The Age of the Smart Home: Tech Trends for a 2020 Remodel

Smart home technology is redefining domestic luxury for thousands of American homeowners. When a house is equipped with smart security, lighting, entertainment and HVAC, the experience is a lot more convenient for all members of the household.

The Evolution of the HVAC Industry to Home Comfort Automation

The HVAC industry has made tremendous strides since the mid-1970s when solar production became affordable and ductless air systems were introduced to the market. The next major change occurred in 1987 with the establishment of the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), which established modern efficiency requirements. This move led to the international ban of Freon, an ozone-depleting coolant that was once used in most AC units.

By the late 2000s, the majority of U.S. homes had become equipped with air-conditioning systems. The 2010s would witness the onset of smart home gadgets and the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), in which HVAC systems and various electrical home devices could be controlled via WiFi-connected mobile devices.

The Age of the Smart Home

The availability of smart home gadgets in recent years has changed the expectations of home buyers and homeowners alike. Homebuyers are generally on the lookout for features of convenience, such as thermostats and lighting systems that can be programmed and activated from remote devices. Global sales of smart thermostats grew nearly 125% in 2015, and the market is expected to be worth $4.7 billion by 2021.

The foundation of smart home technology is built on the convenience that smart devices bring to homeowners of every kind. For some, smart technology makes it possible to control heat, cooling and lighting from the comfort of a sofa or rocking chair. For others, smart home amenities allow each household member to program lighting and entertainment options in different rooms, each to their own liking.

Smart home tech features can also keep homeowners safer. The technology can be used to enhance your property with cameras and alarms that will detect trespassers on your property before they can enter your home. As smart technology becomes more commonplace, it will serve as a crime-deterrent to would-be home invaders.

Smart home devices also boost efficiency throughout a house. With the ability to control the temperature setting individually for each room, you can lower your energy bills, conserve energy and reduce emissions in the process. Best of all, smart devices can be controlled floor-by-floor, room-by-room from any location, whether you are home in your living room or away at work.

Smart technology can also boost the value of a home on the resale market. If you replace various features in your home with smart equivalents, you could double benefit from the upgrades. For the time that you remain at the property, the increased convenience can make life easier. If and when you do decide to sell, the smart home amenities will allow you to sell the property at a higher asking price. As such, smart tech is a wise undertaking for home flippers and DIY remodelers.

Smart Home Trends

Smart home technology can be used throughout your house for a range of amenities. Some of the most popular domestic smart devices include the following:

• Smart thermostats: These allow you to control the temperature of each room in your house from any location. If you forget to turn off your heat before you leave in the morning, you can rectify the matter while on the train or at work with a simple prompt on the corresponding smartphone app. Likewise, you can warm the house before you get home each night by activating the heater from the app.
• Smart smoke detectors: These keep houses safe with a range of enhanced features, such as concern levels and hand recognition. A smart detector can be programmed to give mild alarms in response to minor concerns, such as an overheating meal on the stove. Smart detectors will record events so you can review the issue.
• Smart water valves: With smart water valves, your water system could have artificial intelligence to prevent washing appliances from overflowing. If your washing machine or dishwasher fails to drain properly, the smart valve will curb any further water flow until the issue is fixed.
• Smart lights: These can be programmed to turn on and off at select times of the day, whether you are present or away. When you go out at night, you can program different lights to turn on and off throughout the house to create the impression that the house is occupied. You can also control lights throughout the house without getting out of bed with a simple clap, voice command or smartphone prompt.
• Smart cameras: These can be set up inside and outside your house to monitor activity throughout the day. If a person or animal approaches your door or wanders onto your yard, the camera will capture the activity and livestream the footage to your smartphone. You can then determine whether to give the visitor a remote greeting or contact authorities.

Smart devices have also been made for sound systems, door knobs, kitchen appliances and various other household fixtures.

Additional HVAC Trends on the Horizon for the Industry

The HVAC industry is just now starting to adopt the principles of smart home tech. One major change on the horizon is non-vapor compression technology, where HVAC systems will be equipped with metal alloys that absorb heat from the air. This would replace refrigerants, which have long been placed inside HVAC units to heat and cool air. The new method would reduce emissions.

Another development that is now being incorporated into newer HVAC systems is the smart vent, which allows users to regulate heat and air conditioning in each room throughout a house. In doing so, smart vents take the labor out of home HVAC maintenance. In the old model, you would have to go to each room individually to shut off the vent. Most homeowners won’t go through the trouble. Consequently, many people pay higher heating and cooling bills than necessary. The problem has intensified in recent years due to the more extreme weather patterns affecting the world.

With smart vents, you can shut off the heat or AC in an unused room and regulate the flow at different levels in other rooms. If you wish to keep your living room at a desired temperature throughout the primetime hours yet reserve a moderate temperature in the bedroom, it can all be accomplished with simple commands from a corresponding HVAC app.

HVAC and Electrical Home Services From Tuckey

Whether you have a smart or standard HVAC system, you should have it maintained periodically. For homes in our service areas such as Boiling Springs, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Newville, Shippensburg and many more, Tuckey Mechanical Services, Inc. is the leading name in HVAC and electrical home services.

Visit our website for more information on our home automation services, including smart thermostats with voice assisted technology. You can also contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.