Smart Garage Door Controllers: How They Work and The Benefits of Going Smart

Getting to Know Smart Home Automation and Security Systems

If you are looking for the best garage door opener for your home that can be controlled by remote access even when you are away from the house, consider investing in a smart garage door controller.

Many people are looking for ways to eliminate the number of keys or controllers they have to carry, but want to keep their home safe and secure while away. Home automation systems are designed to make our lives easier, and in recent years, the smart technology market has developed a solution that helps make garage doors even easier to access and operate than a standard garage door.

By turning to smart technology, the chances of losing your remote controller are minimized, but the security of your home is increased.

Switching to a smart garage door controller can save you a lot of space and time and, when used correctly, can bring a lot of other benefits to your day-to-day routine.

How Do Smart Garage Door Controllers Work?

If you haven’t replaced your garage door controller yet, now is the time to go smart. There are many different types of garage door controllers on the market, but not all of them are smart.

Whereas traditional garage door controllers usually require a physical device and are often battery-powered, a smart garage door controller operates on WiFi and is operated by an app on your smart device or home hub. They have an attractive, streamlined construction that won’t take up lots of room in your garage.

The Benefits of Owning a Smart Garage Door Opener

Introducing high-tech solutions into your home should be simple and fun, not frustrating. There are many benefits to owning any sort of smart home automation system and they are designed to be effortless and complementary to your lifestyle.

The benefits of using a smart garage opener include:

Easy to use – Using the simplicity of a single touchscreen device, you can utilize everything your smart garage door controller has to offer. Need to open it for a delivery while you are at work – that’s easy when it’s smart.

If your smart garage door opener is a part of a broader smart home security system, you may be able to adjust lighting and temperature, as well as audiovisual and security solutions with the same app.

Give peace of mind – Say goodbye to worrying and obsessing whether you turned off the lights, locked the door or closed the garage. For busy homeowners and renters, being able to check on your home’s security remotely with an app automatically makes automation reassuring and worth the investment.

Convenience – Have you ever found yourself digging through your purse to find the remote garage door controller or had to struggle to get a manual garage door open with full hands? The garage door should always be a port of entry into the house which is easily accessed by the members of the family. With a smart garage door controller, you can remotely open or close the garage door. This is convenient for coming home, leaving the house, lifting heavy items and transporting things to and from the house via the garage with finesse. No more jangling keys trying to find your garage door remote controller. You are just one simple tap away from your garage opening and closing at your wish.

App-controlled – One big benefit of having your garage door opener controlled by an app is that you won’t ever lose it. You can even have it stored in a backup device just in case the battery dies on your cell phone.

Security – As the owner of a smart garage door-controlled system, you are able to add or remove authorized users and devices as needed. Smart systems can also include added security features like notifications of misuse or attempted access by a non-authorized user.

Is Your Garage Door Controller Part of an Integrated Smart Security System?

Some of the most superior smart garage door controllers are only a small part of a wider, more sophisticated home security system. You can invest in a complete home smart security system and know what’s happening on your property at any time. These systems allow:

Security alerts when entry is detected.
Bespoke alerts and reminders for changes and updates on your property.
Connected Car to protect your vehicle and whoever drives it with behaviour alerts, vehicle alerts and location tracking, among other features.

At Kobalt Systems, we are proud partners with Alarm.com. We sell, install and maintain a wide range of smart security systems including smart garage door openers. Alarm.com security systems integrate with most major garage door opener companies such as:

Genie
Lift Master
Chamberlain
GoControl
OHD Anywhere

You Can Take Your Smart Garage Door Opener With You If You Move

Are you moving? Do you need to add or remove a location to your device? New garage door controllers are more flexible than ever before, since they connect to smart devices. Simply reprogram your security system or device to your new location while deleting or forgetting your old one. Don’t give up on your state-of-the-art smart garage door controller and leave it behind with your old house.

Get Expert Help to Install and Program Your Smart Garage Opener

If you have chosen to install a smart garage door opener, you are making a great choice to optimize your home’s smart attributes. When deciding which system is best for you, call an expert such as the team at Kobalt Systems, who can help program and automate your system to your personal requirements.

Kobalt Systems, based in Victoria BC and serving southern Vancouver Island, offers free consultations to assess your home’s security needs. Whatever you are in the market for, or if you’re just curious about how to make your home as secure as possible, starting with your garage door, book an appointment with Kobalt Systems today.

Home Security Add-Ons

Boost Your Home Security with Our Wide Selection of Innovative Features

In a previous post about home and business security, we discussed how important it is to keep your residential and commercial properties secure and walked you through the security packages that we offer.

