Category: Smart Light Switch

Everything You Need to Know About Smart Light Switches in Northern Virginia

More and more people are installing smart light switches in Northern Virginia, and we’ve been getting a lot of calls about them. What are smart light switches, what do they do, and what are the advantages of installing them?

In this quick guide, we’ll go over all the basics and help you decide if smart light switches are right for your Northern VA home.

I. What Are Smart Light Switches?

Simply put, smart light switches – as well as other smart electrical appliances – are connected to the Internet. They typically connect via Wi-Fi, although wired options are also available. Either way, with Internet connectivity, they can be controlled via your smart devices as well as through physical controls, as well as adding several other automated features.

II. What Can Smart Light Switches Do?

Exact features may vary from brand to brand, but in general, most or all smart light switches should be able to do the following:

Remote control

The smart light switch connects to an app on your smartphone, which can then be used as a remote control for your lights from anywhere with an internet connection. You don’t even need to be at home. 

Automated scheduling

If you live according to a set schedule, you can set up automation that turns your lights on and off without needing to do it manually. For example, if you leave for work at 7:30 AM and get home around 5:00 PM, you can set it to turn off the lights at 7:45 AM, then turn them back on around 4:45 PM.

Setting scenes

If the lights in your home support dimming and/or multiple colors, this can also be controlled via a smart light switch. You can create “scenes” that define the lighting look of a room. If you watch a lot of movies, you might have a “home theater scene” which automatically dims everything in the room with one click.

These features can also bring some other benefits. For example:

1 – Improved safety

If you’re going to be away from home for a few days, you can use remote features to ensure a few lights are on overnight, while still turning them off during the day. This will discourage anyone from trying to break in.

2 – Saving money

The added level of control allows you to better manage your electricity usage. Smart use of scheduling and scenes can significantly reduce your power bills, without reducing your quality of life.

3 – Voice control

Most smart light systems can integrate with home automation such as Alexa or Google Assistant to allow voice-based commands. If you already have a home smart system, you could just say “Alexa, activate the home theater scene” or something similar and your lights will adjust themselves.

III.  Important Considerations When Choosing Smart Light Switches

Which smart light switches will be right for your northern Virginia home? These are a few of the most important things to consider before picking a brand or model.

1 – Single or three-way switching?

Smart light switches can be connected to one single power point or connect to multiple power points at once. However, this requires different models. So, if there’s only one light switch that powers a particular light, you only need a single switch. But if there are two or more switches connected to that one light, you’ll need a smart switch that can take over all the connected switches.

2 – Does your home have neutral wires?

Most modern homes – most anything built from the 1980s onward – have both a neutral wire and a ground wire on their switches to help prevent fires. Most smart switches expect a neutral wire. However, older homes may not use neutral wires, and you’ll need a more specialized smart switch built for older systems.

3 – Do you have other smart appliances?

If you already use a home automation system, like Alexa, or other “Internet of Things” devices such as smart plugs or smart light bulbs, you’ll need to make sure that your new smart light switches are compatible with your existing hardware.

4 – Is the app good?

Finally, check up on app store reviews for brands you’re looking at. A smart light switch is only as good as its app, so you don’t want to install a new switch only to discover it has lousy software.

RD Matthews Electrical Provides Top-Quality Smart Light Switch Upgrades

It’s always a good idea to hire professionals to install any electrical upgrades to your home since a poor wiring job instantly creates a major fire risk. RD Matthews Electrical can help you choose the best smart light switches for your northern Virginia home, and ensure they’re installed safely and properly.

Contact us to discuss your upgrade options.

Three Things to Know Before Installing Smart Light Switches in Northern Virginia

Asking an electrical service contractor to install smart light switches in Northern Virginia will make life inside your home more convenient and comfortable. Before equipping your house with smart light switches, our team atRD Matthews Electrical recommends deciding whether you have the equipment and knowledge necessary to handle the job on your own—if not, it will be cheaper, safer, and more efficient to hire a professional.

Here are a few things to consider before installing smart light switches in Northern Virginia

Safety

Protecting yourself, your family, and your property from danger should be at the top of your list of priorities when planning electrical service work. If you have experience and equipment conducting electrical work, then the first step to installing smart light switches is researching safety precautions to take. To minimize the chances of personal injury or property damage, werecommend hiring a contractor that specializes in installing smart light switches in Northern Virginia. This will allow you to rest easy and avoid any unnecessary expenses or medical attention in the event of an emergency.

Equipment

Installing smart light switches in Northern Virginia will require all of the equipment needed for similar residential contracting work; however, you will also need to work with newer technologies like your internet connection and wireless internet router. Unless you already have equipment for executing electrical work around the house, then it’s safer and more efficient to hire a professional. They will be able to thoroughly inspect the electrical system in your home and determine the quickest, safest way to install smart light switches. They can provide you with an estimate and start on the work.

Knowledge

Since installing smart light switches in Northern Virginia requires not only specific equipment, but knowledge as well, RD Matthews Electrical advises their clients to leave the job up to a professional. Unless you understand light switch boxes, smart switches, and residential electrical systems in general, it’s not worth the risk of property damage or personal injury to install smart light switches yourself. Hire a professional electrical service contractor to ensure that your smart light switches work properly so that you can kick back and enjoy the convenience.

Get Smart Light Switches in Northern Virginia today!

RD Matthews Electrical specializes in the installation of smart light switches in Northern Virginia. Call our electrical technicians today to learn more about how we can help you make living in your home easier with new technology.