Home Tech

If you are a person who likes to cook a lot, your kitchen might as well be your safe space at home. But what happens when that space becomes disorganized with spice canisters falling off countertops? Here are three tips to get your kitchen organized today.

• Use All Your Space As Efficiently As Possible

If items are cluttering the floors and falling off the countertops in your kitchen, you might be tempted to go shopping for additional storage in order to organize it. However, you are trying to organize and reduce the number of things taking space in the kitchen, so that might not be the best idea. Instead, look around your kitchen and check out the items that are clogging up your cabinets and countertops and figure out how to store them better.

For instance, your spices can take up a ton of space even though you use them often. You can label them properly and put them in a drawer that is close to the stove. If you have boxed foods like cereals and do not want boxes all over the place, put them in preserving jars that you can buy on Spares2you.

• Arrange for Ease of Use

When arranging your kitchen, you want to keep the few items you regularly use for cooking and serving within easy reach. You may choose to keep the things you use less frequently further out of your sight. This is important so that the things you need can be found easily and you do not have to scatter the whole kitchen while searching for your Sunday Tupperware.

Arrange your kitchen by putting your regularly used items close by. Keep your eating dishes in one place and keep your drinking glasses in another. Keep tools for preparation in the same area. All of this follows the age-old kitchen philosophy of “like goes with like”. When you organize your kitchen this way, not only does meal prep and table setting become quick and easy, but your kitchen takes on a more streamlined appearance.

• Arrange Your Fridge and Pantry Efficiently

While it is important to arrange the dishes and tools you use to cook and eat, you also need to make sure the foods you store are properly organized so that old items do not spoil or make a mess. Try to arrange your fridge and pantry using the same principles two principles above. You want to make sure you use the spaces in the fridge and pantry as efficiently as possible to store your foods. You also want to arrange the spaces so that the foods that can spoil quickly or that are easily reached.

These are three basic tips, but there are other ways to make sure that your kitchen is well organized. You can make use good use of your countertops and categorize your cabinets for better organizations. To make sure things stay organized, you can also create a regular cleaning and decluttering routine. With a little bit of planning and discipline, your kitchen can be an organized and efficient kingdom once more.

 

 

Are you planning to renovate your kitchen? If yes, you probably want it to be perfect – or as close to the image in your head as possible. I bet you already have thought about colours, maybe new cupboards or even appliances, you have browsed through catalogues looking for decor inspirations and you imagine your everyday life in these new surroundings. In order to help and inspire you on your journey to your perfect kitchen, here are some tips for a successful kitchen remodel:

• Plan your budget

It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a new house, renovating a kitchen, looking for a car or landscaping your garden – you should always start with planning your budget. Be realistic and a little cautious – always plan to spend a little bit more in order to avoid problems when facing unexpected expenses. It’s reasonable to add 10%-20% more to your budget.

• Start with appliances

It is so much easier to choose your appliances first and then to start decorating around them – much easier than the other way around as appliances have to be, above all, useful and practical. Plus, you may really be surprised by the effect of decorating your kitchen around, for example, a fridge that you liked. So start with a refrigerator and a dishwasher, check out https://www.plumbingforce.co.uk/heating/gas-safe-engineers/ to find Gas Safe engineers to safely install you a stove and then get to the looks of your kitchen!

• Re-use your cabinets

If you have good-quality cupboards and cabinets and you simply got bored with their colour and style, don’t throw them away; don’t even sell them. Cabinet frames can easily become the most costly thing in your kitchen, but there is a simple way to reduce it significantly – re-use what you already have. In most cases, it’s enough to change doors and drawer fronts or paint or re-laminate your old cabinets to get a fresh look that will completely satisfy your need for something new.

