Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Published on: 26 November 2018 Last Updated on: 13 December 2021

It seems like a thing of the future; something reminiscent of sci-fi films set on spaceships, complete with large, omniscient motherboard computers. But having a smart home controlled by virtual voice command technology is very much a thing of the present. With the release of Apple’s Siri technology in 2011, the virtual assistant game was changed. The ability to give commands verbally to an in-device personality, Siri, opened the door for easier, more productive living. Now with Amazon and Google joining the race, and other companies following suit, there’s suddenly a whole heap of new virtual assistant options.

Moving away from purely phone/tablet based assistants, the market now includes home-based alternatives. Google Home or Amazon’s Echo (complete with assistant Alexa) allows users to turn their space into “smart homes”, wherein with a simple verbal command, they can instruct their assistant to perform all kinds of tasks around the home, such as turning lights on and off.

There are also some things you should be careful about. According to Lendi smart home can be targeted by hackers since the whole house is connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Controlling lights
Changing a home’s temperature
Playing music
Opening/closing garage doors

There are loads more options you can choose from, and third-party capabilities you can put in place (Amazon’s Alexa can perform over 10,000 tasks!), like creating lighting sensors, or scheduling changes to your lights, alarms, and thermostat.

Virtual voice assistants also signal a massive change in the lives of people living with disabilities or illness. The chance to utilise voice commands to perform everyday tasks removes the barrier that mobility issues and physical impairment create. For able-bodied people, virtual assistants are a cool new way to increase productivity and promote convenience. Consider then the massive improvement this technology can make in the lives of people living and thriving with disabilities. The extra support can be life-changing. All in all, another point scored for the virtual assistants’ pros list.

So, the basic gist is that having your house properly set up as a smart home is awesome and opens you up to a heap of benefits. However, setting the system up can be confusing.

You’ll largely need to consider two things:

Choosing your assistant:

The main players that hold the monopoly on the smart home/virtual assistant market are Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Assistant. They all have their pros and cons, and your choosing which one suits you best is ultimately a matter of personal preference. They all offer easy-to-use voice commands, but there are several different things to consider when deciding on an assistant:

Price
Capabilities (what can you do/control?)
Compatibility with Android or Apple products
Ease of set-up (how long and difficult is it to get running?)
Ease of use (Is it perceptive and easy to talk to?)
Assistant’s intelligence (How easily and well it can answer questions.)

Choose your hardware:

After deciding on your virtual assistant, you’ll need physical hardware to support it. Each different assistant offers different options, like the Amazon Echo. They too have their pros and cons. There are also different models of each hardware device, so there are multiple cost, sound and utility options. Your hardware largely depends on which assistant you choose, so that will also narrow down your options.

The last important thing to think about when considering the purchase of a virtual voice assistant is your internet’s performance. If you’re having to use your phone’s personal hotspot at home because your connection is slow and temperamental, perhaps think about changing your home internet’s carrier or plan. You’ll need to choose a reliable broadband connection to run and use your assisting device, and you may need to research bandwidth, and how this affects how well your devices stream content and perform commands.

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How to Improve Your Living Conditions in a Small Living Space

