Many consider home automation to be a very complex task, and to an extent it is complex. However, there are several ways in which you can set up a home automation system in your home without the need for these complex devices or procedures. Take a look at some DIY Smart Home Projects that can give any automation system a run for its money.
Use Timers and Sensors to Automate Appliances
This can be one of the simplest and most cost effective ways to automate appliances around your home. Attaching a timer or sensor to an ordinary device will transform it into an automated one instantly. For example, you can attach a timer to a coffee pot and schedule it to brew coffee automatically when you wake up in the morning.
Use Smart Water Valves to Control Water Wastage
Smart water valves can be used to reduce water wastage caused by leaks or repairs. These valves feature two halves, one of which is used to sense water leakages, and the other is used to shut down the water supply in the event of a leaking or burst pipe. Some smart valves can even predict a problem and shut down the water supply beforehand.
Better yet, some smart water valves come with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to connect to a central hub in your home and switch off the water supply remotely using your smartphone or tablet.
Install Drip Irrigation Systems in the Yard
The standard household tends to waste a lot of water when taking care of plants in the garden and yard. One way to curb this water wastage and ensure that your plants automatically get the required amount of water at the right time is to install a drip irrigation system.
A drip irrigation system will provide water straight to the roots of the plant, thereby eliminating the need to water the plant for longer intervals. Installing a drip irrigation system is not that hard a task as well provided you get the necessary tools for the job beforehand. Accordingly, a drip irrigation system will require a ‘Y’ with shutoff valves, backflow preventer, adapter, pressure regulator, filter, timer and tubing.
There are plenty of DIY tutorials on the net showing how you can make an automated irrigation system from scratch using these items. Once installed and running, the system can be programmed to water the plants according to a fixed schedule. This will help you maintain your garden/yard with ease without wasting too much water in the process or even putting in too much of an effort
Install Smart Lighting options
Smart lighting options refers to those lights that can be switched on or off remotely, or can also be programmed to switch on and off automatically at specific times during the day. One such example is the Philips Hue LED light bulbs. When installed in your home, these lights can be controlled collectively or individually through a central hub that will be connected to your smartphone or tablet via an app. Philips HUE lights also help you set different moods for different zones in the house by controlling the brightness of these lights.
Set up a DIY Home Smart Security System
A smart security system will ensure to monitor and safeguard your house 24/7. These systems come with advanced monitoring and tracking tools that are designed to make your home safer. Some of these systems may be expensive while others turn out to be quite economical. There are also out of the box security solutions like Canary and Google’s Nest which allow your house to be remotely monitored, and alert you of any intruders.
Home automation can be easy and it can be complex. Before settling in for the more complex products, consider building your own home automation system with some simple tools and basic know how.