• Don’t put price over quality

There’s no point in skimping on materials while renovating your home, especially in the case of the kitchen, because you will soon discover that lower price very often means a shorter time of usability. It’s not about buying the best things, but about researching the best affordable materials. You don’t want to be forced to renovate once again in several months, or even a few years. If you choose the right cabinets and appliances, you will be able to use them for as long as you want – until you move out or decide to remodel because it’s boring. It’s a good idea to check the market for any used materials – that’s how you can obtain high-quality items that you normally wouldn’t be able to afford.

• Plan your space

It’s best to hire a professional to lay everything out so that your kitchen is 100% safe, but you need to cooperate when it comes to convenience. It’s you who will spend time in there and it’s you who needs to feel comfortable. It’s good to remember some general rules; for example, make enough space for food preparation (36 inches is recommended), at least 24 inches on one side of the sink – if you can afford more, do it. You will thank yourself later. Make sure you can easily open all doors of cabinets and appliances while still having some space to walk in front of them, and take note of the direction of swinging doors so that they can open all the way. Finally, remember about traffic flow – you don’t want to constantly bump into each other in the kitchen.

• Choose matching appliances

You already know that it’s best to start with choosing your appliances; now it’s important to remember that they should match. It’s better to get everything from the same brand to make sure that nothing stands out too much. Luckily, it’s not hard at all – most manufacturers started to make appliances in matching, good-looking sets. Thanks to it, you will start your kitchen remodel with a designer look.

• Don’t touch plumbing

Even if you want to replace your sink or a dishwasher, you should put the new one in the old place. It can be extremely costly to move water and gas lines, especially in older homes. It’s not impossible, but you will probably prefer to spend that money on something else or save it for later.

Now you know some basic rules and things to keep in mind while renovating, but it still may be a good idea to ask a contractor or a designer to help you with planning your perfect kitchen. This will help you confirm which ones of your dreams and ideas can actually work without obstructing your everyday life. Don’t let anyone talk you into things you don’t like, don’t follow trends blindly and try to stick to your budget.

You don’t have to be an HGTV fanatic or a design specialist to increase the worth of your home. There are little (and some not so little) things you can do to evolve your house to the next level. After all, when you have people over to visit, you want them walking away feeling impressed. And how much more impressive will it be when you tell them you did much of it yourself?

Replace Old Carpeting

More and more people are leaning away from having carpet in their homes. In the past, people would often go with carpeting because it laid down fast and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Nowadays, there are other types of flooring that you can choose if you want to dramatically change the look of the inside of your home. Plus, you can install much of it yourself over a day or two. If you want to make a huge change to the look of the interior of your home, flooring is where it is at.

It’s Nothing But Paint

Paint is so inexpensive that repainting all the rooms in your house virtually only takes a hit on your time. If you haven’t touched the paint in your house for more than a decade, it may be time to go ahead and update the look. A decade or so ago, people were leaning more towards various types of brown. Nowadays, the colour of choice is mostly grays and blues.

Painting Cabinets

Why stop at just the walls? Your cabinets could probably use an updating as well. However, rather than spend thousands upon thousands of dollars having them replaced (along with the countertops), you can simply paint the cabinets and the doors for a huge update. Even the drabbest of kitchens and bathrooms can look so much better just by painting out the cabinets.

Why Stop at the Inside?

Rather than focus on just the inside of your house, consider the outside as well. After all, most people driving by your house will not ever come inside. But they will notice how nice or not so nice your yard looks. If you don’t believe you have the skills to make your yard appear as if it was done by a professional, it is perfectly fine to look for help. You can improve your house with landscaping in Montreal that will make your home appear to be the best on the block!

 

Winter weather leaves us all shivering, and sometimes just turning up the heat isn’t enough to fight the chill. Then what? You could do a home energy audit to find the source of drafts and cut down on heat loss, but sometimes the only solution to an icy home is to make some improvements. Using new smart home technology can significantly improve your home’s efficiency and help you stay comfortable this winter, even when it slips below freezing.

Create Home Zones

Most older home heating systems have a single central thermostat that controls the entire home’s temperature, which means that rooms far away from the thermostat may end up far too cold or too hot. They can also make the home prone to a lot of energy waste, heating spaces that no one uses. By switching to a smart thermostat with a home zoning system, though, you can reprogram your home to heat only specific areas based on use.

