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Smart home maintenance tips to keep your Des Moines system in top shape

December 16, 2024
Homeowner changing the placement of a home security camera.

Maintenance is essential to numerous aspects of our lives. You work out to keep yourself healthy and take your vehicle to the service shop so it runs smoothly. Your Des Moines smart home is no exception. While it demands less attention than your car, you still need to complete a few basic tasks to keep devices functioning smoothly. It’s not difficult, and we’ll make the job even easier with the following smart home maintenance recommendations.

Clean Hardware Is Essential To Dependable Function

Dust and grime are threats to sensors, surveillance camera lenses, and all electrical gadgets. How well do you believe your exterior surveillance will spot intruders if it’s obscured by cobwebs? Your smart home won’t appear so smart if it’s not working as expected. But you can help by doing these simple maintenance duties:

  • Keep your lenses spotless by wiping them down frequently with a microfiber towel gently moistened with an appropriate cleaner. Stay away from paper towels that may harm the lens, and don’t spray a fluid right onto the camera.
  • Don’t permit dust to gather on sensitive electronics. If contaminants work their way inside the outer exterior, it can damage those sensitive electrical components and halt needed air movement. Even your central command panel's flat, narrow top can collect dust.
  • When tidying up, quickly check to make sure your components are attached solidly and situated properly.

It’s not challenging to keep your smart home equipment dirt-free, but you ought to carry out some additional tasks to maintain performance.

Conduct a quick test of your Des Moines security system

Have you not gotten a smartphone alert in a while? Your system could be working great, and your home well guarded, but it could also signify there is an issue. How about finding out by doing a brief check of your equipment? Here’s how to proceed:

  • Assume the part of an intruder and see if you can trigger your entry point sensors, motion sensors, or other devices you have. You can typically place your system into “test mode” to avoid notifying your monitoring team.
  • Go into your home security mobile app and check the video feed. See if the images are sharp and the camera is aimed where it needs to be.
  • If you have automation configured, verify it. Did the smart thermostat adjust at the proper time? Did your lights switch on or off as expected?
  • Verify batteries are switched out routinely. Some systems will even notify you when they’re getting low.

Assessments may be done periodically or at any point you think a sensor is not operating as it should.

Is your system firmware current?

Those smart tools you have throughout your house don’t just run independently. These incorporated elements have firmware in place, so they perform properly. In many instances, the firmware will self-update, but there may be exceptions. Perform the updates as soon as they’re released (your system should alert you) to avoid security or performance problems.

Get a reliable smart home in Des Moines from Vivint

Interested in a reliable, low-maintenance smart home in Des Moines? Consult with the home security professionals at Vivint. Providing you the latest in home surveillance and automation, we have a solution for your family. Dial (515) 972-5232 right away to get started.