What You Should Know About Custom Audio Video and Home Automation Systems

Imagine a home where the lights turn themselves off when the room is empty, where you can turn off the movie you’re watching in the living room and turn it on in the bedroom upstairs after your shower – without missing a single line of dialogue. Imagine being able to let the cleaning lady in from your desk at work – without having to leave a key for her. How about blinds that open and close themselves, depending on the temperature in the room or the time of day? These are just a few of the lesser possibilities when you install integrated custom audio video and home automation systems in your home. Sound intriguing? Here’s what you should know about custom audio video and home automation systems for new and existing construction.

It’s All in the Wiring

The most important part of an integrated system is the wiring. It’s what allows all of your systems to communicate with each other. That’s why the first thing you want to do when creating a home automation scheme is bring in a wiring/pre-wire specialist who can lay out a “skeleton” on which you can build your security, lighting, home networking, environmental control and audio/video systems.

Preplanning Allows for Easy Expansion

You may only want lighting and thermostat control automated for now, but it makes sense to set up the wiring for other components at the same time. This is especially true if you’re building new, but also makes sense if you’re renovating and retrofitting an older home. It’s easier and less expensive to set up the wiring in advance and add new components when you’re ready to add them.

Home Automation Is Energy Efficient

Automating your thermostat controls obviously contribute to energy efficiency, but other home automation systems can also reduce your energy use and your energy bills. A system that opens and closes window blinds to reduce heat transfer, for example, can keep rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer simply by blocking or letting in the sun.

Security, Access Control and Lighting Work Together

Lights that turn on when you approach the front door may seem like a nice convenience, but they also increase safety and security.

If you’re considering adding some automated features to your home, bring in a pro to help with the planning. An experienced custom audio video and home automation systems designer can help you consider all the implications of the choices you make, and suggest many things you may not have considered.