Opt For Electric

Classic fireplaces lend a home a lot of charm, but they’re also terribly inefficient. In particular, because they need to be well-ventilated, fireplaces are prone to a lot of heat loss. One way to maintain the aesthetic appeal of a fireplace without the inefficiency is by switching to an electric fireplace for supplemental heat. The electric fireplace can be connected to smart speakers and other home hubs for central control.

Insulate With Blinds

Proper window coverings are important for keeping your home properly insulated, but it’s also important to let some sunshine in, both for mental health and for some natural, thermal heat. That means you need to be highly attentive regarding when the curtains or blinds are open, which isn’t always practical. Installing motorized blinds and scheduling them to change position at the appropriate times of day can simplify this process, making sure every room is properly insulated, even if you’re not home to adjust the blinds.

Hook Up A Humidifier

Our homes tend to become warm and dry during the winter, which can lead to dry skin and nosebleeds, and can aggravate health issues like asthma or respiratory infections, but there’s an easy solution: a humidifier. In particular, by using a smart humidifier you can maintain control over air conditions and make your home more comfortable. Most smart thermostats also take humidity into account when setting the home’s temperature, but they can’t add more moisture to the environment, only heat it accordingly. An actual humidifier will help keep conditions balanced.

It’s All In The Details

Sometimes staying comfortable in the winter months is all about the small details – the blankets, slippers, and warm beverages. What happens when you leave your cup of cocoa out too long, though? It’s the worst, especially if you’ve just come in from shoveling snow or digging out your car. Grab a chargeable Ember mug with customizable temperature settings and never worry about your warm drinks getting cold again. And on the coldest days, isn’t that what really matters?

The worst winter days can leave us feeling cold all the way down to our bones, and sometimes standard heating options just don’t keep us warm enough, but smart home technology is here to help. Not only can these new devices heat your home, but they also feature improved efficiency compared to their old-fashioned counterparts. There’s a smarter way to stay warm this winter, and you can upgrade your home today.

What may seem to be a simple task may turn out to be a challenging one in choosing the right ceiling fan. Things such as room size, durability, budget, and intensity of noise need to be considered in choosing the best ceiling fan. Read here for the basic functions of fans and their benefits to man.

Actually, when you go to the stores to make a choice, the things you have to think about when you first planned on acquiring a ceiling fan was a short list. You realize there is more that needs to be determined, such as but not limited to, number of blades, their length, what materials were it assembled from, airflow, and many more that can run a long list.

Fan Size versus Room Size

This should be the first thing to consider. What size of the room will it go? The floor area of the room will reflect how big and wide the ceiling is. Fan size against a room size is important because with the wrong fan size, air is not circulated properly.

Here’s a guide that can be referred to:

Fan Size Room Size

29 inches or less Less than 50 square feet

36 inches up to 75 square feet

42 inches up to 100 square feet

52 inches up to 225 square feet

56 inches Up to 400 square feet

Room

When a room is big, it is either you choose one big fan or two smaller ones. Clearances on all sides are very important, otherwise, the ceiling fan is not free to function well due to obstructions.

Hanging Height

There should be at least seven feet of space between the floor and the blades, at the very minimum, while a height of eight to nine feet is the best height of space to allow optimum circulation. The more space between the ceiling and the blades, the better the air can circulate. Downrods are helpful with average and high ceilings, while flush mount ceiling fans are the best options for low ceilings.

Sloped Ceilings

Ceiling fans can be installed in slope ceilings, but a longer downrod is necessary to allow enough clearance around the blades. Only a certain degree of slope can usually be accommodated, but if the ceiling has a steeper slope, an adaptor or angle-mount can be used to level to slope and enable installations.

