There’s a lot of hype around smart appliances that promise to make homeowners’ lives easier. So, one cannot help but wonder whether they are worth the investment. As much as we’d like to answer with a simple yes or no, things aren’t that simple. Ultimately, it all comes down to your needs and budget.
Often an afterthought in a kitchen remodelling project, appliances like a refrigerator, are absolutely indispensable in a kitchen. Hence, it’s vital to make a wise decision, and that means prioritising factors like aesthetics and affordability. However, it’s important to remember that your kitchen is a busy space, and thus, it isn’t enough if the appliances only look good – above all, they should match your needs and lifestyle. This means you should choose practical appliances that will allow you to cook and entertain in a seamless way. While these traditional appliances are a necessity in your kitchen, smart appliances are a huge convenience, saving you a lot of effort and time.
How do smart appliances work?
Put simply, smart appliances are connected to your tablet or smartphone, allowing you to control them remotely. They take the standard functions of appliances one step further; for instance, a smart refrigerator does more than simply keep your groceries cool. It also allows you to see what’s inside of it from anywhere and in real time, helping you remember if you have to buy that bottle of milk or not. Similarly, a smart oven can be controlled through an app, allowing you to set its temperature remotely and monitor the entire cooking progress.
What are the pros and cons of smart appliances?
Advantages
Smart home appliances can enhance the quality of your life through advanced automation technology. It is pretty hard to imagine that they actually exist, as they offer a kind of functionality and convenience that seems to belong to the fictional world. Well, not only do they exist, but they also provide a myriad of excellent benefits.
WiFi connectivity
One of the best features of smart home technology is that you can use the power of the Internet to make your home more functional. For instance, there are smart appliances that can scan the barcode of a particular item and use the information about the product. For example, some refrigerators will notify you if the expiry day of your food gets close.
Remote control
The convenience factor is a great reason why smart appliances are so popular. You can control them from an app on your device and do many things, such as starting your coffee maker as you still lie in bed in the morning or preheating the oven on your way home from work.
Notifications and alerts
A significant perk of smart products is that they alert you when they identify a potential issue. Whether you left the refrigerator open, or need to clean the dishwasher’s filter, with smart appliances, you’ll know when something’s not right in your kitchen. Moreover, they send maintenance alerts and even diagnose themselves if there’s an issue, allowing you to save money and time and prevent further complications.
Energy efficiency
Smart appliances tend to be more expensive than traditional ones, but they will help you cut costs on energy bills. This is because they enable you to keep track of energy usage, informing you on this aspect.
Disadvantages
While smart appliances can improve your home management, they have some cons which you should be aware of.
Cost
The convenience offered by smart appliances is great, and yet, not many homeowners buy them. Why is that so? Well, it has a lot to do with cost, as smart appliances aren’t as affordable as traditional ones. In fact, this technology costs 30%-50% more, and if something goes wrong with it, you’ll have to pay double that price to repair it!
Security risks
Smart home technology relies on the Internet to work, and while this is a great benefit, it can also be a disadvantage. That’s because you can easily become a target for cybercriminals. Hackers can learn about your home habits when you use these devices, leading to serious privacy risks.
Dependent upon solid WiFi connectivity
Smart home gadgets can’t function without solid WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity. If your Internet connection isn’t reliable, you may actually get stuck with a dumb home appliance and face unwanted issues.
So, is it worth buying smart appliances?
Smart appliances are indeed a great addition to your home if you can afford them. However, they are only worth the investment if their features bring value to your cooking space, so make sure to consider this aspect. Look for smart appliances that are a good match for your lifestyle and can make your chores much easier. For instance, voice-enabled smart appliances are ideal for large homes that require multitasking. When purchasing smart appliances, you also want to consider the device’s compatibility to ensure it connects to your tablet or smartphone. Also, evaluate energy and time savings – after all, the goal is to invest in smart appliances that will save you cash on your utility bills in the long run.
With smart home technology, you are in total control of your life, making cooking more enjoyable and shopping for groceries quicker! As household tasks become automated, you’ll get more time to focus on your hobbies and relax. Just imagine how easier life would be if you could turn on your robotic vacuum cleaner while you’re still at the office. You would no longer need to worry about getting home and cleaning after a tiring workday. However, as great as smart appliances are, overloading your home with them is not a good idea. If you do so, you’ll end up breaking the bank unnecessarily. Instead, stick to your initial goal of achieving convenience and only buy what you truly need. Remember, your home is a place where you should find peace, and there’s no reason to set up too many devices. Rather than that, you want to opt for versatile smart devices that will simplify your daily needs.
