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Residential Electrical Services
Home Automation Services in Alexandria, LA
Alexa, what’s home automation?
Home automation is a collection of smart devices that trigger each other and control certain electronic devices in the home. For example, you can tell Alexa or your Google Assistant to turn on the lights, turn up the air conditioning, or turn off the TV. The goal of a home automation system is to have complete control over your living space, even from afar, so you can stress less on the little things.
If you’re looking for someone to install or repair your home automation system, look no further. Alexandria electricians at Lombardi Electric can handle all electrical updates and repairs within the home. Call 318-545-7575 to learn more about our home automation services today.
What is Home Automation?
A home automation system is designed to monitor or control certain home attributes, such as the lights, air conditioning, garage door, and security systems, as well as a variety of home appliances and entertainment systems. Many of these home automation systems are powered by voice control, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assistant. But you can also access and control home automation systems from a mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android.
Smart home devices can even control home appliances by themselves. For example, you can set schedules on when your bedroom lights should turn on, when your AC should be turned off, when your coffee should start brewing in the morning, etc.
Having a smart home system can definitely provide peace of mind about energy efficiency, home safety, and functionality.
Internet of Things vs. Home Automation
Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the connection between Wi-Fi and computing devices that have been manufactured into normal objects, such as coffee makers, light bulbs, outlet plugs, door locks, security cameras, and more. Every smart device is considered an IoT device.
Home automation basically describes a “smart home” with a collection of smart devices that connect to Wifi and trigger each other to run certain appliances around the house.
What is a Smart Home?
A smart home is a home that has a large automation system which controls various aspects of the house like lights, security cameras, and air conditioning. While most smart homes have separate smart devices integrated throughout the house, many of the newest homes have smart devices built into the original construction so that homeowners don’t have to go out and buy individual devices.
Basically, if your home has any kind of smart home devices (whether built-in or stand-alone), you have a smart home.
Common Types of Home Automation Devices
Over the last 5 to 10 years, the home automation market has boomed as the internet and mobile devices have gotten smarter. Now, many of us can say that Alexa has full control over the entire home: the home security system, all the lights, the TV, the thermostat, you name it.
With that being said, there are literally billions of IoT devices out there. More specifically, there are approximately 21.7 billion active IoT devices across the globe, and that number is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years. There are literally thousands of different types of smart home devices that you can integrate into your home to make your life easier, but we’ll just list the most common ones.
Lights
If you’re looking to slowly get into the world of smart home technology, lights are a great place to start. Not only are smart bulbs some of the most affordable devices on the market, but they’re possibly the most convenient devices out there as well. After all, who wants to get out of bed just to turn a hallway light off when Alexa or a Google Assistant can do it for you? There are a couple of ways to get into smart lights. You can buy smart bulbs, which come in a variety of types and colors, or you could buy smart plugs. A smart plug can be plugged into any wall outlet in your home, and from there, you can plug any type of appliance into it such as your lamps. Then you can control your lamps and other lighting fixtures through a voice assistant or an app on your phone.Thermostats
The next smart device you should consider adding to your home is a smart thermostat. Through a remote control, an app, or a voice assistant, you can set schedules for when your AC turns on or off. For example, you can program a smart thermostat to turn your home temperature up once you leave for work in the morning and turn the temperature back down by the time you get home from work. That way you can save a fortune on cooling costs, especially during the heat of the summer.Video Doorbells
Video doorbells are not only convenient additions to your smart house but additions that promote safety as well. Through an app on your phone, a video doorbell allows you to see who is on your doorstep before you open the door, which can potentially protect you from dangerous intruders. If your home was ever broken into while you were at work or out of town, you could easily share your video doorbell footage with the police. Additionally, video doorbells allow you to hear the doorbell from anywhere in your home through your other smart home devices. Some types of smart doorbells will even show a small picture of your doorbell footage on your TV screen if you’re actively using the TV.Locks
Smart locks are another great home safety feature. They are programmed to lock every time you or your family members leave the house. Smart locks also allow you to unlock your home while you’re away, so you no longer have to hide a key under the mat for your dog sitter, for example. Some smart locks are also powered by passcodes, so instead of using a key for your house, you just use a passcode. If you ever have guests staying at your home, you could give them all their own temporary passcodes so they don’t need to worry about keeping track of keys.Alarm and Security Systems
Smart security systems and alarm systems are another way to feel safe and secure in your home. Every time motion is detected in front of the camera, you will receive a notification on your phone, and you’ll be able to see video footage of anyone who’s stepping onto your property. Not only that, but many security cameras also come with lights that turn on at night once movement is detected so you can get the clearest possible footage. You can also invest in a home security system that detects other dangers, such as opening windows or doors as well as glass breaking.Speakers
If you want a voice-activated home automation system, you need to get smart speakers, which allow you to make commands and hear responses from Alexa or your Google Assistant anywhere in your house. You will likely need to get a smart speaker for each room in your house for the most convenience.Pros and Cons of Home Automation Devices
If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you should invest in a smart home system, allow us to help you decide with our list of pros and cons.
