When it comes to home security, many of us tend to think of keeping burglars at bay with alarm systems and automatic porch lighting. But oftentimes when it comes to home security threats, the call is coming from inside the house. Things like water damage, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even cybercrime can have a major impact on your home’s security.
Fortunately, smart devices give us the ability to help keep our homes safe even while we’re away. Here are some cool gadgets to set up in your own home to make yourself and your family feel safer.
Water sensors
When it comes to home protection, water damage might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But approximately 20% of all insurance claims are related to water damage of some kind. What’s more, water damage can be seriously nasty when it comes to the aftermath. Unless you have professionals come and remediate the problem, a flooded basement or even a broken pipe could leave you with foundation issues and mold problems.
Cue water sensors.
Water sensors act as a kind of smoke alarm for your home, but instead of detecting smoke, they detect the presence of water or a leak. They hook up to your WiFi and can be monitored through your smartphone. You can access your water sensor even while you’re away, and some water sensor systems can even be programmed to let you shut off the water if a leak is detected.
Heavy-duty WiFi routers
With smart home devices and IoT devices becoming more affordable, a greater number of people are choosing to invest in appliances like smart refrigerators, thermostats, and more. Just like your computer, these devices need to be protected to help keep hackers and other cybercriminals from accessing your information. According to a survey, up to 87% of small businesses experienced a security breach in 2012, and cybercrime has increased by 400% since the COVID-19 pandemic. So how do you protect your smart home devices from someone keen on stealing your credit card number and other information?
The answer is a secure WiFi router. The last time you thought of your router may have been when your cable company installed it for you. However, your WiFi router is considered the front door for cybercriminals and it needs to be locked and secured at all times. It’s recommended not only to keep your cybersecurity software up-to-date but also to make sure your router itself isn’t to be trifled with.
Smart carbon monoxide detectors
When is the last time you checked your home’s smoke detectors? What about your carbon monoxide detectors? According to a survey, up to 16% of Americans have never tested their smoke alarms and another 20% admit to disconnecting their smoke alarms completely. If that weren’t scary enough, approximately one in every 10 Americans don’t have a smoke detector at all in their home.
This is a problem for several reasons. Up to 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the ER every year because of carbon monoxide poisoning in their homes and up to 430 people die from CO poisoning annually. Many homeowners use natural gas appliances in their homes because they can be used even when the power goes out. However, advanced training is necessary to service these appliances because they can release (you guessed it) carbon monoxide.
Smart smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are a great way to help keep yourself and your family safe. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas, and many people aren’t always aware of a leak until they’ve already experienced CO poisoning. Smart carbon monoxide detectors can be easily installed and hooked up to the rest of your home’s smart home devices, and they can easily blend in with the rest of your home’s decor.
Smart devices aren’t just fun to play with. They can also help to protect your home in more ways than one. To help strengthen the security in your home, try out some of the gadgets above and give yourself greater peace of mind.
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