Blades

The number of blades is also thought of to be an important factor in deciding which kind to pick. It has been a notion that the more blades there are the more efficient. CFM or the measure of a fan’s air efficiency is more reliable in ensuring that efficiency is at optimal. The number of blades will now fall on the embellishment factor, for example a four-blade option may be preferable because it gives a more balanced and conventional look, whereas the three-blade option imposes a modern trend. Sites like http://www.christopherteh.com/blog/2014/05/ceiling-fan-design/ discusses the science behind the design and number of blades.

Different Kinds of Blades

1) MDF or medium density fiberboard are blades made of sawdust and other wood remnants glued together with a cementing material to make it hard, and laminated to make it suitable for use. These are, most often, the least expensive kind, however, quality-wise it does not hold-up well. It does not also do well outdoor; with moisture it will not last longer as expected.

2) Plastic are also inexpensive; it can be made into almost any shape. These blades will hold up great outside.

3) Wood is best indoor, but can also be a good choice for outdoor installations. These take more effort though in sourcing and manufacturing. Most often, Balsa wood is used as it is solid, lightweight and aerodynamic.

4) Metals are best for fans mounted high above the floor. These are good for outdoor installations as it can stand well amidst moisture and damp. However, it may not be a good choice in places near the ocean as the salty breeze can cause corrosion.

Avoiding Noise

The one setback with these installations is when they make too much noise. To avoid this from happening and make your ceiling fan quieter, ensure that the blades are cleaned off regularly, blade screws are tightened and checked once they begin to make excessive noise; examine if there is presence of any warped blades and fix or replace them; ensure that the upper canopy is well secured; also make sure that the motor is oiled; that these are balanced; the motor cover is tightened; and others.

Regular checkup and maintenance will not only ensure low noise, but also ensure that the installation lasts as expected.

As technology has evolved over time, so has real estate with the two merging together to form homes of the future. Investors are interested in technologically-advanced properties as they are attractive to homeowners and renters who find them safe, easy to manage, and environmentally-friendly. If you’re looking to invest in a contemporary home these attributes, take a look at the following hi-tech features which will help you generate massive returns with a forward-looking investment.

Smart automation tools

Since the rise of The Internet of Things, which is the name for the interconnected system that brings different technologies together, homes have become more automated. Companies like Google have capitalised on this need for connectivity by buying out Nest, which is now a branch of Google that offers smart products. This includes speakers, tablets, smart security and more which are all connected via the Google Assistant, which can be controlled by voice demands.

Other companies like Amazon and Apple have their own smart assistants which can be merged with various products that make home life more manageable. These big corporations are always in competition with each other to make their products as automated as possible. Many landlords choose to implement this technology into their properties to increase demand as well as rental returns.

Energy-efficient fixtures.

In today’s climate, buyers and renters tend to look for properties that benefit the planet, which is possible with the help of eco-efficient devices. This includes hi-tech lighting which can be controlled by the aforementioned smart assistants. Many residents now have access to lighting control from the comfort of their own home, which helps them reduce their energy bills. Property experts RWinvest have found that automated lighting is also a great addition, as they are controlled by motion sensors, so they only switch on when you enter the room. This is beneficial to those who tend to leave their lights on, enabling them to reduce their carbon footprint significantly.

Another essential feature of futuristic real estate is solar energy, which developers must always consider when designing contemporary properties. This includes fixtures such as solar panels which are used to generate electricity in the home. It is not only an environmentally-friendly feature as it uses the sun’s energy but is also a great way to reduce outgoings, with many investors saving a significant amount enabling them to boost their cash flow.

Convenience technology

While all of the above could be classified as convenient, there are some forms of technology that are created with the homeowner’s chores in mind. There are now devices available to help with everything from hoovering to shopping and more. For example, there are now smart fridges available to buy which can actually order your shopping for you, which experts believe will be in the majority of homes by 2040. This is something for investors to think about especially if they are offering furnished properties with white goods included, as having a smart fridge will give their property their advantage.

