Skip to main content

These are the home automation features the experts say keep your house secure

Digital communication continues to revolutionize the way we live. Nearly all digital home goods are available with Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, and, more often than not, they have accompanying mobile apps to control them. Look no further than current trends in home automation to see how technology empowers us to control all the tech in our lives from a single device. To those with busy lives to keep in control, home automation offers a powerful key. But are these high-tech, expensive systems worth it? 

To answer this question and many more, Adolfo Dolan, project engineer with Automated Environments shared his thoughts regarding some of the most popular automated home product categories.

Halfpoint/Shutterstock

What is home automation?

Before diving into expert insight, it’s important to understand just what is involved in a smart home system. Home automation is automatic control of the home’s electronic products like lights, TVs, sound systems, HVAC units, and even kitchen appliances. Whereas in previous generations it was commonplace to manually program devices such as an alarm clock, thermostat, television programming, and coffee maker individually, current capabilities make it possible to bundle control of these, and many other everyday functions, from a single device. 

Smart home devices often also employ home automation sensors, such as gas sensors, humidity sensors, light sensors, and temperature sensors. After the initial programming, these sensors allow the appliance to operate automatically, so you don’t have to worry about turning all of these functions on and off individually. Often, these systems are also interoperable, so they work together to keep your home exactly as you like it.

Automated or smart home systems can be as simple or complex as you like. Integrate all of your compatible smart home features and devices including:

  • Home security system
  • Interior and exterior lighting
  • HVAC
  • Irrigation
  • Robotic lawnmower
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Entertainment systems

Use one or more mobile apps, or a smart device like Amazon Alexa, a smart home hub, or a combination of a few of these, to network, customize, and control your home’s environment.

Security camera with iPhone monitoring system
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Automated home security

To make sure you get the best bang for your buck, Dolan highlights two areas where automated home features are especially valuable. 

Outdoor lighting

Outdoor lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive criminal deterrents. Integrating your outdoor lighting with your automated home security system allows you to create added layers of prevention, detection, and video surveillance.

“Installing outdoor lights around the perimeter of your home is a great way to deter potential thieves,” Dolan shared. “There are many outdoor lighting systems on the market today, so understanding the different options can help you decide which best suits your home.”

For him, some of the best systems include those with motion detectors built-in, automatically turning on when they sense any movement. Oftentimes, this alone is enough to deter any would-be criminals. Many cameras also interface with your mobile device, sharing footage from the camera when it detects movement to allow you to identify whether it’s a friend or a foe on your premises.

When choosing an outdoor lighting system, it’s best to find a system that uses LED lights. These are much brighter, use less power, and will last much longer than traditional bulbs.

Smart locks and camera systems

Dolan also recommends the use of smart locks, especially those with cameras, to keep your family and belongings safe inside.

“If you are tech-savvy, you may want to install smart locks that include a camera,” he added. “These devices can be set up to work with your phone, computer, or tablet device.”

This is especially helpful for those on the go, as these systems will notify you immediately, even if you aren’t at home. It’s also very convenient, as you can use these smart locks to let a family member in if they are locked out or communicate with a delivery person dropping off a package.

Take it from Dolan: “Smart locks with connected cameras are becoming the new norm because of their ease of use, installation, and setup. Installing a camera-based locking system provides an extra layer of security for your home to keep burglars at bay.”

Worth the cost

With hundreds of linkable smart home devices, home automation hubs, and mobile apps to choose from, there is certainly a combination that will work for you and your home. Nowadays, most home security systems provide professional-quality surveillance and include robust features such as environmental sensing, text notifications, and automated calls to first responders. If you are considering making your home a smart home, start with building out your home’s integrated security system so you and your family can sleep safe and sound.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Wolfe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mark Wolfe is a freelance writer who specializes in garden, landscaping, and home improvement. After two decades in the…
Why your home should have an areca palm (and how to care for it)
Tips for properly caring for an indoor areca palm plant
Decorative areca palm

Your aesthetic indoor plants should reflect your unique style, and they should integrate seamlessly with your home's decor. Indoor palms are a joy for anyone wanting to bring a piece of the greenery from warmer climates into their interior design. If you're looking for a bold, tropical addition to your indoor space, an areca palm is a perfect choice. With their substantial height and sharp, feathery foliage, these palms add a fresh and bright statement to any room. Let's talk about the benefits of growing an areca palm in your home and how to care for this gorgeous plant properly.
Can an areca palm grow indoors?
While they can get substantially taller when planted outdoors, areca palms can still grow pretty well and actually make for fantastic indoor plants, reaching heights between six and seven feet tall. They'll grow between six to ten inches every year until they reach their mature height. Then these plants can last up to a decade indoors. You can limit the size of your areca palm by housing it in a planter that keeps it root-bound.

Benefits of having an areca palm indoors
Not only does this tall indoor plant bring aesthetic design and a mood-lifting splash of the tropics into your home, but it also offers numerous health benefits. This attractive palm can improve indoor air quality by removing toxins and adding humidity to the air, which is great if your indoor air tends to be a bit dry. Caring for a living thing like this palm is also a mood booster in itself.

Read more
4 things you should never bother to fix when selling your house
Here's what not to fix when selling your home to save you time and stress
Guy on ladder painting exterior of house.

So it's time to sell your home, and no doubt your head is spinning thinking about repairs, realtors, open houses, finding a new home, and more. Surely you don’t want to add unnecessary stressors to the mix of the chaos of selling your house.

To remove some items from your to-do list, learning what not to fix when selling a house can help. There are some things you can get away without fixing when selling your home — and the best part is, you won’t feel like you’re trying to pull a fast one on the homebuyers.
What makes a house unsellable?
It is important to think like a homebuyer when considering selling your house. If you notice something unsightly or damaged in a home you’re thinking about buying, other potential buyers probably will, too (unless you’re unusually picky). Only a handful of things make a house unsellable, and none of them fall into the "fix-it-real-quick-before-we-list-it" category.

Read more
Buying a forever home? This site shows how future flooding could affect your neighborhood
This research shows the real impact of being cut off from rising sea levels
best netflix ocean documentary woman

Buying a new home is one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your life. It can be stressful, and in addition to all the considerations like schools, location, neighborhood, and home type, you also need to plan for emergencies. For those looking to buy on one of the coasts, flooding can be one of those risks you need to think about when finding your forever home. But not just flooding of your home; what will happen if that flooding results in your home being displaced from essential services like grocery stores, hospitals, and schools? It's not something we think about every day, but for some, that possibility is closer than you may think.

A group of researchers from the University of Maryland and University of Canterbury showed that "targeted, effective, and timely climate change adaptation planning relies on estimates of how many people may be forced from their homes by sea-level rise and when this displacement will start to occur." Simply put, they measured the possible isolation driven by sea level rise due to climate change.

Read more