Explore the complete archive of Smart Home articles from Automated Home Guide.
Find expert insights, guides, and tips on home automation, energy efficiency, and modern living.
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12 Best Smart Home Apps to Automate Your Life in 2025
The promise of a smart home is one of effortless convenience, but the reality can often be a chaotic mix of different apps for different devices. A great smart home app acts as the central nervous system for your entire ecosystem, translating your commands into seamless actions. It’s the difference between fumbling with three separate…
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what is z wave technology: Smart Home Mesh Guide
At its most basic, Z-Wave technology is a wireless language built from the ground up just for smart home devices. It creates a private, low-power network that lets your smart locks, lights, thermostats, and sensors communicate directly with each other, reliably and without interruption. This dedicated network keeps your smart home traffic separate from your…
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Your Guide to Set Up HomeKit the Right Way
Getting started with HomeKit is actually pretty simple. All you really need is an iPhone or iPad, a HomeKit-compatible device, and Apple's own Home app. But to really unlock the magic—like controlling things when you're not home and setting up automations—you'll need a Home Hub. This is usually an Apple TV or a HomePod. Laying…
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How to Extend WiFi Range in Your Home
It's a familiar story: you've got a great internet plan, but you can’t get a decent Wi-Fi signal in the back bedroom or the basement office. These dreaded dead zones are a common frustration, but thankfully, you have a few solid options for fixing them. The fix could be as simple as moving your router…
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Unlock home network security best practices: Quick Guide
In an age where smart homes are the new standard, our home networks have become the central nervous system for everything from personal laptops to smart refrigerators. This interconnectedness, while convenient, also opens up a digital front door for a host of cyber threats. Many users unknowingly rely on default settings, creating significant vulnerabilities that…
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How to Improve Home Security in Simple Steps
When it comes to securing your home, the best approach isn't just about a single gadget or a strong lock. It’s about creating layers—a combination of physical barriers, smart technology, and good old-fashioned community awareness. This kind of multi-faceted strategy is what truly makes your home a tough target for anyone with bad intentions. Building…
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How to Reduce Electricity Consumption: Easy Home Tips
If you're looking for the quickest way to lower your electricity bill, the best place to start is with the low-hanging fruit. I always tell people to focus on three key areas first: phantom power, how you use your large appliances, and your lighting. These are where you'll get the biggest bang for your buck…
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How to Choose a Router for Your Home Network
It's easy to get lost in a sea of tech specs when shopping for a new Wi-Fi router, but let's cut through the noise. What really matters comes down to three things: the internet speed you pay for, the size of your home, and how many gadgets are fighting for a connection. You don't need…
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Energy Efficient Lighting Options for Your Home
When it comes to energy efficient lighting options, most people think of LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps), and newer smart lighting systems. That’s a great start, as these technologies use far less energy and last significantly longer than old-school incandescent bulbs, saving you real money on your utility bills. Why Better Lighting Is…
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Smart Thermostat Installation Guide: Easy Steps for Setup
Diving into a smart thermostat installation? It's a great weekend project that most people can knock out in about 30 to 60 minutes. You'll move through four main stages: doing some crucial prep work, taking out the old thermostat, wiring up the new one, and getting it configured. With just a few common tools, you…