If you want to keep up with future trends, you may have the opportunity to offer the most convenient service of all – a robotic chef. This, of course, will be a highly-expensive purchase, however, this will be a desirable feature, as it allows residents to miss out on the cooking and instead relax after a long day at work.

 

Not all of the home insurance companies are innovating yet with smart technology, or ready to reward their customers for implementation of it, but in the near future according to Insure4Retirement, your home insurance premiums could be reduced if you implement smart technologies which will reduce your chances of making an insurance claim.

So now is the time to start thinking about investing in smart technologies which add not only convenience to your home, create energy efficiencies, but may also enhance your security, reduce risk of water leakage and therefore reduce your home insurance premiums.

What type of smart devices should you consider investing in?

Smart Water Leakage

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), Escape of Water (so water leaking within the home from plumbing rather than external flooding) causes a massive 30% of domestic insurance claims, which cost the insurance industry and of course the consumer £3.9m per day. Thankfully there are now smart devices on the market which not only detect a water leak, but will notify you of it, and allow you to respond by shutting off the water supply from your smart phone. The potential for money saving is massive really when you consider how many claims are the result of water leakage, and the cost of repairing a property that has had internal water leakage. This might include replacement of the plumbing, carpets, decoration, and damage to furniture and technology across one or more floors.

Smart Cameras

The next obvious consideration when it comes to home insurance claims is damage to property and burglary. Pre-smart technology most homes had an alarm system installed which was triggered by doors or windows being breached when the system is turned on. In fact this is still the security system most people rely on, oh yeah, and possibly a dog!

However, smart cameras take domestic security into the realms of the high security we used to think was only affordable for museums and high net worth mansions. Placed throughout the property, smart cameras, provide a constant recording of footage throughout the property, and alert the owner’s smart devices when movement is detected. The owner can set up automatic responses or can manually trigger responses via the smart apps, creating lighting or audio deterrents to scare away intruders.

Smart Sensors and Doorbells

As well as Smart Cameras, smart sensors and a smart doorbell can be incorporated in the home security system. Smart sensors are a cheaper alternative to smart cameras and detect movement, triggering alerts and responses. If combined with smart cameras, most entrances and angles can be covered so that the whole home is ready for action. Smart doorbells are a great addition and for some people are the only smart security device installed, as they cover the front driveway providing video and movement sensing. When someone presses the doorbell you can answer remotely, speaking to them via the device.

With 79% of the UK adult population having a smartphone in 2019, these smart systems are viable for most home households.

If you’re here reading this you already know what Hydroponics is, and perhaps you’re at the stage where you just want to decide which Hydroponics system you should choose which will meet your needs and your budget. Progrow provide three different types of domestic scale Hydroponics systems, so here’s a run down of the pros and cons of each one, so you can decide which will meet your growing requirements the best.

Drip Irrigation Systems

Dripper systems are those used by most commercial horticulturalists, because they allow for larger scale systems, and are less susceptible to failure of the timing system because a reserve of nutrient is held by the inert growing medium for a period of time.

Basically a dripper system drips nutrient solution onto the inert medium that the plants are grown in. Inert medium might be clay pebbles, rockwool or foam. The solution remains on the medium as it slowly drains through and feeds the plants roots as it goes. In plants that are susceptible to disease it is more than possible to set up a contained dripper system for each plant so there is no transfer between plants.

The drip system is a closed loop so excess solution drains through the medium into a reservoir and is pumped back to the feeder to be recycled. It allows very precise control of the quantity and content of nutrients.

The drawbacks of the dripper system for domestic grows is that it can be more expensive than other methods especially if each plant has its own system. It is more complicated to set up and maintain, and isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as other systems.

Ebb & Flood Systems

Again using a growing medium such as Rockwool, Perlite or clay pebbles, the ebb and flood system mirrors the natural cycle of rain falling in large amounts for a short period, and then draining through the growing medium to provide nutrients and drawing oxygen into the roots.

