I live in an area that experiences every type of weather extreme.
We deal with temperatures down to twenty-five below zero in the winter and into the upper eighties in the summer.
We’re very familiar with snow, sleet, torrential downpours, hail, high winds and brutal humidity. The weather causes a lot of damage, work and expense. I’m always looking for ways to trim costs and protect my home. When I decided to install a smart thermostat, I got interested in home automation systems. A smart home provides a single hub to control a wide variety of appliances and systems, such as lighting, room temperature, water temperature, sump pumps and even the washer, dryer and oven. There is the ability to include all sorts of safety and security features. There are now sensors for just about everything. Along with smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detection, there are sensors for flood, moisture, occupancy, motion, glass breakage and doors and windows opening or closing. I’ve invested in cameras that provide a very clear video of anyone who enters the driveway, steps on the porch or knocks on the door. Whether I’m at home, at work or half a world away on vacation, I can see and converse with the person. I even have the ability to remotely lock and unlock on the door. Through the home automation program, I can turn lights on and off to make it appear as if someone is home. Plus, the system recognizes the location of my family members through GPS on our phones. It automatically reacts and makes adjustments when we arrive home.