Contractor Tips Blog

Jan
17

Have The Home Of The Future With Digital Home Automation

Posted in Home Automation

Control your entire home, all from your smart phone or computer with digital home automation. What used to be available only in science fiction movies is now a reality. New technology allows you to control almost all your devices in your home with a phone application or remote access from a computer. It is not just a convenience, either; digital home automation can help you save money on your utilities, protect your home and make it a more comfortable place to live. 

Benefits Of Digital Home Automation

Imagine being able to shut off your lights, turn on your air conditioning or open your garage door when you are miles away from home. Although some of these functions are individually available, digital home automation combines all your home’s features in one place, making it easy to protect your home and even save money. Here are some of the benefits of using this amazing new technology: 

  • Save energy – Heat, cool or light your home only when needed. Set your heat or A/C to turn on a half an hour before you get home or do it when you are headed back to the house. Check to make sure everything is turned off, even when you are already miles away.
     
  • Protect your home – Digital home automation can allow you to control your alarm system from wherever you are  and give the illusion that you are home. Turn lights on and off, blast the stereo or TV, even when relaxing on vacation in Hawaii.
     
  • Convenience – Last but not least, even when you are home, having instant access to all your devices is convenient and saves time. 

This technology of the future is now available! Make your home safer and more efficient with digital home automation by calling an installation professional to discuss your options.

Posted on behalf of Callaway Home Theater

Aug
28

Home Automation

Posted in Home Automation

Imagine the ability to control your home remotely from your laptop computer or smart phone.  Imaging the ability to view your home in real time while on vacation half way around the world.  Imagine the ability to turn on and off specific lights or electrical appliances, such as an oven, on the way home from your job.  Imagine the ability to be able to regulate the temperature in your home as you are driving home.   Imagine the ability to receive updates from your home security system while away on vacation or on a business trip.  Imagine the ability to turn on your irrigation system while out of town.  There is no need to imagine a day when this will be possible, as it is available today with home automation! 

Home automation is possible due the extensive use of “structured wiring” in today’s homes.  This wiring, which is separate from the electrical wiring, allows the home to become “digital”.  Even older homes built without this wiring can have it easily retrofitted by a qualified, licensed contractor that specializes in home automation.  One of the greatest things about home automation, besides the convenience that it provides the homeowner and their family, is the efficiency that these systems provide.  Ultimately this efficiency saves money! 

Contacting a qualified, professional contractor that specialized in home automation s the first step in taking advantage of the conveniences and efficiency that home automation provides.  They will be able to design and install a system that meets your needs as well as your budget!

 

Feb
13

Control4 Home Automation Technology

Posted in Home Automation

When it comes to home automation technology, Control4 is a brand that most people have heard of. As a leading provider of automation solutions, Control4 manufactures a wide range of products designed to “control and automate lighting, music, video, security and energy” in a residential or commercial property.

Control4 products are designed to work with the electronics, appliances, security system, lighting system, heating system, and other features already existing in a home or business place. Control4 products are compatible with over 7,000 third-party electronic devices and are distributed and installed by more than 2,200 certified Control4 dealers in the United States.  Many of the products can be installed by a professional within a few hours. Consumers can choose to start with a few features and increase the level of automation over time.

A typical Control4 home automation system includes a central hub called a ‘controller’, which connects and manages all the devices in the home, and any number of Control4 devices which may include wall keypads, touch screens, remote controls, cameras, door bolts, light switches and dimmers, media players, thermostats, apps, software, sensors and more. The integrated system is programmed to perform a customized range of “smart” actions such as automatically turning off the lights when a room in unoccupied or automatically closing windows blinds at a certain time of the day. Family members can use the system to communicate with each other in different parts of the house; parents can use it to monitor the baby’s room; and much more. 

Control4 automation and control systems can go a long way in making your home more energy efficient, and add a new dimension of convenience and safety to any business or home environment.

Dec
20

Advantages of Motorized Window Blinds

Posted in Home Automation

Motorized window blinds or shades are those which can be opened and closed remotely from a control panel, through a computer, via a wireless device such as a smart phone, or with a remote control.  They can be programmed to automatically open or close at certain times and can be customized to fit any door or window. There are several advantages to motorized window shades.

1)      Convenient and quality-preserving operation

Motorized window blinds provide the convenience of not having to manually adjust window coverings. This eliminates unnecessary stretching and walking, saves time, and rules out the possibility of window coverings getting damaged or malfunctioning from too-rigorous or careless handling. Also, because motorized window blinds are programmed to close or lower automatically, there is no need to remember to do this oneself.

2)      Cordless

Motorized window shades do not have cords hanging from them like regular window shades. The cordless effect is neat and pleasing to the eye. Cordless window coverings are also safer since window cords can present a choking hazard for young children.

