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Smart home maintenance suggestions to keep your Pittsburgh system running properly

December 16, 2024
Woman adjusting the placement of a smart home camera.

Maintenance is essential to various parts of our lives. You exercise to keep yourself fit and take your automobile to the service shop so it runs reliably. Your Pittsburgh smart home is no exception. Although it demands less upkeep than your family SUV, you still must do some things to keep sensors and other equipment functioning properly. It’s not difficult, and we’ll make it even simpler with these smart home maintenance recommendations.

Clean Hardware Is Vital To Proper Function

Dirt and dust are hazards to camera lenses, sensors, and all kinds of electronics. How reliably do you think your outside surveillance will detect intruders if it’s obscured by cobwebs? Your smart home won’t seem so smart when it’s not functioning as expected. But you’re able to help by performing these easy maintenance tasks:

  • Keep your camera lenses dirt-free by wiping them periodically with a microfiber towel lightly moistened with glass cleaner. Don’t use paper towels that may damage the lens, and avoid spraying a liquid straight onto the camera.
  • Prevent dust from collecting on fragile electronics. If particles work their way inside the housing, it can damage those sensitive electrical components and impede needed air movement. Even your command hub’s flat, narrow top can collect dust.
  • When cleaning or dusting, do a brief verification to ensure your devices are attached securely and positioned properly.

It’s not hard to keep your smart home equipment spotless, but you can do a few other things to ensure error-free functionality.

Perform a quick inspection of your Pittsburgh security system

Have you not been sent a smartphone update in recent weeks? Your system may be fine, and your property well guarded, but it may also indicate there is an issue. Why not see for yourself by conducting a brief check of your equipment? Here’s how to proceed:

  • Take on the part of an intruder and try to trigger your motion sensors, door and window sensors, or other devices you have. You can often place your system into “test mode” to avoid notifying your monitoring agents.
  • Launch your home security cell phone app and examine the video feed. Determine if the images are sharp and the camera is pointing where it needs to be.
  • If you have automation set up, verify it. Did the smart thermostat change settings at the right time? Did your lights illuminate as expected?
  • Ensure batteries are replaced routinely. Many systems will even alert you when they’re getting low.

Assessments can be completed periodically or whenever you suspect a device is failing.

Is your system firmware up-to-date?

Those smart gadgets you have across your house don’t just run independently. These integrated components have firmware installed, so they function as intended. In many instances, the firmware will update automatically, but there may be exceptions. Run the updates as soon as they’re ready (your system will likely alert you) to steer clear of performance or security issues.

Get a reliable smart home in Pittsburgh from Vivint

Looking for a dependable, easy-to-maintain smart home in Pittsburgh? Speak to the home security professionals at Vivint. Featuring the best in home surveillance and automation, we have a solution for your residence. Dial (412) 318-9359 right away to get started.