The Affordable Smart Home Feature You'll Thank Yourself For Getting

These days, there are plenty of devices and features that can make your house a smart home and in turn make life a little easier. Some smart home features are designed with security in mind, while others help save energy or make using household items more convenient. You can even find some that offer more than one of these benefits. Unfortunately, home automation systems can be pretty pricey, averaging between $2,000 and $7,000, depending on the features you choose. However, small changes around the house can still make a big difference. Adding a smart ceiling fan to your home is a budget-friendly project that offers many benefits. Homeowners who go this route find themselves wishing they'd installed their fans sooner.

A smart ceiling fan is similar to a traditional ceiling fan, but it features smart technology that enables it to connect to Wi-Fi. Once linked, it can be controlled via a device. You can adjust the fan's speed, direction, and lighting using voice commands through your smart home assistant or an app on your phone. Many smart ceiling fans even allow you to set up automated schedules, so the fan turns on and off at chosen times. They can often connect with other smart home devices, such as a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, allowing the fixtures to work together to cool and light your home.

There are several reasons why a smart ceiling fan is a worthwhile addition to your home, but convenience tops the list. The smart technology means you don't have to manually turn the fan on and off or adjust its settings. Instead, you can create a schedule, telling your fan to run the minute guests arrive and or slow down when your head hits the pillow. Whether your upstairs, outside, or across town, you can adjust the fan's settings using an app or voice commands.

Because of these convenient features, a smart ceiling fan is more energy-efficient and less expensive to run than a standard fan. You can schedule it to turn on and off at specific times, so it's never running unless you need it. Some fans even have motion sensors that turn the fan off when no one's in the room. Or they may have adaptive speed control that allows them to sense the room's temperature and adjust the speed accordingly.

Smart ceiling fans are an affordable home addition — most don't cost significantly more than mid-range standard fans. This makes them a good investment, much like other smart home devices that can add value to your home. Selling your home? By making your home more energy-efficient and ensuring rooms are comfortable in warm weather, potential buyers may consider smart ceiling fans a plus.

Smart ceiling fan installation is as easy (or hard, depending on your personal situation) as regular fan installation. If you have DIY experience and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, you shouldn't have any trouble. When upgrading an old ceiling fan, you need to remove the old fan and wire the smart fan's components into the electrical box in the ceiling before mounting it. However, if you aren't as confident in your DIY skills, hiring a professional electrician to install the fan is definitely the best option.

Once the fan is installed, you need to download the manufacturer's or brand's app and connect it to your home's Wi-Fi system. Use it to set up a schedule for the fan's operation, adjust the speed, and tinker with any other settings your fan comes with. If you encounter any issues, the fan's manufacturer likely has a troubleshooting guide included in the manual or on their website. You can also pair the fan with a smart home assistant, such as Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa, to operate the fan via voice commands. If all else fails, use it with Bluetooth.