Living in a small space requires you to be innovative and well equipped to ensure that you have a comfortable place to stay. There are a lot of things you can do to make this happen. However, to ensure that you make the most of your space, you need to avoid adding clutter to your house. If you are going to add anything to your space, ensure that you get some items out of your house that you don't need. This is essential given that if you were to clutter your space, your goal to improve your space wouldn't be realized. Once you have your system for keeping clutter out, here are a few things to consider for improving your living conditions. They include: Invest in the Right Furniture: Furniture is one of the most important home additions especially when it comes to improving your living conditions. When working with a small space, your furniture choices are very crucial. You need to consider how they'll fit into your space. Since this is a small living space, consider going with medium or small-sized furniture that is not too bulky. This will help you ensure that you use your space well without taking up too much space. Additionally, you should consider using alternative seating options like floor pillows and ottoman. This will also help you improve your living conditions. Tweak Your Lighting: When it comes to small spaces, you need to ensure that you invest in bright lighting options. These lighting options will help illuminate your space and make it feel bigger than it is. Adding light will incredibly improve your living conditions and allow you to enjoy your small space. This can be achieved by adding more or brighter light Fixtures. The best part about this is that you have a lot of options to consider. You could invest in led lights that you can dim or make brighter when you need to. Add Mirrors: Mirrors are important and can be used in different parts of the house to add character to your space. When working with small spaces mirrors help make your room look bigger and enhance your living conditions. The best way to ensure that you get the best out of this is by investing in larger mirrors. These mirrors will work great for your living room and bedroom. Diversify Your Storage Options: When it comes to small spaces, storage is one of the things that prove to be quite tricky. Without enough storage, you find that your space becomes cluttered and doesn't result in better living conditions. This is why you need to reconsider your storage options. Make use of your high ceilings and the empty spaces on your walls. Install cabinets and shelves that will help you take advantage of this space and get some extra storage space. This will significantly improve your living conditions while in the small spaces. Go with Light Wall Colors: There are different ways to improve your wall spaces and make your room more lively. One of them is incorporating warm wall colors on your wall. This is a great way to ensure that you improve your living conditions. You could consider going with pure white on your walls or warmer colors. With this, you can be sure that your small space can accommodate you. Improve Your Home’s Air Quality: Air quality in the home is one of the things that gets forgotten when working on improving your living conditions. Given that you are working with a small space, you need to ensure that you pay attention to this. You don't have as much space for air circulation as you would in a larger space. To make working with better air quality in your space, consider using air purifiers. They will help you ensure that your space has amazing air circulation throughout. If you're in the market for quality air purifiers, check out Hisoair.com to get the best deals. Add Decor and Greenery: Adding decor to any space is a great way to add character and improve the overall conditions of the space. With this in mind, you should consider investing in decor items. Decor items will vary depending on your personal preference and the style you are going for in your home. Additionally, adding greenery is also a good way to ensure that you improve the conditions in your home. Invest in indoor plants that are either real or faux depending on the commitment you are willing to put in. Remember real plants will require regular weeding and watering while faux plants are not as demanding. Incorporate Some Texture: When adding texture into your home, you have different options to consider. You have the option of going with area rugs, pillow covers, and throw blankets to achieve this. Adding texture into your home will give it character and improve your small space significantly. Additionally, consider adding some patterns as well to add to your space. Multi-Functional Furniture for Maximum Efficiency When you’re working with limited space, multi-functional furniture is a must. Get a sofa bed, and you’ll have somewhere comfy to sit during the day that also doubles as a guest (or your) bed at night! The best two for one when it comes to furniture? Or maybe an ottoman with storage so you can hide blankets, books, or anything else you want out of sight. Tables and desks that fold away or extend only when needed are another great way to save some space. Think About Room Dividers Does your living room feel like it’s in your bedroom or maybe your kitchen? Or does it feel like a mixture of all three with too much hoarded furniture? This is why I ordered room dividers! In such a small space, I needed one room to feel separate. So, if you have a bookshelf, you can even find a room divider somewhere. We justify the use of whatever type of solution to the problem that can make certain places within the studio apartment feel not as squished. Whether it is a proper divider, long curtains, or just a bookshelf, whatever feels better! Stay Organized with Vertical Solutions How much wall space do you have? If you’re not using your walls, you could be missing out on some great storage opportunities. Floating shelves or hooks can keep things off of the floor and out of the way. Maybe your kitchen needs an easy storage fix. So, why not try some hanging shelves for spices or mugs? Or, if your counter always seems to be cluttered in the bathroom, add shelves above your sink or toilet. What room do you think this would work best in? Utilizing wall space will save floor space and keep everything organized with a modern look. Try these tiny home fixes and upgrades, and you'll see that even the smallest dwelling can feel spacious, comfortable, and all yours. You can Manage It! Living in a small space can be a bit complicated given that you don’t have a lot of space to work with. However, this doesn’t mean that you should live in a cluttered space just because you live in a small space. This is why you need to invest in additions that will help improve your living space. They will help you improve your living conditions and enjoy your small living space. Take your time to incorporate these aspects into your home with ease. Read Also: How To Increase The Value Of Your Home How You Can Choose the Ideal Ceiling Light for Your Living Area Unique Furniture to Transform Your Home The New Trend: Drawer Boxes

How to Choose the Best Heat Pump for Your Home?

