Simple Home Automation Tips To Always Remember

Home automation technologies today, make it possible for any homeowner to have smartphone home control at their fingertips – from anywhere in the world. Some technologies are so smart that these can even learn consumer preferences for the purposes of adjusting on-the-fly. However remembering a few simple things before you leave home can prevent usability issues.

Fortunately, all of these mistakes can be easily rectified once discovered. But the best strategy is to avoid them altogether, so that you are at peace that your home automation and security system are functioning optimally.

Here are the most common mistakes to watch out for and avoid with home automation devices :

1.Forgetting to Replace Batteries (Electronic Door Locks)

Electronic door locks are both efficient and safe. They are efficient because you don’t need a key to enter. You can enter by using a numerical keypad on the door handle or use your smartphone to unlock the door through your home’s Wi-Fi network. But there’s only one problem: you will not be able to enter your home without a key if the batteries in the door lock have died.

Some parents might be familiar with this situation. As teenagers can be careless with their belongings, parents don’t give their teenagers a key so that they can enter the house with a keypad; but come home after work to find their son or daughter sitting on the steps waiting for them. Reason being, the batteries have died, and the keypad is not usable.

2.Failing to Change the Default Password (Control Panel)

Wireless control panels are like routers in the sense that they have default or factory settings for usernames and passwords. Many home automation users make this classic mistake of never changing the default settings, keeping their systems open to hacking. The good news is that changing them is the easiest part of DIY wireless home security. When setting up a new device, it’s easy to go into the settings and make the necessary modifications. Consumers who can’t figure it out can always consult the documentation that came with the device or contact customer support.

3.Failing to Account for Daylight Saving Time (All Devices)

Device manufacturers typically account for daylight saving time in the internal software that powers their devices. However, they may not account for certain situations or states. For example, the state of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time. Devices programmed to automatically switch in the spring and fall may be out of sync in Arizona. Consumers should check their documentation to see how devices handle daylight saving time.

4.Notifications Triggered by Pet Movement (Video Cameras)

Your smartphone home control could drive you crazy if your dog triggers your motion sensitive video cameras multiple times a day. You just don’t need that many notifications when you’re trying to get some work done. The solution is easy: mount and point your cameras to give a broad sweep of the rooms where the cameras need to be positioned, but not so low, as to pick up movement from pets. In simple terms, your cameras don’t need to show an angle extremely close to the floor.

Home automation is great technology to make your home more efficient and safe. But it’s those little things that can create an unnecessary hassle. Our advice is to eliminate the stress and just make a note to check these little things before the issues occur again.