3)      Cost-effective and energy-efficient

Motorized window blinds help homeowners and business places save money in the long-run. This is because they can be programmed to open and close at specific times and in certain weather conditions in a way that reduces heat accumulation. This eases the burden on air-conditioning systems thereby lowering energy bills.

4)      Security

Motorized window shades can be programmed to automatically open and close even when the premises are unoccupied, for example, when homeowners are on vacation or a business place is temporarily closed. This discourages thieves and inrtuders by maintaining an illusion of occupancy.

5)      Sun control

Letting sunlight into an interior space is often desirable. Indoor plants need sunlight and natural light can enhance an indoor space. On the other hand, the sun’s rays can damage furniture, flooring, carpets, and artwork, or cause health disturbances for some people. Motorized window blinds can be programmed to regulate the way and degree to which sunlight enters a room at different times of the day.

Aug
30

Home Automation Saves You Time and Money

Posted in Home Automation

For years people have talked about saving time and money through their home doing things for them, and now the reality has caught up with the dream. Smart homes are the new technology revolution taking the effort out of humdrum tasks and making the pennies go further than ever before. Many new homes come with structured wiring that enables easy integration of home automation features without enormous amounts of effort.

So what kind of automation is possible? You’d be amazed! You can start with the temperature controls in your house which monitor the way your thermostat or HVAC system works to ensure maximum energy efficiency which means saving money on air conditioning and heating bills. Then you can try out automated lighting controls, you can save money by having all your lights turn off when you leave home and then turn on just as you arrive.

When you’re away, lighting controls can help with security too, you can set your lights to turn on in different parts of the house at different times of day and night to give observers the appearance that someone is at home and burglars prefer empty houses.

Or why not consider a control for your oven that you can call when you’re on your way home, using just your cell phone and start getting it warmed up for dinner. You can even automate aspects of your home security system and watch your CCTV footage on your iPhone. And don’t forget to automate your sprinklers so your garden is always in perfect condition.

If you want to get more out of your home for less, home automation can make your life easier.

 

Dec
26

Home Automation for Energy Savings

Posted in Home Automation

Home automation technology has come a long way in recent years.  As technological advances are made and prices for equipment come down, homeowners are finding more and more ways to use home automation to increase safety, improve comfort, and enhance their quality of life.  From simple systems that automatically adjust temperatures or turn lights on and off to fully integrated home automation systems that control lighting, audio visual, heat and air, security, and other systems with remote access, home automation provides, comfort, convenience, and security.

One of the many benefits of home automation is its potential for energy savings.  Reducing energy consumption not only saves you money on your energy bills, it also reduces the impact on the environment.  Home automation can help you reduce your home’s carbon footprint will lowering your energy costs.

There are almost an unlimited number of ways to automate your home for reduced energy consumption.  Lighting controllers can be programmed to automatically turn on the lights when you arrive home, to turn the lights in a room on as you enter and off if it is unoccupied, to replicate your usage pattern to give the appearance that someone is home, and to control the brightness of any or all of your lights.

Power controllers turn appliances off automatically and save energy but cutting off all power to the appliance.  Many appliances continue to use power even when they are turned off.  A power controller can eliminate this usage and save you energy.

Climate controls can reduce energy consumption by adjusting the temperature setting your home according to your usage patterns.  Your home is kept at a comfortable temperature when it is occupied, and at an energy saving temperature when you are away or asleep.

These are just a few of the many ways that home automation can help you save energy and do your part for the environment.  Your home automation contractor can help you with these and other energy saving ideas.

Dec
17

Home Automation

Posted in Home Automation

Home automation sounds futuristic, but it is a popular and affordable way to provide your family with increased security, comfort and convenience.  Someday, all new homes will have home automation features, but you can have home automation installed in your existing home today. 

Recent technological advances have led to the increased availability  and much lower cost of residential automation.  With the advent of the internet and cell phones, you can control almost anything in your home from almost anywhere in the world.

Home automation covers a wide range of things that you can control in your home automatically, remotely or both.  These include things like your lights, heating and air conditioning, appliances, windows, doors, shades, and surveillance cameras.  All of these things and more can be controlled automatically or from a remote location by using a telephone, computer, or panels either inside or outside your house. 

For example, home automation provides the ability to set your lights to come on at a certain time and your heating and air conditioning system to warm or cool your house on a certain schedule.  You can also remotely turn your lights off and on and adjust the temperature in your house from your cell phone or computer. 

You can remotely operate your oven, turn on or off your television, and open or close your blinds.  You can also install surveillance cameras which not only provide security while you are at home, but allow you to keep an eye on your home when you are away. 

The possibilities for home automation are almost unlimited!  For more information, call a reputable local home automation contractor.  They will be happy to create a home automation plan that fits your needs and your budget.

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