Heat pumps serve dual purposes. They heat the home when it is cold outside and cool it when the temperature rises. These units are energy efficient and good for the environment because they don't burn fuel. However, the homeowner needs to ensure they get the correct unit for the home. The Concept Of A Heat Pump The heat pumps are becoming more and more popular these days. If you still don’t know about them and are trying to look for more information before buying a heat pump for your house, then you have landed yourself on the right page. An electric air source heat pump is an outdoor unit. You can use this unit to keep your home both heat as well as cool your home. This totally depends on the weather. The heat pumps are a great alternative to your central air conditioner or your furnace systems. This technology is specifically used in a refrigerator or an air conditioner. The unit extracts heat from a specific source. It can be from the surrounding air, nearby sources of water, or eleven geothermal energy. Once it is done collecting the heat, it further amplifies it and then transfers it to the space where it is necessary. How Do Heat Pumps Work? Most heat pumps pull heat from the air and move it to the desired location. When heating the home, the unit takes the hot air from outside and brings it indoors. When cooling the house, the unit removes hot air from the home and transfers it outside. They use less carbon than other heating options and work best when set at a consistent temperature. To see the optimal results, homeowners must ensure their houses are properly insulated and sealed. What else should they know before requesting a heat pump installation? Heat Pump Options Air-to-air heat pumps are the most common air-source heat pumps used in America today. They come in two forms. Ducted air-source heat pumps function like central AC units. Treated air is distributed throughout the home with the help of ductwork. Ductless or mini-split air-source heat pumps are the second option, increasing in popularity. No ductwork is needed when a homeowner selects this option. However, other options exist. Geothermal heat pumps pull heat from the ground to warm a home and release heat into the ground to cool the house. These systems are highly efficient, but they often cost more to install. Water-source heat pumps are similar to ground-source units but are installed at the bottom of a pond. Air-to-water heat pumps use a hot-water radiator system to distribute heat throughout the home. The Benefits of Heat Pumps Heat pumps are easy to install and work in most homes. The mini-split system is ideal for those without ductwork because the house won't have to be modified during installation. Moving to a heat pump will significantly reduce the owner's carbon footprint, and many areas offer subsidies for those who choose to upgrade to this type of unit. Let’s learn about the benefits of the best heat pump: Energy Efficiency Many users have agreed that heat pumps show more efficiency than all traditional furnaces. These heat pumps help to move the heat from the outside air or ground into your home. As a result, you can easily save a lot of money on the overall energy bills. Improved Air Quality The heat pumps can both filter and then deodorize the air. This helps you to reduce allergies as well as asthma. Quiet Operation The heat pumps are an excellent choice for your home and businesses as they generate less noise and are typically quieter than the other systems. Easy Maintenance Process The heat pumps do not require much attention and are very simple to manage. It does not need regular servicing. P.S. Heat pumps can be expensive, and you may face difficulties installing the system. Otherwise, the system and its benefits make it a perfect long-term investment. When Not to Install Heat Pump? A poorly insulated home or a leaky one will not benefit from a heat pump because drafts and cold spots are often an issue. Homeowners must research their electrical service to ensure it can handle the heat pump load, as upgrading the electrical system to install this unit will add to the cost. Finally, individuals in cold climates may find their heat pumps cannot keep up. The Department of Energy has established eight climate zones for the United States. In zones 7 and 8, homeowners need to consider other options. Choosing a Heat Pump Homeowners must consider several factors when choosing a heat pump. You must consider the size and capacity of your space. If you fail to choose the best heat pump of the proper size, it will cost more to run. Moreover, it won't keep the home at the desired temperature. The determination of the right size heat pump involves two kinds of measurements: 1. Manual J Load calculation HVAC technicians widely use this specific kind of calculation. They consider certain factors that help them to understand how much heating and cooling your home needs before choosing the best heat pump. These factors are as follows: The square footage measurement of your home Ceiling height Insulation of your house The climate type and the number of days you might need the heating or cooling How often the space is being used? The number of people who use the space The total number of heat-producing appliances that you have in your room Number of windows and doors. The technicians consider these values and further enter them into a formula to get the precise result. 2. Square Footage Calculation The calculator might seem a bit simpler, but it is not precise enough to calculate the required heat pump capacity. For instance, if your total house space is around 1500 square feet, then you would need a 3-ton unit. BTUs, or British Thermal units further measure these ton units. An experienced technician can help the homeowner determine the BTUs needed for the house. Home size (sq. ft.)Size of the heat pump (in tons)Size of the heat pump (in BTUs)500 sq. ft.1-ton 12000 BTUs. 1500 sq. ft.3-ton36,000 BTUs2500 sq. ft.5-ton 60,000 BTUs Apart from these calculations, compressor type is important when choosing the best heat pump. Most homeowners choose a variable-speed compressor, which automatically adjusts to maintain the selected temperature. Efficiency is also a consideration when choosing the best heat pump. Look for a high SEER rating to save on energy bills. Learn about each unit's climate performance and research the noise level. Finally, the reliability of each unit must be considered to ensure the heat pump will work when needed. Once a heat pump has been selected, choose a contractor. Ensure they are trained to handle this task and have been in business for a while. Doing so ensures best heat pump will be installed correctly, and help will be available if problems arise. When homeowners take these steps, they will have peace of mind knowing their unit will work when needed. Additional Reading: Removing Air Conditioner Filters: A Guide Advantages Of Using A Water Heater At Home What Can An Air Conditioning Installation Expert Assist You With?

