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Smart Home Essentials

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Remember when in 1999, Smart House was just a movie, a dream precisely. Today, it has become a reality and unlike Bill Gates who built his smart home in 17 years, everyone can automate their homes in a blink now.  We don’t know what the future looks like and we don’t have to think too much when the present is this good. Smart Home Technology or better known as Home Automation is the beginning of a new era where living like The Jetsons does not seem very far-fetched.

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Smart Home Technology or Home Automation is the concept of a convenient home where the devices and appliances can be automated. In simpler words, it is the technology that allows you to control your home appliances from anywhere. Through Home Automation, you get a personal assistant at your disposal all the time, can work for energy conservation, can control healthcare devices, home security, and possibly all other appliances you use around your home.

Most of the Smart Home appliances are controlled by their designated apps that can be configured on your smartphones, for further ease. The programming of all the devices, embedded with sensors and software technologies, into a network is called the Internet of Things (IoT) and as the name suggests, one key aspect of all these smart devices is the internet. The Internet is the most important thing to maintain their functionality and if you are looking to convert your ‘sweet home’ into a ‘smart’ one as well, consider a high-speed and reliable internet service provider. Spectrum, for example, offers turbo-fast internet speeds starting from 100 Mbps without any contract or data caps at reasonable prices. If you want to make up your mind, you should go through Spectrum deals and choose a bundle deal that is a one-stop solution to all your internet needs.

In this article, we have lined up some affordable and easy to use smart home options so that you can get started with the home of your dreams right now!

Light Automation

Smart lights, also known as Light Automation, enable you to control your home’s lights remotely. In addition to that, you can schedule their usage beforehand, turn them on or off, and also trigger them using their sensory feature. Smart lights also come with a dimming or softening feature.

Philips Hue LEDs are our favorite smart lights. With the availability of white as well as color-changing light bulbs, they are compatible with voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, or Good Assistant.

Smart Speaker

Smart speakers are the embodiment of ‘smart’ – several smart functions confined in a single mostly rectangular shape make them incredible. With smart speakers, you can control most of your smart devices. You can play music, check the weather, ask for any information, play games, set an alarm, check the news, and even order a pizza or call an Uber.

One of the best smart speakers available right now is Google Nest Mini. It has an impressive audio quality and the newest presence detection feature allowing it to measure your proximity from itself to control the decibels naturally.

Smart Plug

A smart plug is the easiest-to-use smart device – you just need to plug it into a regular plug and then, can control any electronic device powered by them from the app. These plugs are usually rectangular in size and are tiny enough to fit in a pocket.

We recommend TP-Link’s Kasa Mini as the best smart plug because of its exceptionally well-designed and user-friendly app that gives you complete charge of the plug – you can schedule turning the plug on or off as well. It is also coherent with Google Assistant and Alexa.

Smart Smoke Detector

Unlike regular smoke detectors, a smart smoke detector will alert you on your smartphone when you are not around to minimize the chances of a mishap. In addition to this, it also tests its functionality frequently and runs a diagnostic report by you. You can switch the detector off for false alarms, with the help of the app.

Nest Protect, a battery-oriented smart smoke detector, is by far the most reliable option. It alerts you with smartphone notifications and voice signals before the alarm shrills. It also incorporates self-check mode and a night-light feature.

Smart Camera

A few decades back, it was a hassle looking at unexpected visitors from the windows. But you don’t need to worry about it anymore. With smart security cameras, you get alerts for any unexpected activity.

Our recommendation for a smart camera is Wyze Cam v3 which is an incredible and reasonably priced home security camera. It comes along with a free fortnight video storage cloud. It is also embedded with an in-built micro SD card chip slot. Features like live HD video streams, two-way talk, and night vision are included in this device. It works well with Alexa and Google Assistant as well.

Smart lock

Keyless entry/exit is everyone’s fantasy when running late or when your arms are burdened with the souvenirs of your shopping expeditions. Smart locks can lock and unlock doors following your smartphone location. You can also schedule the lock’s operations before time.

With its credible hardware and ultra-futuristic software technology, August Wi-Fi Smart lock is your go-to smart lock. It also supports voice controls like Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.

Smart Doorbell

Smart doorbells alert you when someone is at the door and provide you with visuals as well. An embedded intercom allows you to communicate through your smartphone from anywhere.

Nest Hello can be credited as the best video doorbell of 2020 with its huge lineup of exceptional features including owner-controlled facial recognition that allows you to build your very own facial recognition collection of people who come by your door. It also enables you to store three-hours worth of videos for free. You also get alerts when a frequent visitor comes at the door, through your app.