Electronics control the regularity and volume of the flooding process and nutrient solutions can be adjusted to cater for each species of plant being grown. Ebb and Flood systems are the most aesthetically pleasing of the Hydroponics systems, and provide high growth rates, and a lot of control over growing.

Plants can be kept in an ebb and flood system for a long period of time, because the medium keeps them anchored as they grow larger. Plants can also be easily removed from the system and new ones added at any stage without too much work.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

NFT is impressive to see as no growing medium is used, the roots grow directly in a continuously circulating nutrient solution. This is probably the simplest growing method and is economical because it doesn’t need drip feeding tubes above. Growth rates are usually high and of good quality. Nutrient levels can be adjusted within the solution to allow for better results, and separate reservoirs for different plant species can be utilised to apply different solutions.

 

From mobile phones to home computers to office workstations and industrial systems, technology is quickly evolving. This has brought endless possibilities for everyone to excel, including hackers.

To protect your devices from digital harm, you need to understand what’s at stake and how attacks happen. Here are a few details covering cybersecurity threats for home, business, industrial, and government technology.

Cybersecurity is a wide range of high-tech fixes and low-tech mistakes. The tech world knows enough to avoid a lot of common problems, but it doesn’t matter if you’re not a part of the tech world.

First, understand that nothing is unhackable. There are many excellent ways to patch up a system and protect it from sophisticated attacks that would make non-technicians gasp in amazement (or fall asleep during the explanation), but it can all be undone.

Defending Against Phishing

Phishing is one of the more successful, low-tech ways to circumvent any technology. The concept is simple; instead of learning some complicated code to break into a robust security system, trick someone into letting you in.

The most common forms of phishing involve sending fake files/attachments on emails and relying on someone to open the email. It still happens, and training is needed to reduce email/attachment phishing incidents.

It’s not a young versus old issue; there’s a lot of psychology that could be discussed, but members of younger generations still have people who are inexperienced or merely uncaring when it comes to technology.

Some people don’t know or care about the risks until something terrible happens. Antivirus systems and security scans can defend against some problems, but a better company security culture does a better job.

Bad Browsing Habits

Along with opening risky files in emails, how freely do people in your household or business use the internet? While home users may need freedom to browse as they please, companies need to put careful thought into their internet use policies.

The problem is decades old: many professions need the internet for research, resources, or other parts of the job. You can’t restrict every bad website individually because new sites appear daily, and basic firewalls may block needed resources.

The key is nuance. Firewalls and web filters only work as well as they’re designed, so having a team that can advise and edit your security policies will help unlock blocked resources while keeping the bad areas at bay.

Piracy? Not in the Office!

Don’t avoid the topic. Some people pirate games, videos, music, and software. This isn’t condoning anything, but ignorance about the subject is a weakness.

For most businesses, it’s best to simply keep piracy out of the workplace. There’s no reason to use illegal filesharing services in a workplace setting because many sites and services have malware traps that could lock down the entire business.

Any files procured through any manner should be scanned for threats and installed correctly. If you need help with keeping a legitimate business and keeping a clean network, a risk and compliance professional can help.

Physical Security Policies

Some businesses allow personally-owned computers, storage drives, discs, and mobile devices to connect to business devices and networks.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s another possible path for attacks. Attack vectors—places where systems can be attacked—get bigger with every device.

Your business needs a documented policy about bringing external devices to the work network. Devices need to be scanned, period. While there are privacy concerns, tech compliance may be a bigger headache than arguing with an employee about their laptop.

Taking Control of Wireless Systems

Wireless connectivity creates a massive set of attack vectors, but it’s necessary in many businesses.

While physical ports can be physically closed off and you can potentially see or track an intruder who sits at a computer, wireless signals can be hacked or accessed from long-distance, hidden areas.

The technology behind Wi-Fi, CDMA, GSM, BlueTooth, infrared, and many other wireless methods require easy access to a receiver. The security happens after the receiver.

This means you need reliable security after the receiver—at the endpoint—and clear distance limits so that you know how close an intruder needs to hide or place their devices.

