10 Beneficial Smart Home Features for Back-to-School Season

Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in September 2018 and has been revised to reflect industry updates.

As summer days shift toward the cooler and shorter fall season, many families are returning to hectic school and work schedules. While home security is top priority, efficient household safety management can often be challenging.

However, this doesn’t have to be the case when adding real-time smart home features protecting your loved ones and home!

Whether at work, home, or an extended outing, smart technologies such as remote monitoring, motion detection, and others can help keep abreast of home security. These automated features also assist in managing other household safety features such as lighting, heating and cooling, and even vehicle tracking and diagnostics.

Smart devices can also track and monitor your family’s health and wellness goals.

When adding or upgrading back-to-school smart technologies within your home, it’s best to work with a reputable service provider, such as General Security.

Below we’ll outline 10 beneficial smart home features for back-to-school season, including smart door locks and security cameras, geofencing capabilities, energy management, and more.

1. Keep Doors Secure With Smart Locks

Anyone with children knows how chaotic weekday mornings can be. From preparing lunches and checking backpacks, to getting out on time, there’s a long list of to-dos. If you commute to your place of employment, you might have inadvertently forgotten to lock doors, or turn lights down.

Fortunately, many smart security systems ensure you don’t have to sacrifice home safety. Smart locks enable users to secure homes from most mobile apps. Remotely arm/disarm alarm systems, and power down lights and other electrical sources, too!

2. Keep a Watchful Eye With Smart Security Cameras

Many smart security systems include indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras with remote video monitoring. Parents can easily check on children arriving home safely from school, and ensure homework is completed. Cameras equipped with two-way audio and video communication can deter unexpected visitors, accept deliveries, and help control frisky household pets.

Alarm.com Perimeter Guard is another protective option when used with compatible security cameras. Should a trespasser attempt to gain access, they’ll be met with flashing red lights, sirens, and alarms integrated with LEDs and speakers.

3. Real-Time Alerts of Suspicious Behavior

Smart home technology also delivers in-app alerts of solicitors or trespassers gaining access to your property—even if you’re away from home.

Should you fail to arm your home security system, video analytics and motion detection close this gap with customized settings and tripwires within pre-programmed designated areas.

4. Tracking Systems for Driver Whereabouts & Vehicle Safety

Whether you’re a busy parent handling school drop-off and pick-up, or have a new teen driver, GPS tracking systems are another added convenience.

With Alarm.com Connected Car, you can track driver whereabouts, and manage vehicle maintenance schedules regarding oil changes, fuel consumption, tire pressure, and more. This smart technology also displays location information for emergency personnel and roadside assistance.

5. Keep Tabs on Energy Management & Usage

Ensuring adherence to homework and study times is another challenge parents face throughout the school year. Smart outlets remotely power down electronic devices, TVs, and gaming systems during quiet hours. Another helpful use is programming LED bulbs for bedtime and lights out.

6. Utilize Smart Thermostats for Temperature Adjustment

No one wants to enter a sweltering home in the summer or a chilly interior during a snowstorm. Smart thermostats can set home heating and cooling for certain times throughout the day. They can also be synced with weather patterns to avoid uncomfortable or dangerous interior temperatures during extreme weather.

7. Program & Set Up Geofencing Scenes

One of the most popular smart functions to program and save frequently used configurations is Alarm.com’s Scenes. Compatible with geofencing, setting a scene labeled “Kids Home From School” will automatically activate various smart technologies. This includes remotely adjusting indoor lights, thermostats, and other pre-programmed, designated functions. Similar scenes can be set for morning and evening routines, and when you’re on vacation or out.

8. Monitor Water Usage & Leak Detection

 Protect your home from leaks and water damage by adding flood sensors to avoid costly accidents.

The Alarm.com Smart Water Valve + Meter boasts quick leak and moisture identification ensuring automatic shutoff, along with daily usage insights.

9. Implement 24/7 Central Station Monitoring

Should an activated home alarm system signify an emergency, 24/7 Central Station Monitoring will immediately alert local authorities–whether you’re home or not! You can also view real-time mobile alerts with assurance that help is on the way. Acting as your home’s secret guardian, this technology can oftentimes be the difference between exacerbated injuries, illness, and damages.

10. Quickly Detect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Presence

Updated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are imperative, especially during cooler months. With gas fireplaces running, and people spending more time indoors, there’s an increase of possible dangers, such as smoke inhalation, fires, gas leaks, and chimney problems.

It’s also important to ensure these devices are in working order and have been recently inspected. A good rule of thumb is to conduct this during spring and fall daylight saving times.

Smart Security Integrations to Keep Your Family Safe & Sound

Automating everything from security cameras to thermostats, alarm systems, and more, smart technologies provide added peace of mind knowing your family and home are safe and secure.

General Security provides smart technology solutions protecting your loved ones and home. Request a free quote from us today!