Conclusion

The only constant in life is change and the world around us is changing every second. With the inclusion of Smart Home technology, our fast-paced lives have started a journey towards otherworldly experience. We have only listed the smart home essentials in this article but there is an ocean of smart home appliances waiting to make your life easier.

Take the first step in your smart life with these smart home essentials!

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Tips for Saving Money on Home Refurbishments

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Buying a house is the biggest investment most of us make, but sometimes, despite the high mortgage, the property will require a further substantial chunk of money to bring it up to standard. Depending on the price you initially paid for the property and how much money (if any) you have left over, you may need to think carefully about budgeting. 

Like any big project, renovating a house can quickly see costs spiral out of control. This means you’re likely looking at ways to save money, even if you have a relatively large budget to work with initially. If you’re unsure where to start with budgeting a home refurbishment, we’re here to help. 

We’ve put together four handy tips that you can use to preserve your budget and make the project less harsh on your finances. 

1. Salvage What You Can 

The first tip is to salvage what you can. Depending on the nature of your refurbishment, this can relate to anything. For example, if the bathroom of your property is in relatively good condition, you won’t necessarily need to replace it all. You might install a new showerhead and lighting, but you can save money by painting the existing tiles and adding decals rather than buying brand new ones. 

If you’re refurbishing the kitchen and like the current layout, you could keep the shell of the cabinets and simply replace the cupboard doors and worktops. Likewise, you can give your sink a new look simply by replacing the taps. 

These are all examples of salvaging what you have which will go a long way to saving you money, as well as making your refurbishment eco-friendlier. 

2. Wait for Sales Before Making Big Purchases 

If you need to make a big purchase as part of your renovation, such as a bath or kitchen appliances, then it’s a good idea to wait a little while before committing to buying. Oftentimes, suppliers will hold sales that see items half in price, meaning you can more often than not find a bargain simply by being patient. 

3. Do Things Yourself 

One of the biggest costs associated with house refurbishments is labor costs. There will inevitably be tasks that require a professional to step in, such as plastering or electrical re-wiring, but you’d be surprised at the number of jobs you can do yourself. The beauty of the internet is that there are video tutorials of almost anything, including costly jobs like tiling and laying carpets. 

By undertaking as much of the work as you can yourself, you’ll soon see just how much money you’re able to save. This is a great option if you’re on a strict budget and don’t mind getting stuck in.

4. Save Up Cash Where Possible 

Our final money saving tip for doing a house refurb is to pay in cash where you can. This means saving up money into a bank account and avoiding using credit or loans where possible. Every time you take out a loan or use a credit card, you’re liable to pay back the initial amount you borrowed as well as interest. The amount of interest you pay will depend on the finance agreement you’ve entered into, but it does mean that what you end up paying is more than it would be if you were to pay in cash. 

Paying using cash means that it might take you a bit longer to save up, but if money is tight and you have the luxury of time, it’s a good idea. If you’re renovating a house to sell it on, borrowing money won’t be an issue because you should stand to make a profit anyway, but otherwise, try and stick to cash. 

We hope you find these tips useful and that your home refurb goes to plan. If you’ve recently undertaken a refurbishment project, what are some tips you implemented to save money?

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What Do I Need to Know to Maintain my Air Conditioner?

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Maintaining your HVAC system is an essential component to your quality of life. When it’s working correctly, you are guaranteed a comfortable environment in all seasons. You are also guaranteed of efficiency in energy consumption. The challenge is that if you do not get the right information on air conditioner maintenance, it can cost you a lot of money. There is also the risk of falling prey to unscrupulous AC repair companies that cost you money and make the problems worse. To help you avoid such issues, here is what you need to know to maintain your AC without challenges.

Finding the Right Company Can Make all the Difference

If you want to maintain your AC without problems, make sure to use a qualified HVAC company. There are multiple ways that you can tell if an HVAC company. The first thing you need to check out for is their certifications. As a rule, always go for a company that has all the right certifications needed for the job. This is usually an indicator that they have the minimum qualifications needed to get the job done. Once you ascertain that they are certified, the next thing to check out for is their customer reputation. One way to tell if a company has a good reputation or not is to check its online reviews. As a rule, go for a company that has more positive reviews than negative ones. It is usually an indicator that they are good at the job, and they deliver on their promises. Using these parameters, one of the best companies you can go for is Doc’s heating and AC Company. They are BBB Accredited and are dealers for top companies like Mitsubishi Electric, Goodman, Amana, Daikin, and Aprilaire. They also have a good reputation with customers including fast response times to customer needs.

