Thanks to technologies like Z-Wave, it’s a cinch to update your home to a true smart home. So simple, in fact, many projects can be completed in just a few minutes or hours. If you have some spare time this weekend, consider tackling one or all of these easy jobs to make your home smarter, safer, more convenient and efficient than ever before.
Swap the Switches
Traditional toggle light switches have progressed very little over the years. They still perform the same basic task that they did decades ago. It’s time they move into the modern era by swapping them for smart Z-Wave switches. Start with one room, like the kitchen, and in just a few hours you’ll experience lighting in a whole new way, where fixtures brighten and dim to the perfect level for entertaining, cooking, dining, cleaning, and other activities; turn on and off automatically based on the time of day save money on energy bills; activate to ensure that the house is illuminated when you arrive home from work, and so much more. Sound good? Just turn off the electrical power, remove your old switches and replace and rewire the new Z-Wave switch. You’ll need to pair the switch with a Z-Wave hub--also super simple because Z-Wave devices are designed to talk to each other--to control it from an app and program it to adjust automatically.
Add a Water Sensor
One of the most damaging and costly events that can happen to your house is a water leak. Be it from a malfunctioning sump pump, a broken pipe, or some other source, water issues are the worst. They demand immediate attention, which a Z-Wave water leak and flood sensor can provide. Battery-powered, the installation involves simply placing the sensor underneath a sink, near a sump pump, next to the washing machine, or any other spot that makes sense. Unlike basic flood and water sensors that emit an audible warning when they detect moisture—effective only if you’re home—Z-Wave sensors send an alert to your smartphone so you can take the appropriate action no matter where you are. The same hub that handles the handoff of information to and from the aforementioned Z-Wave light switch can do the same with a Z-Wave flood and water leak sensor. The sensor can also trigger a Z-Wave water shut off valve that can give homeowners the peace of mind that the water will stay off until they can figure out where the leak is coming from.
Gain Better Control over the Garage Door
How many times have you accidentally left the garage door open? It’s a common oversight that’s easily remedied with a Z-Wave accessory that bridges the garage door opener you already have to a Z-Wave hub. The benefit? You can shut (and open) the door conveniently from an app on your smartphone. You don’t even have to be home to do so. You can communicate with your Z-Wave hub from anywhere via the app, which relays your instructions to a Z-Wave garage door relay that wires to the existing pushbutton switch on the wall. The only other piece to install is an included Z-Wave sensor that detects the position of the door (open or closed). It mounts to the door with adhesive tape—couldn’t be simpler! Smartening up your home doesn’t need to eat up a lot of time or cash. Z-Wave removes much of the hassle by requiring minimal reworking of wires and enabling communication and control as soon as they’re installed.
