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Not so long ago, home automation was considered the stuff of science fiction -- a paradigm so far into the future that it could be imagined, but no one would dare to believe it may become a reality. However, in the last few years, advances in home automation have been made that would leave former generations with their jaws on the floor. In this article, we'll look at five of the most common ways to automate your home, from heating, ventilation and air conditioning control to retractable awnings.
1. HVAC
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning control (HVAC) is one of the most important aspects in any home -- after all, this is the technology that controls temperature, and temperature is key to comfort. While, once upon a time, air conditioning involved pressing buttons on a large unit embedded in a wall or window, these days air conditioning can be entirely automated. This may involve a system with a reversing valve that can switch from cooling in summer to heating in winter, or even an internet-controlled thermostat that can allow the home temperature to be controlled remotely.
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Sometimes, the best way to protect your home from burglars is to put yourself in their shoes. What are they looking for in a potential target? What type of homes will be easier to break into than others? In this article, we're going to show you how to think like a burglar in order to keep your home as safe as possible from their ever-present threat, with suggestions ranging from installing roller blinds to forwarding phone calls.
1. Uh-oh… not an alarm system
Burglars want to go about their business with as little attention being drawn to them as possible. And nothing draws attention like an alarm system. Whether it's a loud siren that is activated as soon as a door or window to your home is opened, or a complex video system that feed back to a control room whenever a motion sensor is activated, burglars will avoid homes where alarm systems are clearly present, Adding signage to the outside of your home warning that the area is alarmed is an excellent deterrent measure.
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You're planning a holiday. Good on you -- you deserve it! After working so hard throughout the year, it's time to relax, unwind and enjoy life without the stresses. It's all going to be for nothing, however, if you return feeling refreshed only to find that your home has been broken into while you're away. The reality is, the extended period spent away from home that comes as a result of a holiday provides the perfect opportunity for criminals to break into your home and steal your valuables. Before you go away, draw your curtains or blinds and follow this home security holiday checklist to ensure you don't become a victim.
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Your home is your haven from the world, and the security of that haven is key to living in comfort. In this article, we'll take a look at six secrets to ensuring your home is as secure as it can possibly be, from installing roller blinds and exterior lighting to locking up valuables and keeping them out of sight of potential burglars.
1. Alarm systems
A modern alarm is still one of the most effective deterrents from burglars. These days, an alarm can be much more than a simple siren going off at the front of your home when a door or window is opened. If you want to go all out for home security, you can create entire alarm systems that connect to central monitoring stations where trained security experts can check live video feeds whenever an alert is set off. This also eliminates the problem of "false alarms", which are a notorious side effect of traditional alarm systems.
Not so long ago, home automation was considered the stuff of science fiction -- a paradigm so far into the future that it could be imagined, but no one would dare to believe it may become a reality. However, in the last few years, advances in home automation have been made that would leave former generations with their jaws on the floor. In this article, we'll look at five of the most common ways to automate your home, from heating, ventilation and air conditioning control to retractable awnings.
You're planning a holiday. Good on you -- you deserve it! After working so hard throughout the year, it's time to relax, unwind and enjoy life without the stresses. It's all going to be for nothing, however, if you return feeling refreshed only to find that your home has been broken into while you're away. The reality is, the extended period spent away from home that comes as a result of a holiday provides the perfect opportunity for criminals to break into your home and steal your valuables. Before you go away, draw your curtains or 