Six smart technologies making your home safer

It is increasingly common to find smart technologies in the home. This is in no small part due to the fact that they are making our properties safer and more secure. Here we look at six fantastic technologies that could make a difference to the security and safety of your home.

1. Connected smoke alarms

Fires can spread extremely quickly, and this is why is has long been standard practice to have fire alarms installed in a property. But new technology has allowed homeowners to feel even more safe and secure. The alarms can be connected to smartphones, so you will get alert on your phone – for example if you are elsewhere in the house or listening to something loud that masks the sound of the alarm.

Additionally, you will be notified even if you are not at home so you can either get in contact with a neighbour to check or raise the alarm with emergency services.

2. Camera doorbells

A recent innovation that has made a huge difference to home security is that of camera doorbells. These intelligent doorbells can be connected with multiple devices and stream live video of whoever has rung the doorbell. This can be hugely beneficial for a number of reasons. Firstly, you can check who is at the door before you come to answer it. Secondly, you can answer the doorbell even if there’s no-one at home.

Thieves often ring the doorbell before they attempt to break in to check if anyone is home, so the fact that you have their face on camera is a great deterrent.

3. Security cameras

You might think that security cameras are something that you would only find in a bank or at least at a commercial property. But thanks to improving technology, it is now easily possible (and not prohibitively expensive) to have home security cameras installed. Once again this can help to make your home safer – firstly through the fact that their presence will actually act as a deterrent against criminals snooping around.

Additionally, security cameras can help to identify perpetrators in the event of crimes being committed on your property.

4. Smart lighting

Another fantastic security innovation is smart lighting and it can make a big difference both to the safety of your home but also to your overall peace of mind. Smart lighting can be used in a variety of ways. Firstly, you can install automatic sensor lights that turn on when they sense movement – often enough to put off potential burglars.

Additionally, smart lighting can be programmed when you are away on holiday so that it mimics the lighting of an occupied house. This can be a brilliant deterrent against thieves.

5. Smart plugs

It’s one of the most common feelings; the worry that you have left on an appliance after leaving the house. Of course, it’s bad enough leaving a TV on and wasted electricity, but it can be even more concerning if you have left heated products such as the iron or hair straighteners plugged in as you can be worried about the fire risk.

Smart plugs actually eliminate this problem. They sit in standard sockets and connect to your home Wi-Fi. You can then use a device like a smartphone or tablet to turn off the plug remotely. So if you believe that you might have left something on, there’s no need to return home or spend hours worrying. You can simply turn it off in one click.

6. Carbon monoxide detector

One technology that has become more affordable and much easier to have in the home in recent years is the carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, and it is actually responsible for the deaths of more than 50 people in the UK every year. It is caused by poorly ventilated or faulty gas, oil or solid fuel devices. In 2015 it become against the law for private landlords to provide their accommodation without a working carbon monoxide alarm.

You might be used to simply have a smoke alarm in your property. But this colourless and odourless gas can be just as dangerous as fire and smoke, so have an alarm installed.