to any smart device and be used remotely. This isn’t new technology, it’s just much more user-friendly since the best systems allow you to do this from one app. Just because you can control your lights, sprinklers, refrigerator, fireplace, and thermostat from one system, the full convenience comes from automation. With automation, the system can turn on and off systems when needed. A sudden overnight temperature drop is no longer a problem when your home knows to adjust the temperature while you sleep. And this is the tip of the iceberg, there are dozens, if not hundreds of ways to customize your system to suit your needs. On top of all of this, you can control it via voice commands.
Security
The other major reason for a home automation system is security. Even the most basic systems allow you to monitor and control everything from your smartphone, regardless of how far away from home you are. Automatic timers for door locks and lights have existed for a while, but today’s systems can be accessed in a multitude of ways and are available on nearly every electric home automation system.
The other pros are great, but if something this sophisticated doesn’t help protect you and your family with ease, then it’s a waste. You will have the same systems used to guard military installations. American Electric of Jacksonville FL is an example that not only has residential and commercial clients, but their systems are also used by the military.
Energy Savings
You don’t have to install a system that controls everything in your home, but you can benefit from owning a system that controls your heating and cooling automatically. Even though thermostats are already “smart devices” one of the fastest ways to a high energy bill is to haphazardly operate the thermostat. You can also set energy efficient timers that will disable certain systems, lights, electrical outlets, and appliances so you can avoid leaving them on longer than necessary without having to make a trip to that room.
So while we’re mainly referring to energy savings in terms of electrical power and gas, you will save yourself lots of time and effort by not having to get up and make sure everything is off. Dealing with a qualified electrical company, such as American Electric of Jacksonville FL can help give you an accurate energy audit you will know how much power you’re using and how much you stand to save.
Usability
The whole purpose of Automation systems is to make life simpler, not complex. When they type of technology first hit the scene, that wasn’t necessarily the case. But that was in the era of flip-phones and video rental stores, today’s smartphones and the technology they use have been integrated into everything from cars, water heaters, and sprinklers, to televisions, surveillance systems, and even coffee makers.
You know longer need to be a tech wizard to operate basic household appliances regardless of how young or old you are. Furthermore, just about any house or building can become futuristic or just more organized regardless of its age as well. You can also set up seasonal lighting settings which allow you to turn off your holiday decorations automatically, saving you more time and money.
Cons
Functionality
If you fail to do your homework, you might need to pay for upgrades that you expected to come standard. Sometimes it’s best to spend a few extra bucks on a top-notch system than to buy an inexpensive system that requires a secondary system to get all of the features you desire. This can be easily overcome by spending a little bit more time reading reviews, asking others in person and on the forums, or speaking in detail to the companies you are considering. It’s best to know what you want first, then find an affordable plan rather than picking the cheapest one and getting much less than you expected.
Membership Fees
Some companies offer free and premium features. If you have a late payment, or if the price fluctuates and you are unable to pay the new price, you will lose the premium features until the bill is paid. In some cases, this is merely a minor inconvenience, but many people cannot afford to momentarily lose any features.
For them, an unexpected increase in price is fine, but they want to know so they can avoid losing these features at the worst possible time. Make sure you have alerts set to inform you of any billing changes and check the email address which is linked to the system. However, any company you plan with whom you do business will usually handle any changes in the terms with professionalism, or risk losing customers.
Power Outages
Since the electric home automation systems run on residential electricity, you have to beware of blackouts and brownouts. This can be remedied by owning a generator and having a backup plan to your back up plan. Although technology makes life easier, you cannot become 100% reliant on it, otherwise losing it will literally have you in the dark ages. You’ll be fine unless there is an extended outage, or the battery on your phone is also dead.
Internet Connection
In additional to being susceptible to electrical outages, you should make sure you have a quality internet connection before installing a Home Automation System. Since the system cannot function without being connected to the internet, not only should you take steps to improve your wifi signal, but you should also make sure you don’t run into any billing issues that could result in a temporary disconnection. While unexpected power and internet outages happen, both of these can be avoided aren’t really a con of Home Automation.
Costs
While the low end of installation costs and membership fees is in the double-digit range, fully automated systems that cover everything under your roof can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars. And specific smart components can cost more than three times the price of its conventional counterpart. If money is no object, or if you truly value having the most comfort or security, then, by all means, go for a top of the line system and plan.
But if you’re like most people who want to utilize automation without spending too much, you can still find many companies and plans that fit into any budget and get the job done. As mentioned in the pro’s section, the systems are so customizable, you can usually decide exactly what you want and what you don’t want. If you find the price is too high, then figure out what you can do without.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many benefits to using this revolutionary technology and only a few drawbacks. In the years to come and as upgrades are being made and new inventions are made, smart homes will continue to become even more user-friendly. Just think about the difference between a current computer, cellphone, automobile, or gaming console and compare it what existed 10-20 years ago.
Statistics show the global market for smart homes has doubled since 2013.It’s smart to project the field of Home Automation follows this same trend.
