Home Automation Made Simple

/in /by

One of the common myths that seem to come up whenever we talk about home automation is a misconception that it’s going to be too complicated to use. In fact, it is quite simple! This blog post explains the ways you can make home automation work for you.

You can set up your home automation devices to be as interactive as you want. For example, you can choose to control everything from your smartphone, or have the devices operate autonomously, being controlled by your alarm system. So let me explain both methods using the automated door lock as an example.

Complete Manual Control

You can lock and unlock a door at will with a smartphone or computer. Perhaps a relative from out of town shows up at your home while you’re at work. You can unlock the door for them from your smartphone without having to leave your workplace.

Autonomous Control

Your door lock is controlled by your alarm system, and is triggered by an event. Perhaps the door locks each time the alarm system is armed for going away. You can also set it so when coming home, after you enter your code into the keypad located on the door lock, it not only unlocks the door, but also disarms the alarm system automatically. This is the “if this then that” principle, where you can set certain events to occur based on actions you take.

Another easy way devices can be controlled is through schedules. This is where you create a series of events that take place over the course of the day based on the times of the day and days of the week you’ve predefined. Once the schedule is activated it continues to run until it is deactivated. Keep reading to learn more about schedules.

Control by Event

Imagine you’ve left the basement door unlocked. Your alarm system can detect if the door is open or closed, but not if the door is left unlocked, however it can automatically trigger the automated door lock to lock the basement door whenever you leave the house, so you don’t have to worry about leaving doors unlocked. Or, have your main water shut off whenever water leakage is detected.

Control by Schedule

This is one of my favorite methods of automating a home. In this example your home runs on a schedule that is predefined and set by you with ease. There are two examples of schedules:

Work Schedule

This might be a schedule that runs Monday to Friday when you’re spending eight hours a day at work.

When arming the alarm system the following events may occur:

  • Alarm system arms for going away
  • Thermostat turns back to 18°
  • Side door and basement door of the house deadbolt
  • All basement lights turn off
  • Window shades open and close at different times during the day to allow the maximum amount of sunlight into the home thereby reducing heating costs

Vacation Schedule

This might be a schedule that you would put in place for those times that you are away for the weekend or maybe gone away on a full two-week vacation.

A vacation schedule may run something like this:

  • Patio lights come on at dusk
  • Outdoor lights turn on at dusk and then turned themselves off around midnight
  • Lights in rooms around the house turn on and turn off after dark to give the appearance that somebody is at home

As more automated devices show up on the market you are only limited by your imagination on how to get these devices to work together. If you would like more information on how you can automate your home please call our office at (902) 453-3388 and ask for me, Paul Ingram.