Choosing the right roof for your home – Types to select from

When thinking about how to select the best roofing for your home, you need to take into account several issues and have to research various different elements. A roof which is well designed and perfectly made with materials of good quality increases the value of your house giving it a new dimension. While thinking about choosing the best roofing possible for the house, you will come to know about various processes and various materials which were not known to you before. It is one of the most difficult areas to construct in a building and needs the guidance of a leading roofing contractor. It is easy to replace your existing roof if any with the same process and with the same materials. But this will make you lose the chance of upgrading your roofing. Given below are various points which will help you to choose the best roofing for your house: Fighting the weather : Your roof is generally a barrier which guards your home against various climatic warriors like sun, rain, and snow. Thus it should be taken care of that you use materials which are strong enough to protect your roof from these climate changes and do not wear out easily. So researching and consulting the roofing contractors about which materials are to be chosen is very important for the longevity of the roof as well as the house. Usually, the metal roofing or tiles roofing lasts longer than the roof made with shingles. Design : For different houses, roofing of different styles and designs are needed. For example, for an original Tuscan home, authentic clay roof tile is best suited. The Dutch houses are known for their steep-sloped roof sides and shingles is a better option of rooting for this kind of houses. Type of roofing : You need to think and confirm what kind of roofing you will need. There are various types of roofing from where you can choose the best one according to your needs. There are clay tile and concrete flooring, metal flooring, asphalt shingles flooring, etc. These roofing types vary in costing, weights, durability, longevity. The metal roofing is far more beneficial than the asphalt shingles one. The asphalt one is easy to install and is lighter and is less complicated. The metal roofing process is a more complicated one which cost more but also provides better performance and stays for a longer period without wearing out very early. They are stronger and are able to fight the climatic changes better than others. Asphalt shingles : Choosing asphalt shingles is very beneficial with respect to price as it is less costly than others and probably will give the best value to your roof while fitting the budget. The best type of shingles is laminated and architectural shingles. They are thicker and more textured and will serve about 20 years and will keep you tension free. Weights : You need to take care of the fact that the weight of the materials you use in the roofing process must not exceed the limit or else they can put pressure on your ceiling. Lightweight materials are also easy to install and materials like shingles and composites can be laid and installed directly over the top of the existing roof. The metal roofing is heavier than shingles and also than the tile roofing. Comparison : Comparing the price, quality, and weights of the materials are also very important as it makes you sure about which company you should buy the materials. If you note the prices and weights of the materials from various dealers and compare the prices from the quotations, it will be beneficial and will cost you less for doing the job. Colors : There is always a debate about whether to choose roofing of dark color or a light color. This will influence the heating of the roof as well as the rooms down under. Studies conclude that when ply sheets were placed under black or dark-colored shingles, they kept the temperature about ten degrees warmer than the same kind of shingles but white in color. Thus it is a difficult but important choice to make whether to focus more on the color or more on the heat retention. The advice is to go for a color that you like and prefer as you will have to keep it for a long span and you will have to live with it. Hence, we can see that while choosing the type of flooring for your home, you should take into account many aspects and do proper research about it. The various types of flooring offer various kinds of features and you may choose from them accordingly. The price may vary, the longevity may vary and their strength to tolerate the weather may also vary. Thus finding the best roofing which will protect the roof from leakage, mosses, molds and other substances will be beneficial. Click here roofing prices and choose the right roofing for your home. Read Also : Professional Roofing Services And Different Decorating Styles Pressure Washing- Why It Is Necessarily Important For Your Home? Professional Roofing Services And Different Decorating Styles

Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Choosing your assistant:

Choose your hardware:

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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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How to Improve Your Living Conditions in a Small Living Space

How to Choose the Best Heat Pump for Your Home?

Choosing the right roof for your home – Types to select from

Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Choosing your assistant:

Choose your hardware:

Share this Article

How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

Las Vegas Electricians Share Fun Lighting Ideas for Your Home

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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