Did you know that we also provide hardware add-ons that you can include in your residential security package? In addition to the basic cameras and motion detectors that we all know, these add-ons are great gadgets that will further protect your family and your possessions, and while they are affordable, they are worth the additional investment. Many of these are devices that you may not have considered before, so we’d like to walk you through them and tell you a bit about these products so you can get the most out of your residential security system.

1. Window and Door Sensor

Window & Door Sensor: Know when every entrance is open or closed

We’ve all been there. We left the house in a rush and thought to ourselves, “wait, did I close the door, or shut the window?” It’s easy to keep an eye on your home when you’re not there with a quick check on your home security app on your phone. One look and you’ll know if every entry point is open or closed.

2. Smart Thermostat

Remember that heatwave this summer? It was a struggle for many of us to keep our homes cool, and oftentimes a fan just won’t cut it. Or, as winter approaches, maybe we want to ensure that our house is warmed up for when we arrive home after a long day. In either case, the smart thermostat will allow you to control your home’s temperature from anywhere. (This is also a great relief for our pets in the summer while we’re at work!)

3. Smart Lock

The smart lock will allow you to set up a code that you can use to provide access to your home while you’re away. Coded doors are a great solution if you have a friend, family member, or a neighbour who might require access to your home, or maybe even your shed in the backyard.

4. Smart Garage Door Opener

Smart Garage Door Opener: Close your doors from anywhere and feel reassured

If you can’t remember whether you closed your garage door earlier, this door opener can do that for you, no matter where you are. With the click of a button, you can rest assured that your garage and your home are secure.

5. Motion Sensor

This handy gadget will detect activity around your home, and it will alert you whenever something suspicious comes around. So, when you hear a strange sound, you’ll know it’s not just you!

6. Glass Break Sensor

With this sensor, you’ll be alerted right away if a burglar attempts to break into your home by breaking or smashing any windows or glass. With this device and a security camera, you’ll be equipped to deter or even find the perpetrator and keep your home safe. This is a great option for securing sliding glass doors.

7. Carbon Monoxide Detector

This is one that many don’t think about, but it’s an important one. Carbon monoxide is an unseen hazard that can creep up in any home, and this carbon monoxide detector will protect you from that. This device will alert you if it detects any carbon monoxide in your home, so you don’t have to worry.

8. Flood Sensor

This flood sensor will notify you of any emergencies that could result in damages to the property. You might consider putting one near your hot water tank to let you know if the tank started to leak or fail.

9. Outdoor Wi-Fi Security Camera

Outdoor Wi-Fi Security Camera: Have a full view of your home

Have full range of view to the outside of your home with this little add-on. You’ll be able to see who is walking up to your door, such as the delivery person, or you can even check on the kids as they play outside on the driveway or the lawn.

10. Smart Smoke Sensor

Maybe the kids are baking or cooking something at home on the weekend or after school. This smart smoke sensor will help to give you some peace of mind, as you will get an alert as soon as any smoke is detected.

11. Slimline Wi-Fi Doorbell Camera

Not only will you be able to see who is at the door, but you also have the ability to have a two-way conversation from wherever you are. So, you can talk to the pizza or Amazon delivery person and tell them to leave your items wherever you wish!

12. Siren

With the siren, you’ll be able to hear the alarm from any room in the house—so you don’t have to worry about missing it if you’re in a certain part of the house, like the attic.

13. Touchscreen Security Panel

The touchstone security panel will allow you to easily control your security system and connected smart home devices, all in one spot. Now you don’t have to worry about complicated buttons or techie jargon when you’re in a rush or in an emergency.

14. Hardware Panel

This panel will connect your existing devices and sensors seamlessly.

While this list contains many of our products, you can see our full list of available security add-ons and see what they look like by checking out our products page.

Contact us today at Kobalt Systems, and we’ll be happy to get you started with a new residential security system and the add-ons you need for your home. Based in Victoria, BC, we have highly experienced staff who will provide top-quality service and make sure your system is properly set up and ready to go in no time. For more information, learn about our services or call us directly at (250) 213-3788.

Smart Home Products Can Change Your Life

Smart Home Devices are Raising the Bar

Today’s smart home products are game-changers. They range from motion sensor lighting control to smart thermostats and everything in between, making it simple to complete everyday tasks, save on energy costs and provide convenience across the board. Smart home technology is a trend that isn’t going anywhere!

In fact, according to Statista, 33 million North American homes rely on smart thermostats for temperature control. Popularity is also growing worldwide, particularly in Europe and Asia.

According to findings from InnoTech Today, “63% of homebuyers want smart locks and alarms, 63% want smart fans and thermostats, 58% want smart lights and 56% want smart carbon monoxide detectors.”

These stats show that even though the smart home market began with a surge of popularity in fun smart home gadgets like cheaper smart speakers and colour-changing lightbulbs from Amazon, homeowners are recognizing the incredible value that smart home products hold.

