How to use smart home automation actions and scenes in your Evanston home

Home security is more than door sensors and alarms. Today, your modern system focuses on smart home automation and pre-configured scenes. By using your cell phone app or command hub, you can integrate custom actions that improve your home’s safety and convenience. Learn how to create your own in only a few easy steps. 

What can you do with smart home automation?

Advanced smart homes let you do so much, like adjusting smart thermostat settings or checking video streams remotely from your smartphone. But that’s really just scratching the surface. Smart home automation lets different elements of your home to work off each other. 

The following are several examples of what you can do:

• Deactivate your alarm when someone opens the door with a PIN
• Unlock your front door when a fire alarm or CO detector triggers
• Re-lock doors a set amount of time after they are opened
• Configure indoor cameras to record if a motion detector activates or door opens
• Disarm and arm your system at specified moments

There are few limitations to what you can do. You could even configure a multifaceted nighttime scene that dims lights, activates your system, and secures doors in unison. The leading home security systems in Evanston make it a breeze with easy-to-navigate cell phone apps.

Creating home automation actions in your Evanston home

If you’re intimidated by technology and think you can’t handle configuring your smart home automation, think again. Mobile apps like the one from Vivint enable you to add convenience to your life in just a couple of minutes. Vivint’s app also comes pre-loaded with some recommended automation actions you may just turn on.  

Here’s a general rundown of how to create a new action, also referred to as a rule:

1. Launch the Vivint app on your smartphone.
2. Touch the menu icon in the top left of the display and select “Smart Actions.”
3. Touch the “+” sign to create a new action.
4. Choose what you want to occur. To illustrate, you might want to commence a camera recording, activate your system, or illuminate a light. You’ll find numerous choices.
5. Next, specify what will initiate the action. As an example, you may want a smart light to turn on when a motion detector triggers or a video camera to record when a door lock is engaged. You might also have an action take place based on the time of day.
6. The last step is to verify your action, make sure it’s saved, and toggle it on to activate it.

If it seems difficult, it really isn’t. Due to the app's user-friendliness, you can virtually just tap what you want and slide rules off or on. If you want a surveillance device to record when a door is opened, you can select which camera you want from a list. You'll also choose the door if there are more than one options. The rule may be set for all hours or only for particular times of day.

Enjoy innovative smart home automation with a new Vivint security system

Take some of life’s everyday tasks off your plate and have your new Vivint smart home manage them for you! By implementing smart home automation, you’ll benefit from a new level of convenience while obtaining better security for your household. Customize your smart home in Evanston today by calling (847) 925-7636 and speaking to a Vivint expert.