How to Protect Against Attacks

For most of these risks, you can train employees on proper technology behaviors. But training isn’t a secure enough measure to protect against attacks. As best practice, you should install security software.

There are different types of protection programs, from antivirus to ransomware protection to endpoint security software. While the first two are self-explanatory, endpoint security software is more complicated.

What is endpoint security? For starters, an endpoint is any end-user device connected to a network. It doesn’t have to be a computer; hackers could connect to a smart security camera, smart speaker, a network-connected printer, or any Internet of Things (IoT) device.

Endpoint security is protection for those devices. The difference between this and antivirus or ransomware is endpoint security programs protect against all types of threats, not one specific branch.

Especially with IoT use and IoT compromises growing, you need to be aggressive with endpoint security. Contact a cybersecurity and system protection expert today to discuss better security for your tech needs.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions home security? Those of us old enough to remember when home security was in its infancy tend to think of things like noisy burglar alarms that disturbed everybody in the neighborhood when they went off. Noisy alarms still exist, but home security in the modern era goes well beyond preventing burglary.

A modern home security system can protect against all sorts of security threats that range from property crimes to acts of nature. A modern system can also be fully integrated with home automation technologies to make a home smarter, more energy-efficient, and more comfortable to live in. The sky is the limit as long as you have the money to spend.

Protection Against Burglary

Most of us think of burglary in the home security realm because preventing it was the impetus for creating home security systems to begin with. So many years later, they still accomplish that fundamental goal. Burglars still say they are more likely to avoid homes with working alarm systems. They would rather target unprotected homes instead. But why?

Burglars are, in reality, cowards. They choose the most vulnerable targets with a plan that allows them to get in, snatch a few items, and get out quickly. Your typical burglar does not want to spend more than a few minutes in a home. He or she certainly doesn’t want to encounter an alarm system that records his/her presence and alerts the authorities of a burglary in progress.

Home security is, therefore, an effective deterrent to burglary. It is an effective deterrent to a wide variety of property crimes – from vandalism to breaking into cars. But there’s more on the table here.

Fire and Carbon Monoxide

Vivint Smart Home, a leading provider of home security and automation equipment in North America, explains that the typical home security system these days also includes monitoring for fire and carbon monoxide. This takes the burglar alarm to the next level by protecting occupants from other dangers.

The thing with fire and carbon monoxide threats is time. The longer occupants are in a burning house or one filling with carbon monoxide, the more likely it will all end with tragic results. Early warning is key to staying safe.

A smoke detector provides early warning of fire by monitoring for smoke and sounding an alarm at its presence. A carbon monoxide detector identifies a deadly gas that has no odor or color. It can pick up even trace amounts that are not yet in high enough concentrations to be dangerous.

Natural and Unnatural Flooding

If a homeowner is so inclined, he/she can include flood monitoring in a home security package. Monitoring for flood involves placing sensors in key locations in the lowest points of the home. If those sensors detect the presence of water, an alert is immediately sent to the homeowner.

This sort of monitoring is ideal for both natural and unnatural floods. A natural flood would be one caused by rain, an overflowing river, etc. An unnatural flood would be one caused by a ruptured water line, a leaking water tank, and so forth. Both kinds of floods can be financially devastating to a homeowner.

Full System Customization

The technology now available affords so many opportunities for customization. Start with a basic home security system that includes several video cameras, motion detectors, door and window sensors, and monitors for both smoke and carbon monoxide. Add to it a few home automation features and see what happens.

You can create a fully customized system that guards your home when you are away but makes it more pleasant to live in when you’re not. A smart thermostat can automatically control indoor temperatures for maximum comfort and efficiency. Automated lighting can reduce energy waste and create just the right lighting scenes for every hour of the day.

The list of things you can do with integrated home security and automation goes on and on. Space doesn’t allow for discussing all the possibilities here. Needless to say that the home security systems of the 1970s are a thing of the past. Modern systems can do a whole lot more than just preventing burglaries.