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4 Benefits of Upgrading the Tech in Your Home

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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

Image via Flickr by code of the new

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

Image via Flickr by TAKA@P.P.R.S

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.

The Subtle Differences Between Blinds and Shades

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Many homeowners around the globe are confused when thinking of blinds and shades, and it is understandable that most people think the two terms mean the same thing, when in actual fact, there are subtle differences. For those who are not yet clear on this, here is a definitive explanation that will enlighten you as to the differences between blinds and shades.

Blinds

For a screening unit to be classified as a blind, it would have either vertical or horizontal slats, which allow for fine control over lighting. The range of materials that can be used in extensive, and includes the following:

  • Timber
  • Aluminium
  • Fabric
  • Composites

Styles are also varied, and the mechanism used to raise or lower the blinds have also changed over the years. Initially, they would operate using a series of pulleys and a rope, yet these can present a risk of strangulation for children and pets. Modern units can be cordless, and some larger units can also be motorised, for easy adjustment. If, for example, you are looking for excellent quality vertical blinds in the UK, there are online suppliers of made to measure units that are guaranteed to please. Blinds are much preferred over traditional screening, such as curtains, as one has a much finer control over light and seclusion by adjusting the angle of the slats. Many people prefer vertical blinds, as they do not gather as much dust and are generally easier to keep clean, and with composite materials, a wipe with a damp cloth is all it takes to keep the blinds looking like new.

Shades

Shades are termed as “soft window coverings” and are typically made of fabric. The shades can be raised or lowered, as with a blind, yet there are no slats, rather the fabric (or other material) is a single piece. There are many styles of shades, some that pleat and fold as they are raised, while the majority are roller operated, for easy adjustment. Shades offer the homeowner an effective way to block out all sunlight, and the range of materials used allow for matching with the existing décor. Although there are no slats, the shade can be adjusted by raising or lowering and with modern versions, you can stop the shade at any point, which gives you a certain degree of adjustment, but if you really want the perfect system for light control, blinds are the way to go.

If fine control over lighting is not essential, shades offer the ideal screening solution, and with either a single colour or pattern, one can select something that matches the décor of the room. Blinds, on the other hand, do give you more choices with respect to how much light you block out, and with a choice of either horizontal or vertical slats, blinds are considered very effective for domestic screening. There are online suppliers of both shades and blinds, and the perfect way to order is made to measure units, which are certain to fit perfectly.

Most online suppliers have a guide to precise measuring, and if you follow the instructions to the letter, you are sure to have the perfect size. For customized blinds that are sure to fit and can be installed for you, contact The Blinds Source, a window treatment installer.

Unnecessary Heating Mistakes We Make Every Winter

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As the winter sets in, as it is right now, many of us turn to our heating in order to give the home a good warm through. Naturally, using the heating for a pre-longed period of time like we do in the winter means far more money being spent on our gas bills, and whilst it is normal to accept this, many of us are spending far too much.

The reason as to why so many of us are spending too much money is because of basic errors which many people make throughout the winter period. Let’s take a look at some of the common mistakes which you may have been making, and how you can avoid them.

Timer

It is nice to have a warm house to come back to and to wake up in, but heating an empty or an inactive house, makes very little sense. It is for this reason why everyone should use a timer which they can set to switch their heating on at the appropriate times. For example you could set the timer to come on just before you wake up or get home, a far more efficient way of heating the house.

Windows and Doors

Replacing windows and doors is not something which many of us do often, but failing to do so for a long time, can result in us wasting money on our heating. The reason for this is that over time, the insulation seals on our windows and doors can wear away and allow heat to escape. If heat is escaping then your house, then money may as well be finding its way out as well.

Curtains

If you have curtains in the home then during the winter it is important that you replace them with thick curtains which will keep the heat in, and the cold out. Make sure that you keep your curtains closed as much as you can during the wintertime so that you can seal that valuable heat in, and ensure that the cold stays where it belongs, out.

Loft Insulation

It is good practice to ensure that you have loft insulation and cavity walling up to date in your home. The places where air sneaks in is through the walls so make sure that they are sealed. In terms of the loft, don’t forget that heat rises and this is your last line of defense in terms of keeping the heat in. Make sure that you get your insulation checked out before the cold air comes.

Bad Practice

Finally, make sure that everyone in the house is doing all that they can to keep the house as warm as possible. Basic stuff like closing doors behind you, making sure that windows are shut, closing the curtains and only turning on the heating at appropriate times, are all things that can help you to save heat and money this winter.

Don’t give away money for nothing, make sure that your house is locked down this winter.