5 Ways to Extend the Life of Smart Gadgets in Your Home

As smart technology becomes more popular, it’s easier than ever to keep our homes safe, secure, and comfortable. There are now a huge variety of gadgets that do exactly the same thing without even entering your home, including the best security cameras and the best video intercoms.

Outdoor smart home devices are specifically designed to work in all weather conditions, from pouring rain to scorching temperatures. However, that doesn’t mean they have an infinite lifespan. There are still things we can do to keep them working as they should, especially if they’re used on a daily basis.

Read on to learn five things you can do to extend the life of smart devices in your home.

1. Keep them out of the sun

As with any piece of technology, it’s important to keep your outdoor smart home gadgets out of direct sunlight. Outdoor devices are designed to withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight, but this type of exposure will speed up their lifespan.

Try placing security cameras and video intercoms under your porch or awning, and they will definitely thank you for it.

2. Get rid of dust and dirt

Keeping your smart home devices clean and well-ventilated outdoors is an important habit to extend their lifespan. This is especially important if you live near a busy road or in a city, as dust and dirt can easily settle and seep into your gadgets.

About once a week, take a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the floor.

3. Clear local storage regularly

One way to maintain the internals of external smart home gadgets is to regularly clear local storage. If the device records video or audio, be sure to check them often and delete them if they are not needed. This will help the internal setup run smoothly and, therefore, last longer.

4. Invest in insurance and guarantees

There is no limit to how long smart home devices can last, but without proper insurance or warranty, you never know if you are deliberately shortening their lifespan.

If you’re in the process of choosing a new appliance, choose a brand that offers a warranty or returns. Some even offer lifetime warranties, which is great if you live in an area with extreme weather. If you already have an appliance, make sure it’s included in your home insurance policy.

5. Keep them up to date

One of the best ways to extend the life of your outdoor smart home devices is to keep them up to date and install any available software updates. This is essential for improving the performance of your devices, especially if you use them every day.

To deal with this, you should regularly check the apps on your device and make sure that all software notifications are enabled.

Check out our favorite smart outdoor lighting for 2024.