Save Money by Taking a DIY Approach to Air Conditioner Maintenance

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AC maintenance is not cheap. However, you can significantly cut on these costs by taking a DIY approach to most of the AC maintenance tasks. Some of the things you can do by yourself and cut on your AC maintenance costs are as below:

  • Replace the air filters

One of the things you can do to cut on costs is to replace the air filters. Replacing the air filter is not hard and you should try and do it once a month. All you need to do is know the right-size filter for your system and stick to it. By replacing the air filter, you avoid a multitude of other issues that will most likely lead to costly repairs.

  • Cleaning up the coils

One of the biggest causes of inefficiencies in AC systems is dirty air coils. When dirt clogs up the coils, it slows down the airflow, reducing the system’s ability to absorb heat. As such, the system works harder leading to higher energy consumption. Luckily, this is an issue that you can easily deal with on your own. Just spend a few minutes of your free time, once or twice a month, to clean the coils.

  • Get rid of debris from the AC unit

One of the biggest causes of inefficiency in AC systems is a buildup of debris in the unit. Some of this debris include leaves and small stones, and you can deal with them without the intervention of a professional. For instance, you can start by cleaning up the area close to the air conditioner of shrubs and other plants.

  • Work on the coil fins

You may have noticed that after a while, the condenser and evaporator coils start to bend. This creates a blockage of the airflow, which then affects the efficiency of the system. To get rid of this problem, try and straighten it whenever you notice that it is starting to coil. It may give you a hard time the first time, but once you learn how to do it, it will take very little of your time, and significantly cut on your cost of maintaining the AC system.

  • The quality of air conditioner accessories matters
air conditioner
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When looking to maintain your AC, you will regularly need to replace things like coils and air filters. When buying these accessories, go for reputable brands. They will serve their purpose well, and for longer. This will cut on your costs while ensuring that you have good quality service in terms of airflow and energy efficiency. You may spend more initially, but long-term, the costs of maintenance will be lower.

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Expanding Your Home Upwards | TechLipz

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Changing circumstances can mean that our living requirements can shift, whether it’s due to an expanding family or otherwise. Sometimes, it’s not quite enough to just add an extra room to your home and you’re in need of a whole new floor. Although your first thought might be that you need a new house, sometimes parting with the place you call home is absolutely heart-breaking. Therefore, you may consider adding a new storey to your existing home.

There’s no denying that this is a large-scale operation, so for maximum security and optimal results, you will require a professional trained team on hand. Professionals that work with scaffolding require IPAF training, which equips them with the skills that they need to work at a height in a safe capacity. Therefore, if you lack training such as this, you should always refrain from working at a height as this could result in serious injury and lead to a poor-quality project.  

Evaluating the Foundations

Not all structures will be suited to adding another storey, which is why you must evaluate the floor plans ahead or commencing your project. If you can get your hands on the floor plans for your home, you’ll be able to learn what type of foundations are in place. This information includes their depth and whether certain internal walls have foundations. On top of this, you’ll be able to find out more about your drainage system. This information will provide your design team with the means of crafting a plan.

Not everyone can simply attain their floor plans, in this case you would search for your local building records. However, if you’re unsuccessful in doing so, you’ll need to get in touch with a structural engineer to assess your ground conditions for you. In order to do so, they may need to dig some holes to determine the type and depth of the foundations that you have in place. 

On top of digging holes, the engineer may need to take a soil sample to send for testing. Otherwise, a geotechnical consultant might need to liaise with your structural engineer. Ultimately, there are many methods of attaining the information that you need, but the results will effectively determine the remainder of your project. 

Selecting a Frame

A timber frame is the best solution in terms of adding an extension to your home since it’s need for blockwork is minimal. Therefore, you won’t be required to reinforce your existing foundations due to the lightweight properties of timber frames. Underpinning and strengthening foundations is a lengthy and costly procedure, so it’s wise to steer away from this if doable. On average, a timber-framed upwards extension will cost around £1,800/m2.

Before going ahead with a timber-framed solution, you’ll need to get your planning status approved. Typically, a prefabricated timber frame is more efficient than a stick-built alternative. You should get going with your construction as quickly as you can and select one contractor so that your project is at the forefront of their mind. 

Other Things to Contemplate 

In order to avoid the disturbance of creatures in your roof, a bat survey should be executed.

Within the builders’ contract, you should name your timber frame supplier so that you’re able to manage your expenses. This also alleviates some of the responsibility from you as your builder will be liable for some of the paperwork. 

Your scaffolding company will need to be regularly notified about the status of your project to maintain safety measures.

Furthermore, you might sell materials from your existing structure to assist you financially.

Lastly, you should consider an “easi-joist” system as these are simpler than standard joists. 

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