Smart appliances and apps that help turn your house into an efficient smart home seem to come out every day. With all the new technology available for your home, it can be challenging to know which upgrades will be a good investment. To make an informed decision, consider the benefits of upgrading the tech in your home.
Save Time
Ever wonder if you need eggs or milk while you’re in the grocery store? It would be a waste of time to find out after you get home and have to make a return trip to the supermarket. Smart refrigerators use apps to let you see items on the shelves right from your smartphone. Samsung’s Family HubTM series refrigerators also include touchscreens to display shopping lists and your family’s schedules. Plus, Smart Hub refrigerators can send alerts to your phone if the door is left open or the temperature changes.
Searching for lost keys is another time waster. What if you didn’t need keys at all to unlock the front door? Kwikset’s Kevo locks with the Touch-to-OpenTM feature make it possible to ditch your keys. Carry your smartphone, or a fob like you have for your car, and just touch the lock to get inside your home.
Conserve Water
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Dishwashers offer convenience, but can also use a lot of water. The latest smart dishwashers use less water than older models, and can even recycle water from the previous wash. Set your dishwaters on auto, known as the eco or smart wash cycle on some models. Intelligent cycles sense how dirty your dishes are and how long to wash the dishes. The dishwasher can use less water using a smart setting.
Washing machines can also be water hogs. The latest high-efficiency washers save water and include smart features. When your connected washing machine sends an alert to your smartphone, you’ll never leave wet clothes in the washer again. Don’t worry about running your machine while you’re out of the house, either. Monitor the entire cycle with your smartphone. Smart washing machines can also send messages to a phone when it’s time for maintenance.
Feel Safe and Secure
Video doorbells boost security whether you’re at home or away. Smart doorbells use video cameras that you can monitor with your phone. You’ll get an alert if someone rings the bell, or if a motion sensor picks up movement near your door. At home, you can see who is on your doorstep before you open the door. When you’re away, make it seem as if you’re home by talking through the smart doorbell’s two-way speaker through your phone. You’ll deter burglars trying to break into your house and stop porch pirates who steal packages.
All smart appliances connect to your home Wi-Fi and communicate with smartphone apps. Upgrade your mobile phone to make sure you can take advantage of the latest tech. T-Mobile has a selection of reliable smartphones to pair with these new gadgets, such as the iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Choose a phone with enough memory to run multiple apps. You’ll need to stay connected to the internet to use your smart home apps. T-Mobile phones include plans with nationwide 4G LTE coverage so you can easily run and monitor your smart appliances while you’re away.
Clean with Less Effort
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Cleaning floors can be less of a chore with smart appliances. Robotic vacuums have been around for years. Now, the latest Roomba iRobot® vacuums offer connectivity through smartphone apps. With the app, you can schedule a cleaning, get push notifications when your robot finishes cleaning, and get maps of where the Roomba vacuumed.
For sticky messes on your hardwood and tile floors, put a mopping robot to work. Mopping robots can be controlled through apps also. Many apps are compatible with voice controllers such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home.
Which smart appliances are right for your home? Weigh the benefits of upgrading the tech in your home to decide which ones will save you the most time and money.