Your smartphone is something that you almost always have on you, and now you can do even more with it. Companies are now designing appliances, sprinklers, and home security systems that keep you connected and in control of your home. You can now download apps to control just about every aspect of your house. These apps help you to save on your utility bills and keep your home that much safer.
Connect Your Refrigerator
Image via Flickr by Kendyl Young
Although many refrigerators now offer touch screen controls, with smartphones you don’t even have to get up to control your fridge. Brands like Whirlpool have made it possible to connect wirelessly to your tablet or smartphone to send you information and help you control your fridge.
You can get alerts sent to your phone when the door is accidentally left open, there is a power outage, or even to see its energy usage. Imagine knowing that the power went out in your house, and being able to save all the food in your fridge and freezer. This could potentially save you a lot of money and prevent a big mess in your kitchen.
Control the Sprinklers
Your sprinkler system can use a lot of water, and if it’s on a timer, you likely use much more water than you need. Fortunately, there are apps available that help you to water your lawn only when it’s necessary. These apps will pull data from your local weather service to help predict whether you need to water your lawn.
If you know it’s going to rain later, you can control your sprinklers remotely and hold off watering that day instead of wasting all that water. This remote control is also handy if you’re going to be out of town for a few days.
Manage Your HVAC System
Whether you’re on vacation or are just busy with something else, you can control your HVAC system by connecting your thermostat to your smartphone. If you’re out of town, and the weather is milder than you expected, adjust your thermostat.
Similarly, if there’s an unexpected freeze while you’re away, you can turn on the heat and prevent the pipes from freezing. When paired with a connection like T-Mobile’s fast and reliable 4G network, you’ll always be in touch with your HVAC. If you’re warm and cozy in your bed and want to save on energy, consider turning down your thermostat. You can also set it to automatically heat or cool down in the morning or when you get home from work.
Set Your Oven
If you’ve ever been absorbed in a TV show and don’t want to leave it to preheat your oven, you’re in luck. GE has created an oven that you can control through your smartphone. For safety purposes, you must be connected to your home’s WiFi to control the oven this way, but you can preheat, set, or turn off your oven from anywhere your home’s WiFi reaches. While the features aren’t quite as advanced as similar apps for other appliances, it still can make your life easier.
Check on the Wash
Several modern washers and dryers now come with the ability to control your laundry through your smartphone. You can set the cycle, start, and stop your washer and dryer through smartphone apps. The system can also alert you when the cycle is complete. Some systems even offer the ability to check on the diagnostics of your washer and dryer so you can see how efficiently they’re running, and predict potential issues as well.
Monitor Your Home Security
Some home security systems now allow you to monitor your home through an app on your phone. The more sophisticated programs even allow you to tap into cameras to view rooms directly through your smartphone. You don’t need a complicated system either. Free apps such as Presence allow you to use a camera, tablet, or another smartphone to view select rooms inside your home from anywhere in the world.
If you’re considering upgrading any of your appliances, consider upgrading to appliances you can control straight from your smartphone. Many times it makes your home safer, saves energy, and saves you money.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
