Smart appliances are becoming more popular than ever, yet most homeowners are still hesitant to embrace them fully. Some of this stems from the cost attached to the technology, but some just don’t fully understand what “smart appliances are and what they can do.
To start with, I want to clear up what these things can do for you so that you can decide if they’re right for your home. And of course, the budget also matters, but you’ll find that entry-level smart appliances are pretty affordable.
What are smart appliances?
Smart appliances are, in short, appliances that are connected to a sort of hub where they can be controlled or programmed remotely.
Your smartphone is the most common hub, where you will likely download an app that brings all your smart appliances together and allows you to control them from there.
To ensure that everything works seamlessly, you will typically choose one brand or family of products, so that they’re all in the same habitat.
What are some common smart appliances?
For the kitchen
Microwaves, ovens, coffee makers, and even toasters are interesting additions to a smart kitchen. The “smart variants of these appliances may have extra features like programming timers from your phone, temperature meters, reminders, etc.
Imagine being able to leave the kitchen while something is in the oven and receive a convenient notification on your phone straight from the oven that the meal is ready.
For the bedroom
Smart light bulbs, pillows, and speaker hubs are convenient for the bedroom. You can dim the lights with your phone or by voice, which is a huge quality of life improvement for resting and sleeping.
A speaker hub like Amazon Alexa or Google Home besides the bed can also be useful to set alarms, tweak other smart appliances with your voice, or just ask questions without having to reach for the phone.
For the living room
Smart TVs have become the norm in recent years, but speaker hubs, light bulbs, a smart thermostat, and a Roomba sweeping bot are all great additions.
For the bathroom
The bathroom isn’t known as the hottest spot for smart appliances, but there’s a lot of fancy stuff you can do. Heated floors, smart faucets, dimmable light bulbs, smart scales… there are even hot tubs that prepare themselves before you even set foot in the bathroom, but maybe that’s a bit too fancy, eh?
Are smart appliances expensive?
It depends.
I know that’s a terrible answer, but hear me out.
There are many small additions you can make that are very affordable. Speaker hubs (like Amazon Alexa or Google Home), for example, can be found for $50 or less. You can purchase a pack of 3 Philips Hue light bulbs for around $150. Smart thermostats are around the same price range – most commonly under $200.
That’s pretty good to get started on a smart home!
But now, if you want a smart hot tub, a smart oven, or an interactive LED mirror, you should expect to invest a lot more. For example, a smart hot tub can easily cost over $5000.
In short, you don’t have to spend much at all to get started and see awesome results, which is the most important part. Budget smart appliances can get you most of the way there.
Can my home support smart appliances?
There are a couple of improvements you should consider for your home if you want to take the leap into smart technology:
- Ensure you have a reliable internet connection with good signal across every room
- Make sure you have available outlets or wiring for the necessary installations
- Think ahead: if you need to upgrade anything electrical, consider your future smart home plans. Planning on installing security cameras, for example? Get the wiring ready for that now. You can get the cameras later, but the electrical part will be done!
- Maximize compatibility: if you’re settling for one particular hub, pick from the smart appliances that are supported
To start with smart appliances, I highly recommend checking your electrical system. Get free quotes from electrical professionals in your area and prepare for the future!
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