Smart home maintenance recommendations to keep your New York City system running properly

Maintenance is essential to many parts of our lives. You work out to keep your body healthy and take your vehicle to the service shop so it functions properly. Your New York City smart home is no different. While it needs less upkeep than your vehicle, you still have to do several things to keep devices running properly. It’s not challenging, and we’ll make the job even easier with the following smart home maintenance recommendations.

Clean Equipment Is Key To Proper Function

Dust and dirt are threats to surveillance device lenses, sensors, and all types of electronics. How effectively do you think your exterior surveillance will identify trespassers if it’s obscured by cobwebs? Your smart home won’t look so smart when it’s not functioning as intended. But you can help by doing these simple maintenance chores:

• Keep your lenses clear by wiping them down periodically with a microfiber towel lightly moistened with a safe cleaning solution. Don’t use paper towels that could damage the lens, and avoid spraying a liquid directly on the camera.
• Avoid letting dust accumulate on sensitive electronics. If debris get inside the outer exterior, it can damage those sensitive electrical components and halt needed airflow. Even your central command panel's flat, narrow top can collect dust.
• When cleaning or dusting, do a brief inspection to make sure your devices are connected solidly and situated appropriately.

It’s not hard to keep your smart home equipment clean, but you can do a couple of other things to maintain performance.

Perform a quick test of your New York City security system

Have you not gotten a smartphone update in recent weeks? Your system might be fine, and your property safe and secure, but it may also mean there is an issue. How about finding out by performing a quick inspection of your components? Here are some suggestions:

• Take on the part of a burglar and see if you can activate your access point sensors, motion sensors, or other devices you have. You can usually set your system in “test mode” to avoid contacting your monitoring company.
• Launch your home security mobile app and check the video stream. Determine if the images are clear and the camera is aimed where it needs to be.
• If you have automation programmed, verify it. Did the smart thermostat adjust at the specified time? Did your lights flip on or off as expected?
• Verify batteries are changed periodically. Numerous systems will even alert you when they’re getting low.

Assessments may be conducted occasionally or whenever you believe a device is failing.

Is your system firmware current?

Those smart tools you have throughout your house don’t just run automatically. These integrated elements have firmware built in, so they operate as expected. In many instances, the firmware will automatically update, but not every time. Run the updates as soon as they’re ready (your system should inform you) to steer clear of performance or security issues.

Get a dependable smart home in New York City from Vivint

Looking for an intuitive, easy-to-maintain smart home in New York City? Connect with the home security experts at Vivint. Providing you the latest in home automation and surveillance, we have a solution for your property. Dial (332) 877-9062 today to get started.