The Pros and Cons of Installing Smart Outlets in Your Home

Smart home technology saves homeowners money on their utility costs while maximizing their daily convenience. However, it also has downsides that you need to be aware of. Learn about the pros and cons of installing smart outlets in your home in Weatherford, TX. 

The Pros of Smart Outlets

Smart outlets offer homeowners numerous benefits. Consider these advantages as you debate whether to buy smart outlets for your home.

Convenience 

Smart outlets offer you a higher level of convenience than traditional outlets. They allow you to control your electronics, lights, and appliances remotely using your smartphone or tablet. You can also have an electrician install them so that they respond to your voice commands. 

Better Energy Efficiency

Smart outlets utilize energy more efficiently than their traditional counterparts. Improved energy efficiency makes your home more environmentally friendly. You can also monitor your home’s energy use and adjust it by turning off devices or appliances when you are not using them. 

Cost Savings

Your smart outlets can also pay for themselves in the long run by saving you money on your monthly electricity bills in Weatherford. As they use less energy, they can significantly reduce how much you pay for power. You can have more money left over in your household budget at the end of the month after adding them to your home. 

Scheduling

These innovative outlets additionally allow you to create schedules to avoid wasting energy. You can automate the devices to turn on and off at certain times. This scheduling optimizes your home’s energy usage and prevents you from wasting electricity on lights, appliances and other electronics when you are not using them. 

Safety

Smart devices increase your home’s safety. They reduce the risk of fire because you can set devices and appliances to turn off automatically. This feature keeps whatever is plugged into the outlets from overheating and catching fire. It also prevents damage to mobile devices, appliances, and other electronics that you plug into the smart outlets. 

Smart Home Integration

Today, smart outlets can integrate easily with many smart home devices. If you have a device like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest, you can pair your outlets to it and then use remote technology to control the outlets. This feature provides you with a cohesive experience and adds to the convenience of having these outlets in your home. 

Accessibility

Traditional outlets often prove difficult for seniors and people with limited mobility to use. Smart outlets can spare them this challenge and offer them more access and convenience than traditional outlets. 

Flexibility

Smart outlets allow you to manage multiple devices and appliances in different rooms. You can even enjoy this convenience when you are not at home. You can use the app or your smart home device to access this feature remotely, no matter where you are. 

Security

Because you can create schedules for your smart outlets, you can increase your home’s security with them. You can use them to create the illusion that someone is at home when you and your family are away. You can set up a schedule for the inside and outside lights to come on and deter anyone from breaking into your house. 

Customization

These outlets also allow you to customize the environment in your home. Some of these customizations can come through adjusting the lighting or turning devices on and off. You can make your home more comfortable according to your preferences.

Notifications

Smart outlets provide you with helpful alerts. For example, you can program them to alert you if you leave a device on, or the outlets detect unusual activities or energy use. They provide you with more peace of mind as a homeowner. 

Future Proofing

You can also future proof your home with smart outlets. They can better accommodate new home technology than traditional outlets can. 

The Cons of Smart Outlets

As beneficial as smart outlets are, they also have some downsides. Learn about these disadvantages to determine if you should include these outlets in your home. 

Cost

Smart outlets cost more than traditional outlets. If you have a limited budget, their cost may exceed what you can afford to pay for them upfront.

Complexity

Smart outlets also have complex designs. Their complexity requires you to hire an experienced electrician to install them. 

This requirement adds to their expense. If you are not tech-savvy, you may also find it challenging to learn how to use and control them. 

Compatibility

While smart outlets can accommodate most smart home devices and electronics, they may not work well with every device or appliance in your home. You could waste money on them if you cannot plug in and use your electronics with them. 

Reliability

Because most smart outlets require Wi-Fi, they can be less reliable than their traditional counterparts. If your Wi-Fi goes out, you cannot use the outlets. You may also not be able to use anything plugged into them until the Wi-Fi comes back on. 

Alternatively, if you do not have Wi-Fi in your home, you may not be able to use most types of smart outlets. Adding Wi-Fi to your home likewise adds to the upfront cost that many types of smart outlets require. 

Security Risks

Their dependency on Wi-Fi also makes smart outlets vulnerable to cyber threats like hacking. If someone hacks into your outlets, they can also breach your personal information, such as the passcode to your home’s security system. 

Privacy Concerns

Some smart outlet manufacturers collect and sell data about customers’ usage patterns. Some people find this data collection intrusive. If you prefer more privacy, you may find it too risky to install smart outlets in your home. 

Maintenance

Like mobile devices and computers, smart outlets require a certain amount of maintenance to keep them functional. Yours might require software updates and occasional troubleshooting. You may have to hire an electrician to maintain and update the outlets for you.

Interference

Because they use Wi-Fi to function, they can interfere with other wireless devices or networks. This interference can disrupt their service and jeopardize the function of anything plugged into them. 

Lifecycle

As technology evolves, smart outlets can become obsolete after a relatively short time. As with your smartphone or tablet, you may have to keep upgrading to the latest models to access all of the latest technology these outlets offer. 

Power Consumption

Even when you are not using the outlets, they can still consume a nominal amount of power. 

Learning Curve

Finally, as with any new technology, smart outlets come with a learning curve. Even if you are adept at using smart devices, you may still have to spend some time understanding all the new features and functions that these outlets offer. 

Contact Us for Smart Outlets

As a locally owned home service company, Lightfoot Mechanical provides innovative technology like smart outlets for our customers in the Weatherford area. Our electrical services are second to none, and our HVAC technicians all have NATE certification. We also belong to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and provide products and services for air conditioning, heating, and plumbing systems. Our business is a member of the Comfort Institute and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. 

Contact us at Lightfoot Mechanical today to learn about smart outlets for your home or electrical wiring and rewiring.