With summer in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about leaving home for a long vacation! Leaving your home shouldn’t be a nerve-wracking experience. With smart home devices becoming more and more advanced and intelligent, you can keep an eye on your home and not worry about water or fire damage without being physically in your home at all.

Best Smart Home Devices for Fire Detection

Smart smoke detectors work similarly to standard smoke detectors with one major difference – they can send alerts to your smartphone at the first sign of trouble. By using a connecting app on your phone, smart smoke detectors allow you to monitor any sign of fire, carbon monoxide, smoke damage, or any other fire-related problems in your home.

Let’s look at some of the best smart smoke detectors on the market today.

1. Google Nest Protect. This detector pairs flawlessly with the rest of the Nest family. It will double-check any readings before sounding any alarms. Alerts are sent to your phone, and the app can be used to silence the alarm without having to reach the detector itself.
2. First Alert Onelink. Similar to the Nest, First Alert will allow you to control it through your phone app, but the nice thing is – if your entire home is not wired for Google, First Alert is the way to go. Aside from fire safety, the unit will work as an Alexa and speaker… which means you can use voice commands to play music or ask it questions.
3. Samsung SmartThings. Coming in third, Samsung offers a smart device compatible with its SmartThings platform, and that works with all ADT monitoring systems. It is also less expensive than the others we’ve mentioned previously in this article and provides similar app control and functionality.

In addition to alerting you to fire and smoke problems, these alarms will monitor the carbon monoxide levels as well, providing you with an extra level of protection regardless if you are home or away on vacation.

Water Leak Detection Devices

While a fire is devastating, flooding and water leaks can cause major problems if left untreated. Water leaks can lead to serious mold problems with a few hours, not to mention the structural damage or damage to property occurring from even a small amount of water.

Luckily, there are several smart home devices that can detect water problems when you aren’t in your home and alert you to the issue.

1. Vivint Water Sensor. Linking to Vivint’s home security system, this monitor will instantly detect water leaks, monitor temperature fluctuations that can lead to burst pipes, as well as a sensor that will detect if the unit itself has been tampered with.
2. ADT Flood Detector. The ADT detector will pair with an ADT security system sending alerts to your phone, along with professional services immediately at the sign of trouble. This unit is also battery operated, and allows you to install it anywhere that you believe water damage could potentially happen.
3. leakSMART Water Leak Kit. Like the other two detectors, leakSMART works well with your smart phone, and connects to the Z-Wave hub systems for wireless smart homes. The best feature of this particular unit is the ability to link a shut-off valve to your home’s water system, giving you the ability to shut off the water system during a leak.

Flooding and water damage should not be left untreated for long. Many issues can arise from small amounts of water, making a water detection system imperative while your home is vacant.

Keep Your Home Safe and Sound

There are many other ways to keep your home safe while you and your family are enjoying time away.

1. Let a neighbor or friend know about your vacation plans. Ask if they would be willing to bring in your newspaper or mail a few days a week. Potential thieves look for vacant homes to break into, and piles of mail and old newspapers are a great sign that the property is empty.
2. Shut all the curtains and blinds before you leave. Keep prying eyes away from the inside of your home and possessions.
3. Keep away from social media as much as possible. Don’t post pictures letting strangers know that you aren’t home. Again, this leaves an open door for potential break-ins.
4. Use light timers. To keep the illusion that someone is still in the home, use smart light timers to turn lights on and off at random times throughout the day.

If Fire or Water Damage Happens, Call McMahon Services

While you can prepare with all of the smart devices on the market today, accidents can still happen. If you find that your home experiences fire, mold, or water damage in the Chicago, Des Plains, Schaumburg, Naperville, Skokie, and other surrounding areas, McMahon Services has professional teams ready to help.

Contact us today for more information about our specialized teams and learn how we can begin restoration and clean up services today.