Pros
- You can have remote access to almost any appliance or device in your house from your office or vacation destination.
- You can feel more comfortable at home because you won’t have to work as hard. Simple things like turning off a stray light in the hallway while you’re already in bed can easily be done through your smart devices.
- You’ll notice an increase in energy savings on an annual basis. For example, you can save money on AC costs by scheduling your smart home system to increase the temperature while you’re at work, and decrease it when you get back home.
- Smart home automation systems are ultimately designed for convenience. They work harder so you don’t have to.
- There are countless smart devices on the market that increase safety within the home, such as video doorbells, security cameras, and alarm systems.
Cons
- Let’s face it, decking out your house with numerous smart devices is expensive. As we explained previously, smart bulbs are the most affordable IoT devices currently on the market, but they cost about $30 a piece, which can add up if you want smart bulbs everywhere in your home. Smart security products, such as a smart security camera, are even more pricey.
- Because your home automation system has to be connected to the internet at all times to work, there is always the risk of getting hacked. A hacked home automation system could reveal nearly everything about you and your home to people with bad intentions. Although IoT hackings are pretty rare, the risk still exists.
- IoT technology is still brand new, and new IoT products are coming out every day now. This means that you could potentially invest in an expensive device that experiences lots of glitches and bugs.
- While a smart security system does promote home safety, it doesn’t necessarily promote home privacy. Technically, anyone could livestream your home’s doorbell or security camera footage from the app. If this is a big concern for you, the old fashioned alarm systems (such as Simplisafe) are just as effective and more private.
Setting Up Home Automation Devices
All smart home devices come with extensive instructions on how to get them set up and running. Most people find they can do this pretty easily by themselves, especially if they’re tech-savvy.
But if you’re looking to integrate smart home technology into your home’s construction or specific appliances, you may need to call professional electricians at Lombardi Electric. We can recommend the best home automation systems for the layout of your home and your specific appliances. Not only that, but we can handle the installation process as well, so you don’t have to.
Why You Should Choose Lombardi Electric For Your Home Automation Needs
The average city likely has dozens of electric and home automation companies, so it can be difficult to determine which one is the best for the electrical system in your home. So – how does Lombardi Electric stand out from the competition?
Safety
Electrical work is dangerous, which is why we prioritize the safety of our team and our customers. Our electricians are equipped with the best personal protective equipment and they don’t leave a job without triple-checking that everything is functioning safely and optimally within your home.
Experience
Every electrician at Lombardi Electric is fully licensed with years of experience, so you can rest assured that we provide the best electrical work in Alexandria, LA.
Timely
We understand that a malfunctioning home electrical system is often an emergency. Without enough power and properly functioning appliances, you can’t get anything done. That’s why Lombardi Electric prioritizes timely and high-quality service for all of your electrical needs.
Call Lombardi Electric Today
If you’re looking for the best team of electricians to fully set up or repair your smart home system, look no further. Professional electricians at Lombardi Electric have the skill and experience to handle all of your residential electrical needs. Contact 318-545-7575 to hire one of our Alexandria, LA electricians today.
