When one thinks of smart home technology, even the best smart plugs on the market are perhaps the last thing that comes to mind. These entry-level devices are discussed far less than high-end security cameras and smart thermostats. And yet, it’s the simplicity of these accessories that can make them among the most versatile tools in your smart home arsenal.
A smart plug essentially acts as a gatekeeper for electricity. As such, it turns physical “on/off” switches “smart.” Beyond the obvious, like turning off a lamp from your phone, there are ingenious ways to use these devices to improve your home’s efficiency, security, and comfort.
Here are five creative ways to use smart plugs to transform your living space.
The “perfect morning” coffee ritual
From dumb to smart
Most of today’s modern coffee makers have digital displays and complex timers. And yet, many coffee purists still prefer “dumb” drip machines or stovetop percolators that sit on electric burners. High-end espresso machines remain popular, even though many require significant warm-up time.
By plugging any of these machines into a smart plug, you can set a schedule to turn it on automatically, whether at the same time each day or different times for weekdays and weekends.
Better still, if you incorporate a motion sensor, you can create a “good morning” routine that uses a voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri. In this scenario, you can trigger the coffee machine to start only after it detects that you’ve left your bed. This can reduce wasted energy on mornings when you decide to hit the ever-useful snooze button.
Managing “vampire power” and battery health
A tiny way to save on your energy costs
Another benefit of using smart plugs is the elimination of “vampire power.” This is the type of electrical power that continues to draw even when a device is turned off or fully charged. Sure, it’s small, but removing it can reduce your monthly power bills.
A suggestion: use a smart plug to power-cycle devices such as televisions, soundbars, and gaming consoles at a set time each day. For convenience, you can also set the plug to restart early the next morning.
Another suggestion: certain devices, such as lithium-ion battery-powered ones like cordless vacuums and electric bikes, aren’t used frequently. And yet, they shouldn’t always be left at 100% charge for weeks, as they would with a standard electrical outlet. Add a smart plug to run these devices for only a few hours per week to top them off and improve their battery life.
The “lived-in” security look
Are you home — or not?
Traditional timers have long been used to turn lights on and off whenever one is away from home, such as during an extended vacation. Unfortunately, having those lights turned on at the same time each day is a dead giveaway that you aren’t, in fact, at home.
Many popular smart plugs feature an away mode that randomly turns lights on and off in the evening to mimic natural human activity.
For more deterrence, don’t stop at simply turning lights on and off during your vacation. Use a smart plug so that devices like radios or white noise machines also turn on at random, producing muffled voices or music from inside the house.
Seasonal comfort and humidity control
Be warmer and cooler automatically, depending on your needs
Smart thermostats are among the most popular smart devices worldwide. However, they can only be used to monitor and adjust the temperature of your home’s heating or cooling system, not individual devices such as space heaters or dehumidifiers. You can use smart plugs to better manage these types of devices and more.
For example, to ensure safety, you can set your space heaters to shut off after a set period, or have an attached smart plug turn on/off based on your home’s humidity.
Do you use electric blankets during the winter? Have a smart plug click on right before you get ready for bed each night. This way, your bed is toasty for you.
The ultimate “kids’ tech” curfew
Get some parenting help from an unlikely source
Parenting in the digital age isn’t for the faint of heart; it’s an uphill battle against screen time. To better manage when your kids can watch television or use their new favorite gaming console, add a smart plug.
For the most basic setup, have all smart plugs connected to these devices switch off at set times each night, earlier on weekdays, and later on weekends.
You can add a touch of sophistication by having the overhead lights in your entertainment room (or your bedrooms) flicker a few minutes before everything turns off. This teaches time management and provides a consistent routine that reduces friction between parents and children.
Lots of uses
Smart plugs may not be the flashiest smart home gadgets, but their simplicity makes them surprisingly powerful tools for improving convenience, efficiency, and safety. Acting as controllable on/off switches for any plugged-in device, they allow you to automate routines and reduce wasted energy.
For instance, they can turn a traditional coffee maker into a smart appliance that starts brewing when you wake up, or reduce “vampire power” by shutting off devices overnight. They also boost security by simulating occupancy when you’re away, add comfort by automating heating and dehumidification, and make parenting easier with timed shutdowns for children’s electronics. In short, smart plugs offer an affordable, versatile gateway into intelligent home automation.