This benefit goes far beyond the initial entertainment value. In fact, a home that’s outfitted with smart locks, cameras and sensor systems on a Wi-Fi network are more likely to have a reduced insurance rate.

Not only do you get to enjoy the peace of mind knowing your whole family is protected, but you save on your premiums at the same time. For more information on this, talk to your insurance provider.

Popular Smart Home Products

Smart Home Automation

Automated Smart Home devices are individual appliances that are designed to make life simpler. Early examples of these would be dishwashers with a setting to delay the wash by 2 or 4 hours. Today, these automated devices have gotten much more advanced. Smart dishwashers and washing machines automatically adjust the amount of water usage and energy usage depending on the size of the load. They even “know” when energy consumption is lower in your area and automatically run during those times. Small appliances have joined the party too. Now you can find things like:

An automated pet feeder
An automated vacuum that runs on a regular schedule, or on command
An automated coffee maker that starts making your coffee when your alarm goes off in the morning
A Wi-Fi enabled Instant Pot that you can set from your smart phone

Smart Home Lighting

Since the days of the Clapper in the 80’s and 90’s, homeowners have really liked having the option for hands-free lighting control.

Motion sensor lighting in hallways, in bathrooms and in walk-in closets are becoming extremely popular for the convenience they provide. Lights are automatically turned on and off, providing plenty of visibility and saving on energy costs.

Today’s smart bulbs can also change hues automatically when music is playing, by voice command or based on the time of day. Whether you want to set the stage for a party or dim the lights to settle in with a book and a cup of tea, smart lighting takes care of this, hands free. Is it possible the Clapper paved the way for Google’s Alexa and other smart control devices we know and love today?

Smart Home Thermostats and Fans

It was warm all day, so you turned the heat down to save some energy. But you forgot to turn the heat back up before you went to bed and now the whole house is cold. The heating system needs to work twice as hard to warm the house up and this causes a spike in your power usage. One of many solutions here is to program a smart thermostat to lower the temperature as the family sleeps and increase the temperature by breakfast time so that everyone will be warm and toasty.

When you head to work, you can control the smart thermostat from your phone via Wi-Fi or have it pre-programmed to turn the temperature down again while no one is home. You can also remotely turn the air conditioner on to cool the house down on a hot day. No more cooking dinner in a stuffy, baking hot kitchen after a long day.

If you don’t quite need A/C, you could also program smart fans to get air circulating before everyone gets home. These devices use machine learning as well, to learn your habits. Once they’re programmed, you’re good to go!

Smart thermostats and fans are wildly popular because this convenience increases your home’s value, increases energy efficiency and makes climate control so simple.

Smart Home Locks

Smart locks are a smart home product that protect your house and family. They also let you go hands-free (no more dumping groceries on the ground while you fumble for keys.)

If you’ve gone out for the day and realized you forgot to lock your door, just choose the “lock” option from your mobile phone and your home will be secured.

It’s another of those small but extremely useful conveniences that saves time and gives homeowners peace of mind. Plus, no more running back to the house to double check that you locked the doors.

These devices can also be programmed with individual codes for each family member or regular visitors, ending the need to have multiple keys cut.

Many smart locks also come with tablets or monitors that let you check the status of your doors and lock/unlock the doors with the touch of a button from wherever you are in the house. Smart locks are one of the most affordable advances in smart technology and provide a great starting point for a whole home security system.

Smart Home Security Cameras

On the subject of security systems, smart cameras make it easy to monitor the activity in and around your home. You’ll receive alerts and notifications in real time and be able to view videos in real time via Wi-Fi or data on your mobile app.

You also have the choice to self-monitor or to connect your system to a response centre for immediate emergency response. The latter option often means a reduction in home insurance rates and is ideal if you’re away from home often. You can also choose a device like a doorbell with built-in camera for another method of smart home security.

Smart Home Sensing Systems

Gas leaks, smoke/fires, floods and even electric surges are no match for advanced smart home technology. Detecting and sending alerts to your mobile device, sensing systems prevent disaster.

In the event or a fire or a carbon monoxide leak, an alarm will sound and alerts will go out to the phones and devices set up to receive them. If you’re set up for third-party monitoring, emergency services will be contacted immediately if no response is received. A leak or flood sensor will alert you to the problem, letting you take care of it before it gets out of control.

An electric surge sensor is one of the newer products on the market. In the event of a power surge, it will actually power down the appliances in the house. No more fried computers or ruined microwaves.

At Kobalt Systems, we are full-service electrical contractors, home automation and security experts. Are you ready to add smart solutions to your home or business? We’ll take care of automation designs, lighting control, climate control and anything else you need to make these exciting new technologies work for you, on time and on budget. Contact our team at (250) 213-3788 or email us to start designing your ideal smart system today.