Guide to High-Tech Home Security Gadgets & Devices

Home security gadgets bring the latest in innovative technology to your home, all to keep your belongings and family safe. While it's great to have high-tech security systems available to add to your peace of mind, sometimes it can be tough to figure out which home security systems and gadgets best meet your unique needs. AAA Members can take advantage of AAA Smart Home consultants to choose just the right combination of home security tech.

Remote Security Systems

A wide array of sensors, cameras and other tech can connect to provide security systems that you can monitor and control remotely. When you can view your home via video footage in real time, you feel a sense of security. Take a look at some of the elements that go into a comprehensive home security system.

Modern home security systems combine dual controls, letting you run systems remotely and from a smart control panel that brings many functions into one unit. Versatile alarm panels, such as those made by Qolsys, let you integrate controls for home thermostats, cameras and automated locks in addition to arming and disarming alarm systems. Think of these panels as the control center of your smart home, keeping you aware of what's going on, no matter where you are.

Indoor/outdoor cameras provide a powerful boost to your feeling of security when you're away from home. Indoor cameras let you keep an eye on your pets or kids while you're away from home, while outdoor cameras make it easy to monitor the perimeter of your property. Look for cameras that offer two-way audio, so you can talk to your kids, maintenance workers, or people ringing your doorbell. Smart cameras can connect to your home security control panel to provide you with notifications as well.

Smart light controls, which combine convenience, aesthetics and security, can be an important part of your high-tech security system. Control your home's lighting with your smartphone or virtual assistant, dimming lights to set the mood or turning lights on and off following an automated schedule so your home looks lived in when you're away, and you never come home to a dark house.

Automated Locks

Smart locks are at the heart of any home security plan. Modern home tech lets you control your automated locks remotely, so you can use your phone to unlock or lock doors, to let in guests or maintenance staff and to lock your doors automatically a set amount of time after you leave your home. You can even establish a geofence that locks doors automatically when your phone leaves an established perimeter around your home.

Of course, doors aren't the only access point to your home. Window locks and sensors add another layer of security by triggering your home security system if someone tries to tamper with them. Choose window sensors that send you alerts on your mobile device. Glass break sensors, like the one in Qolsys control panels, increase your security even more and are ideal to install on plate glass windows or glass French doors.

Real-Time Phone Notifications

One of the hottest home security gadgets is the video doorbell. This simple smart home device connects directly to your phone whenever someone rings your doorbell or even approaches your door. Now you can see who's outside and speak to them without ever revealing whether you're home or not.

Video doorbells often offer motion detection, alarms and video storage, and most pair smoothly with smart locks. While your alarm system and video cameras can also send you real-time phone notifications, a smart doorbell is a great first step for those looking to implement basic home security. Receiving alerts on your phone, whether from your smart doorbell or your home security system, keeps you in the know about what's going on at all times.

Third-Party Fire and Carbon Monoxide Monitoring

Carbon monoxide (CO) monitors keep an eye on your indoor air quality, warning you when you're breathing in this dangerous gas via a notification and siren. Pair them with smart smoke detectors that let you know there's a fire, even when you're away from home. Now you can look after your home even if you're traveling. (And the best part: An end to those awful chirps that always seem to come at 4:00 in the morning.)

When you add flood sensors to your remote monitoring set-up, you protect yourself against the potential of thousands of dollars in water damage should a pipe break or a water heater leak. Look for sensors that send you notifications to let you know something's wrong. With these smart sensors, you can relax, leave your home and go to sleep with complete peace of mind.

Even if you're a skilled DIY fan, many of these smart home security gadgets can be tricky to install—and even deciding what you really need can be perplexing. At AAA Smart Home, our consultants and professionals make sure you have the right information and the best gadgets to keep yourself, your family and your home safe.