From Ring doorbells to Amazon’s Alexa, smart appliances are revolutionizing the way we manage our homes. One of the most important ways this new generation of devices can help us is safety.
In this article, we’re going to look at a range of potential applications for smart security devices.
We’ll explore the use of security devices for both the interior and exterior of your home, touching on the importance of interconnectivity between different systems.
So, let’s get started.
Understanding Smart Home Security Systems
Smart home security systems improve on pre-existing devices like traditional security alarms and CCTV, giving you easy access to interconnected security solutions at the touch of a button. These devices can usually be connected to your smartphone, and you can control their functionality to improve your day-to-day life.
While devices like Ring doorbells have skyrocketed in popularity, other applications like interconnected alarms and backup power solutions are still under-utilised.
Some of these systems can be somewhat complicated to setup or uninstall, but some are surprisingly simple, making them a no-brainer for improving the safety of your home.
We’re going to cover digital door viewers, interconnected alarms, backup power systems, outdoor security cameras and more. They’ll definitely be something useful for you your regardless of your current security setup.
Adding these devices can your home security setup can help to protect you in a range of scenarios, including fires, break-ins and even power outages.
Keep reading for our favourite home security solutions and how they can help to keep your home safe.
Interconnected Smoke and Heat Alarms
Interconnected alarms detect smoke or heat and trigger a warning sound like traditional safety alarms.
The difference with interconnected alarms is that once one alarm is triggered, other connected alarms will all trigger as well. This is particularly useful for large homes or buildings where a single alarm may not be loud enough to alert everyone inside of the potential fire.
They can be a great addition to any smart home, as other smart security devices may be rendered useless in the event of a fire.
These systems are also fairly easy to setup. Many systems are sold ‘pre-linked’, meaning they’re already interconnected straight out of the box. Even if they’re not pre-connected, the pairing process is usually as simple as pressing a pairing button on each of the alarms that you want to connect. After that you fix the alarms to the ceiling using either screws or adhesive strips – screws are better for a secure long-term solution, and adhesive strips are better for a convenient temporary install.
Surprisingly, some of these systems can be under £100 brand new – check out our article on the Best Interlinked Smoke And Heat Alarms UK if you want to learn more about some of the best options on the market.
Traditional heat and smoke alarms can do the job, but interconnected alarms give extra peace of mind that everyone in the home or building is alerted to danger. This makes them a great upgrade for any smart home.
Doorway Surveillance
One of the most common smart security measures today is doorway or doorbell or surveillance. They’re great for improving home security , as their live video/audio feed allows you to check who’s outside before answering the door.
They’re both an affordable and easy to install, so adding them to your home security setup is a bit of a no-brainer.
Most doorway surveillance devices can connect to your smart phone, so you can check the video feed at a moments notice. Not only can you check the feed before answering the door, but you can also keep an eye on your property while travelling.
Ring doorbells are some of the most common models, but there’s loads of other more affordable options on the market. If you want to look into digital door viewers, take a look at our article on the Best Digital Door Viewer UK.
If you want a simple and affordable away to improve home security, digital door viewers are a great way to do this. They’re even more effective when paired with other smart security devices.
Power Backup Solutions
Power backup solutions are one of the most important components in a home security solution.
In the event of an emergency, access to power is essential. A range of emergency scenarios can result in a loss of access to the electrical grid, rendering rechargeable electrical devices and other key appliances useless. One way to get around this issue is power backup batteries.
Backup batteries provide an alternate power source that can be used to charge devices and power essential home appliances without the need for mains power. Depending on the capacity of the battery, it can keep a house running for days without mains power.
Some of these batteries are charged using a standard mains outlet, meaning they will need to be charged before an emergency scenario. Better solutions have alternate charging methods like solar panels – this is ideal because you can continue to charge your battery with or without access to mains power.
If you’re interested in a battery for a home security system or just for your home in general, check out our dedicated article on the Best Battery For Home Backup Power UK.
Motion Sensors & Outdoor Cameras/Lights
Motion sensors paired with outdoor cameras or lights are another excellent smart security measure.
The motion sensors detect movement and trigger a connected device automatically (with the connected device usually being a camera or security light). This is ideal because they don’t have to be monitored, making them a great fit for when you’re out of the house.
Motion sensors can usually be adjusted to only trigger when a target is within a certain distance, and also only trigger based on a minimum interval. This can prevent unnecessary triggers on animals or normal day-to-day movements.
CCTV cameras or closed-circuit television cameras have been around for a long time, but the combination of motion sensors and more modern wireless home security cameras makes them ideal for smart homes. The sensors can trigger recording automatically to make sure that any important movements are caught on camera for review at a later day.
Security lights are also a great fit for home security, with some homeowners finding them less intrusive than wireless security cameras. The visual deterrent of a security light can also help to scare off any would-be intruders. If you’re interested in security lights and motion sensors, you may want to check out our articles on the Best Security Light With Motion Sensor UK and the Best PIR Sensor UK.
Conclusion
A great smart home security setup is essential for any safety conscious homeowner.
A well-thought-out setup can help to protect your home in a range of emergencies from fires to power cuts, keeping you informed and connected no matter the situation.
While a full smart home setup can be expensive, some devices like doorbell viewers can be affordable and easy to set up. This makes them a good option if you want to get started with smart home security without breaking the bank. As you begin to expand your setup, exterior cameras and backup power systems can be a great way to improve security and make your home self-sufficient.
Even if starting your home security seems daunting, taking the first step can make you feel more secure in your home, and what’s more important than that?
FAQs
Digital door viewers are some of the most affordable smart home security devices on the market.
Ring doorbells have skyrocketed in popularity, helping people to realise the safety and convenience of being able to see and communicate with people in your doorway.
Ring doorbells are great, but they’re not the most affordable option by any means. If you want to look at other models that may be better value for money, you may want to have a look at our article covering the Best Digital Door Viewer UK.
A smart home security setup is definitely worth it.
It gives you highly adjustable and interconnected security options that can usually by accessed via smartphone at a moments notice. This is much better than some traditional security methods where you have to be at home to monitor cameras or alarms.
The main downside of smart home security is that it can be expensive, but providing you find high-quality affordable options, it’s a no-brainer. Check out our Safety and Security Devices.
It’s difficult to pick a single device, as everything that we’ve covered in this article plays an important role, but interconnected smoke and heat alarms are definitely up there.
The functionality of interconnected alarms allows them to trigger simultaneously and make sure that everyone in the area is aware of the danger. If you’re only going to install one smart security device, interconnected alarms are definitely a good choice.
If you’re interested in which alarm system might be best for you, you may want to check out our article on the Best Interlinked Smoke And Heat Alarms UK.
Thank you for reading our article evaluating smart home security devices.
If you’re interested in home security, you may want to check out our other articles on Safety and Security Devices.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
