Smart home: frequently asked questions

Smart homes are on the rise. In fact, almost every technology item you buy now has the ability to be connected to the internet and almost 15 million homes in Britain have some elements of smart living technology.

If you’re interested in making your house a smart home, where do you start? Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions we get around smart homes and home automation.

I’m on a tight budget, what are the most popular smart solutions available to me?

We have products to match all budgets, though we would recommend having a smart thermostat installed. Smart thermostats like the Nest Learning Thermostat, works by connecting with your boiler either manually or wirelessly.

Since 2011, it’s estimated that Nest thermostats have saved over 39 billion kWh of energy in millions of homes worldwide. Nest thermostats use machine learning to understand the temperature that you like when you’re at home and it automatically turns itself down when you’re away. It even learns how your home warms up or how draughty it is, using only the energy it needs to help save you money.

Is a smart home system complicated to use?

The whole purpose of home automation is to make life simpler and more effortless. As well as a user guide, our engineers will talk you through exactly how to use the system and answer any questions you may have. Our team is also available to support you with any issues that may arise.

Keypads and buttons places around your home can be personalised to suit the needs of you and your family for a simplistic and stylish touch that allows you to get the most out of your home automation system.

How many rooms can I manage using a smart home system?

Just a single room or smart technology can be used to bring together rooms throughout your entire home as well as your garden – it’s entirely down to your personal preferences and budget. Many people opt to start off with simply automating lights before moving on to other options. Your Abel engineer will work with you to present what is possible and tailor a smart home solution that meets your needs.

What are the benefits of smart lighting?

One of the smartest – and most convenient – features that can be included in every smart home is smart lighting.

The benefits of smart lighting are not limited to automation, but in fact have also been the focus of a number of sleep studies.

“Light is a big modifier of how well-synced we are with our daily biological rhythms,” explains Michael Twery, Ph.D., director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s National Centre for Sleep Disorders Research.

These “smart” lights are aware of the time and automatically change or adjust the lights to protect our natural biological day and night without any loss of light intensity or color quality.

Smart lighting can also be another security measure whereby you can control the lights of your home even when you are away from your smart home, giving any potential intruders the illusion that you are home.

Also a money saver, by utilising motion sensors you can ensure your lights only switch on when someone walks into the room, which can be ideal for hallway or landing lights, especially in the middle of the night. Lights sensors can be used to automatically adjust the brightness of the lighting according to how much natural light is available in the room.

Will there be significant damage to my walls in my home when installing smart home technology?

Regardless of whether you’re at the planning stages of a new-build or looking to upgrade a current property, our team of installers will cater for your current devices, but they’ll also be thinking ahead about what you may need going forward.

And while we may need to drill a few holes, your walls will most definitely remain intact. Our skilled engineers are adept at installing systems with minimal mess and damage.

I am thinking about a home cinema system, what should I consider first?

Depending on just how large you want to go, the biggest factor is space and determining whether you have room for a large projector screen as well as a seating area.

However, if you don’t have a vast amount of space or want a cinema like experience using your current TV paired with a soundbar and subwoofer, we can help enhance your living room into an equally immersive home cinema experience.

Does smart home technology work in business?

Yes! Smart Technology is not just for homes, but for businesses too. From security solutions including CCTV, intruder alarms and access control to smartphone controlled lights, blinds or thermostats, we can help your business achieve complete automation.

When is the best time to install home automation?

Installing home automation features are always advantageous at the beginning of a renovation project, or as soon as you are able to, in order to reap the benefits. It doesn’t matter how old or new your home is, we can help you find a solution that fits your home.

Does home automation increase home value?

Home automation does increase home value. More and more people want smart home functionality in their next homes. If your house is equipped with smart tech, you can most likely raise your asking price by 5%.

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