Smart Homes: Room by Room

With the explosive growth of Smart Home technology, thousands of Long Island homeowners are now enjoying the comfort, convenience and cost-saving advantages that smart devices and appliances offer. Newsday Brand360 and Smart Home experts P.C. Richard & Son share some of the most sought-after products that can turn any residence into a Smart Home!

Close to your hearth.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, making it the preferred place for a voice-assist Smart Home hub such as the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod or Google Home. These hubs operate a variety of smart devices throughout your Smart Home using hands-free voice commands. For more on Smart Home hubs and speakers, see “Which voice-assist speaker is right for you?”

The futuristic fridge.

The Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator features a “Connected Touch” computer screen to display shopping lists, order food deliveries, track expiration dates, provide nutritional information, display recipes and see inside the refrigerator without opening the door. The Family Hub refrigerator can also integrate with the Ring doorbell, allowing you to view your front stoop directly on your refrigerator’s screen.

Other connected kitchen appliances.

Samsung makes other Wi-Fi enabled kitchen appliances, including wall ovens and cooktops. You can use a smartphone or tablet app to turn the units on or off, preheat the oven, and monitor and adjust cooking temperatures from anywhere.

Other options for smart appliances include the LG EasyClean electric and gas ranges, and LG Signature dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers. With built-in Wi-Fi connections, you can remotely turn them on or off, monitor their status and cycles, and diagnose problems. At home, you can use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice control to perform the same functions.

Outside the home.

The Ring Wireless Video Doorbell alerts you to visitors and lets you see and speak to outsiders via your smart phone, Amazon Show, or Amazon Spot. Ring Motion-Sensing Security Cams with built-in floodlights let you hear and see outside after dark, and even challenge an intruder if necessary.

The Nest Hello Doorbell offers similar approach detection, two-way audio, and 24/7 video surveillance at your door, as well as the ability to play prerecorded responses. This smart device recognizes friends and family members through facial-recognition capability. It also offers a subscription service that provides up to 30 days of full-time video recording for maximum home security.

Nest offers a suite of home security devices that can be linked through a Smart Home voice command hub. This includes wireless exterior as well as interior cameras, remote control Yale Door Locks, and wireless sensors that detect door and window movement.

Heat and cool room by room.

Control comfort levels throughout the home and manage heating and air conditioning with a “learning” thermostat. The Nest Learning Thermostat is simple to program to adjust temperature and usage, and it gradually learns about your temperature preferences over time to anticipate your climate control needs. The Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector is an accessory that alerts you to respiratory hazards, and signals the Nest Thermostat to shut down your furnace or blower fan if dangers are detected.

Connect with cams.

Smart networked products offer comfort and convenience in bedrooms as well. Wireless cameras and audio devices are a must in the nursery, as well as in older children’s playrooms or in an elderly family member’s room for security and peace of mind.

Sensors for security.

The Nest Detect monitors door and window access in out-of-the-way bedrooms, and keeps certain rooms off-limits. Count on Nest’s smart motion sensing to know what type of motion is normal, and what isn’t.

Remote control for every room.

Philips Hue light bulbs can operate with your smart phone. You can also use voice control by means of Alexa, Google Home, or an Apple Home Kit. These lights can be remotely dimmed, programmed to switch on or off at pre-programmed times, and change color on demand.

Belkin WeMo Mini smart plugs allow easy automation of a variety of household appliances, including operation at preset intervals and remote control capabilities. Smart plugs can also operate space heaters or window air conditioners in homes to maximize energy efficiency and control.

Wake-up call.

The Amazon Spot provides a welcome alternative to bedside alarm clocks. Spot uses Alexa voice control to wake you on time, provide morning news and weather, play music, and even read an audiobook. Your Spot can also integrate with your Ring doorbell, as well as other security cameras. Use Spot to make calls to other Echo products throughout the house, or set it up for hands-free video phone calls.

The digital den.

Make existing televisions and gaming consoles “smart” with a Logitech Harmony One Touch Screen Universal Remote, a handheld all-in-one device that controls up to 15 home entertainment devices.

Harmony One’s large color touch screen illuminates to make it easy to see and navigate one of the many preset commands. Customize this remote to integrate with voice assistants, add commands, or program up to 50 of your favorite channels.

Garage gear.

A Chamberlin MyQ Automatic Door Opener allows remote operation of your garage door, and will send you alerts whenever a garage door opens or shuts. To add this control to your current garage opener, install the MyQ Smart Garage Hub, which is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993.

A Smart Home is a combination of connected devices in every room that work together to keep you and your family safe, secure, and streamlined in your daily activities. Consult with the Smart Home experts at P.C. Richard & Son today to learn more about transforming your residence into a Smart Home!

The news and editorial staff of Newsday had no role in the creation of this content