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A smart light switch gives you more control over the lighting in your home, letting you adjust settings, control brightness levels and more, all without having to get up and actually hit the switch yourself. The best smart light switches let you access the lighting in any room you choose, wirelessly and effortlessly.
And while it’s super convenient to adjust your lights without leaving the couch, the best feature of a smart light isn’t what you can do at home, but rather what you can do when you’re notat home.
Most come with a paired app that’s a quick download away, and once it’s installed, you’ll be able to adjust lights from anywhere – whether at the office or on vacation. It’s an excellent way to deter thieves, ensure that everything is turned off instead of eating up electricity, and flip on specific switches before you even return and walk in the door..
You’ll be saving energy, and money as well. Setting timers on the lights around the house is a huge help too when integrated with your routine, and can assist you with keeping a regimented schedule as well as a healthy sleep cycle (or force “lights-out” time in your kids’ room after a certain hour).
Installing one switch at a time is an option, but if you know you’ll want your entire home connected up eventually anyway, purchasing multiple switches at once can save you money and effort. There are more similarities than differences across the board of basic smart switches, but bonus features can be purchased too, such as an extra bright dimmer, added outlet, or a fan-speed controller for an instant smart ceiling fan.
A final and important pro-tip: If you don’t feel comfortable messing with your home’s wiring and voltage, or don’t have the proper know-how, any electrician can easily install these safely and quickly. For most smart light switches, you’ll need to have a neutral wire, and the majority of houses do, unless the wiring is still pre-Seventies. Either way, be sure to check before buying, and be safe when attempting to install anything electrical.
