We all love the idea of smart devices making our lives easier, which is why we’re always keeping an eye on the latest developments in the smart home space. Smart appliances, in particular, can help us manage our household tasks with ease, saving us precious time to do things we enjoy more. Besides, your smart home can save you a lot of moneywhich is ideal for reducing rising energy bills.
However, if you find your devices complicated and more hassle than they’re worth, you’re probably guilty of making a couple of simple smart home mistakes. Even if he has invested in some of the best smart home devices, these are meaningless if you don’t have the right setup or systems in place. And the last thing you want is to buy expensive smart equipment, only to have it left in the box and never used.
With so many smart home options available on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your lifestyle, your needs, and your home. That’s why a well thought out and maintained smart home is essential to make your life easier and more enjoyable to use.
We’ve asked experts to share the most common smart home mistakes and their top tips on how to make smart home work for you.
1. Have a bad Wi-Fi signal
One of the common smart home mistakes is not checking your Wi-Fi and having a poor connection for said devices. Before purchasing, always check your home Wi-Fi bandwidth settings, as each signal has a maximum bandwidth or maximum amount of data it can transmit (Mbps). Each smart device on your network requires a certain amount of bandwidth to function as it should, so the more devices, the less bandwidth will be distributed.
“As users add more smart devices to their network, a strong Wi-Fi connection and adequate bandwidth are required for them to function properly,” said Claudia Santos, Samsung Product Marketing Manager, Connected Living. “We have also seen that many smart home users will purchase smart appliances but only use them to their minimum potential, so we encourage users to spend some time getting familiar with their appliances.”
What’s more, if you have multiple smart devices in your home connected to a single network, this could slow down your Internet speed. It may be worth checking the specifications of your Wi-Fi router to determine how many devices it can handle. Or maybe you could upgrade to one of the The best mesh Wi-Fi systems. to expand your coverage.
2. Do not connect to smart appliances
Another smart home mistake is not connecting to appliances at all! Whether through an app on your smartphone or other device, many simply don’t use or customize enough of any of the smart features available.
“The biggest mistake made with smart home appliances is not plugging them in and using them through their smart home app,” said Adam Whobrey, senior director of product management at LG Electronics. “Home appliances have made significant advancements over the years and can now make lives better. “Connecting your smart appliance through a smart home app allows consumers to receive reminders to refill rinse aid, download new cycles to personalize their wash, or send alerts about a potential service issue, and overall helps save time and money.”
These features are very useful when it comes to setting programs, schedules, receiving real-time notifications, and even help with the maintenance of your appliance to make it last longer.
“Connecting not only simplifies life at home, such as being able to preheat the oven when you come home from the grocery store, start a load of laundry from your phone, or automatically reorder detergent when the dishwasher is running low, but it also improves the functionality of the appliance,” agrees Subu Ramasamy, senior director of product marketing for smart home solutions at GE Appliances.
If you want to up your laundry game, you’ll need one of the best washing machinesor maybe you just want to wait until you see one of these 7 signs you need a new washing machine.
3. Having too many different devices
You might be tempted to go all out and create a fully automated home, but do you need all the devices at once? Experts advise that it is best not to complicate home systems by setting up several different devices. Instead, invest in versatile smart devices that are easy to use and simplify your home needs.
So what are the key aspects to consider when choosing? “The key thing to consider with smart appliances is choosing one brand for the entire home,” Whobrey suggests. “This can help drive efficiency by using a single app for a better smart home experience. “With a smart home app, consumers receive a comprehensive solution that works across their entire smart home appliance portfolio.”
4. Buy cheap smart home devices
Likewise, just because you’ve seen a cheap smart home device online doesn’t mean it’s good (or will last a long time!). Plus, you don’t want to spend more money in the long run on a better model.
Smart appliances play a key role in your home and are a long-term investment, so you’ll need to make sure you do your research first and always buy good quality products, even if it means spending a little more. Additionally, it is worth checking things such as warranty, cost of spare parts and accessibility. Remember, if you pay cheap, it can be expensive, so don’t risk it!
5. Forgetting to update software
Another smart home mistake is not updating the system software. And while there are several advantages, you may be missing out on new and advanced features if you don’t update your devices regularly.
“The beauty of our smart appliances is that they continue to improve over time as we push new features and capabilities!” says Ramasamy. “The appliance that consumers take home today will not be the same experience in 10 years. “We encourage consumers to take advantage of all the capabilities and new features we offer so they can continue to get the most out of their appliance.”
Plus, updating your smart device software will help you get the most out of your smart appliance, help it last, and save you money in the long run. “LG offers diagnostic reports to help alert you to potential service issues,” Whobrey explained. “If a problem is identified, it will alert LG and we can ship the part directly to the owner. “This saves a significant amount of time versus waiting for a technician to diagnose and repair and allows for the longevity and reliability of the appliance.”
