Summer 2012 will probably be remembered as the UK’s ‘wettest drought’.
This sounds funny, but there's a serious side to it.
The very dry winter followed by unusually high summer rainfall resulted in large areas of the country being flooded and many peoples’ homes being damaged by floodwater. It’s not just the UK, over the last few days we’ve seen an unprecedented ‘super-storm’ batter homes in the US.
Freak weather is one extreme. At the other end of the spectrum, normal winter conditions can make exposed or remote buildings vulnerable to frozen/burst pipes and flooding. Even a simple mistake like accidently switching off the freezer can cause damage and costly repairs.
No home automation system can protect your home against a ‘super-storm’. But, it can give you an early warning - giving you chance to fix the problem or leave the building.
Today’s home automation systems can include an array of sensors that monitor water, temperature, smoke and air quality. As soon as a sensor detects a possible issue it sends alerts to other devices on the network such as an alarm siren, or to a central controller that can send email or text messages to you and other people. Wherever you are, you know what’s happening with your property.
Sounds great so far, but what about the cost?
You’ll be surprised how affordable and easy to install these systems are. For instance, take a look at our Z-Wave Emergency Starter Kit that provides complete cover against smoke, water and freezing temperatures. The kit can be configured so that you only buy what you need, and in its simplest form probably costs no more than your insurance excess charge.
In other words, by installing it and avoiding one accident that you’d need to claim on your insurance, you can save money and know that your home and family are well protected.
A well thought out home automation system could mean the difference between a damp rug and a flooded basement, and it doesn’t have to burst the bank.
Vesternet are Europe’s leading home automation specialist. Whatever your needs, you’ll be able to find just what you're looking for in our range of Z-Wave, ZigBee, and LightwaveRF home automation products.