Home insurance: 5 smart home devices that could help prevent lots of insurance claims
From smart thermostats to connected water leak detectors and remote-controlled surveillance cameras, home automation devices are an increasingly important part of our daily lives in the age of smart homes. These tools clearly have a lot to offer in terms of home comfort, security, and energy management, but they also come with another often-overlooked advantage: they can reduce the severity and frequency of losses.
And that means reducing the number of insurance claims and limiting increases on your home insurance premiums! Like the sound of that? Read on to learn more about home automation and discover five smart home devices worth considering for your home, both for your peace of mind and your pocketbook.
Home automation for comfort or security: What’s the difference?
With the Internet of Things (IoT), home automation, in other words, any tech that lets you control, program, and automate your property (source: Domotic123) is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, not all smart devices are created equal when it comes to prevention. There are two main categories of home automation: comfort and security.
Comfort
- This category includes systems designed to improve your quality of life, such as electronic thermostats, light dimmers, voice assistants, smart locks, and built-in audio systems.
- These devices are often installed when the property is built or renovated.
Security
- The security side of home automation is all about protecting your home.
- It includes devices and systems that can help reduce the frequency or severity of losses, including glass break, smoke, or carbon monoxide detectors and moisture and freeze sensors.
Home security automation: All about prevention
Although often viewed as a luxury, home security automation is actually a practical solution for protecting your home. It reduces risks at the source and helps you maintain your “claim-free” record, which may even help lower your home insurance premium.
In short, home security automation provides better protection for your home, limits damage in case of an incident, and, in some cases, saves you money on your home insurance.
Five smart home devices that can help reduce the severity of common losses
Want to install some smart systems in your home? Here are five smart home devices that are especially useful for reducing the severity of some of the most common and costly incidents.
- Water leak detector with automatic shutoff
A water leak can cause serious damage in just a few hours. Smart water leak detectors are designed to detect moisture or the presence of water and immediately shut off the water supply. In the event of a broken pipe, washing machine, or even a hot water tank, these detectors will trigger and alert you to the situation so you can quickly limit the damage—and possibly save thousands of dollars in renovations. - Smart smoke detector
Unlike standard models, smart smoke detectors send alerts directly to your phone, notifying you in real time of a potential problem at your property, even when you’re away. Some can also automatically cut power to the appliance that the smoke is coming from (like a stove), thereby limiting the potential damage. - Smart alarm system
An alarm system that combines cameras, motion sensors, and programmed lights is an excellent deterrent against intruders. It can also turn on lights at specific times to make it seem like someone is home when you’re away or send real-time images of your home to your phone. Some models can even alert you in real time and automatically call emergency services. - Smart outlets
With smart outlets, you can remotely turn off electrical appliances from anywhere with a single click. In addition to preventing fires, smart outlets can help you better manage your energy use and reduce your electricity bill. Pneumatic backflow prevention system
This plumbing device prevents wastewater from backing up into your basement during heavy rains or municipal backups. Multiple municipalities advise homeowners to install these devices as they can help prevent water damage that in some cases may not be covered by basic home insurance.
Better protect your home while you’re away
It’s a known fact that the risk of a loss goes up when nobody is home. A water leak, a break-in, or even a fire can go undetected for hours or even days.
That’s where home security automation can be a smart option. By making it look like you’re home when you’re away and letting you remotely monitor what’s happening inside, these systems are like a reassuring virtual house sitter. Whether you’re on vacation or just at work, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind of knowing your home is continuously monitored no matter where you are.
Less worry, more control
As you can see, in addition to improving your quality of life, smart home devices also play an important preventive role by reducing the risk and severity of a loss. Even if they don’t directly entitle you to discounts on your home insurance, these smart systems can help you maintain a good insurance record and, in some cases, save money in the long run. Plus, the peace of mind they offer is priceless!
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