Smart kitchen. the smart phone manages kitchen appliances: dishwasher, refrigerator. washing machine. robot vacuum cleaner, smart TV. VECTOR. isometric illustration
Smart appliances let you use your smart phone to remotely monitor and control your refrigerator, range, dishwasher, washer, dryer and other connected devices from practically anywhere. Using smart appliance controls is a lot like using a TV remote, but with a vastly expanded range.
Technological advances in smart home appliances happen continuously as manufactures come up with new remote tasks to help make your life easier.
Manufacturers typically send software revisions with new and improved control features to your connected appliances through the internet, so you don’t have to buy a new model every year or two to keep up with the latest smart control innovations.
We came up with a list of the best smart appliances to own. These appliances can help you manage your home more easily and have the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong with your appliances, you’ll know it immediately — wherever you are.
Smart refrigerator with screen
Refrigerators are the most advanced and useful smart home appliances. With a smart fridge, you’ll know the moment something is wrong with your refrigerator. Getting a notification when someone left the door ajar or the refrigerator temperature is rising lets you take action immediately to minimize food spoilage and avoid other complications.
But a smart refrigerator isn’t just about emergencies. It helps you stay organized:
- A smart refrigerator can automatically order a replacement water filter at the right time, to keep dispensed water and ice fresh.
- Some smart refrigerators have cameras that show you the contents of your refrigerator, so if you’re at the store and don’t remember if you need more lettuce, you can check.
- If your refrigerator is the household communication center, the LCD screen on a smart refrigerator lets you ditch the paper calendar and sticky notes. You can sync calendars, make shopping lists and post reminders from your smart phone. And you can browse the web, display recipes, sync your TV and post photos.
Smart range
By upgrading to a smart range, you can remotely monitor and control the oven and cooktop with your smart phone.
Here’s what you can do with a smart stove:
- Preheat the oven.
- Monitor and adjust the oven temperature.
- Set and adjust the oven timer.
- Turn off your oven.
- Monitor the stovetop.
Some smart ranges have a camera that shows you the inside of the oven, so you can check what’s cooking without opening the oven door.
Smart dishwasher
Add a smart dishwasher to your kitchen to enjoy remote monitoring and control features. A smart dishwasher with leak detection can help keep your kitchen safe from flood damage by sending you an alert if your dishwasher begins to leak water.
With a smart dishwasher, you can check how much longer the dishwasher will run and be notified when the cycle is finished — that’s handy even when you’re home, so you don’t have go to the kitchen to check.
With a smart dishwasher, you can remotely turn on and off the child safety lock and the dishwasher’s beep sound.
And your smart dishwasher can make sure you never run out of dishwasher detergent pods by keeping track of how many pods you’ve used; it also tracks how much rinse aid is left in the dispenser.
Smart washer and dryer
Laundry appliances finish off the list of the top 5 smart home appliances to own. Owning a smart washing machine and dryer can streamline your laundry tasks.
You can turn smart laundry appliances on and off, set a delayed start time and adjust the length of the delay. You can also check where in the washing or drying cycle the appliance is and how much time is left.
And these appliances keep you informed with notifications:
- A smart washer and dryer let you know when the they finish and alert you if there’s a problem.
- A smart washer keeps tabs on the detergent level in the bulk detergent dispenser tank and reorders detergent when the level is low.
- A smart dryer lets you know when a load is still damp, so you can extend the drying time remotely.
Frequently asked questions about smart home appliances
Can someone hack my smart appliances?
Yes, but reports of hacking smart home appliances are rare. Smart appliances communicate through your Wi-Fi network, so take steps to keep your Wi-Fi network secure to prevent hackers from gaining access to your smart home appliances:
Update smart appliance software as soon as revisions become available. Software updates sometimes eliminate security vulnerabilities that hackers could use to gain access to your smart appliances.
Use complicated passwords that aren’t easy to guess. Good passwords are a combination of letters, numbers and special characters that don’t include birth dates or family names.
Limit Wi-Fi network access:
- Set up Media Access Control (MAC) filtering to limit devices that can join your Wi-Fi network. Configure a list of devices that can access your Wi-Fi router and then enable MAC filtering. The filtering lets only those devices access your Wi-Fi.
- Shut off the router’s remote management access. Remote management lets the manufacturer provide technical support and access your router’s controls. Leaving this feature enabled can allow hackers to access appliance software.
- Change your Wi-Fi router’s Service Set Identifier (SSID). The SSID is your Wi-Fi router’s name, and it typically includes the router’s brand and model number. Change the default name so no one in your router’s range can see the type of router you use. Hackers can exploit Wi-Fi router security vulnerabilities if they know the model number. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual for your router to change the router’s name.
Taking these steps will help keep your smart home appliances safe from hackers.
What are the best smart small appliances to buy?
- Smart coffee makers let you remotely schedule and monitor brewing. Get your morning coffee started from the comfort of your bed.
- Smart cookers let you control and monitor the cooking process, so your slow-cooked meals come out perfect every time.
- Smart vacuums and mops clean floors while you supervise from afar.
- Smart microwaves let you use voice commands, so you don’t have to figure out which buttons to push.
Are smart appliances worth owning?
Yes, smart appliances are worth owning when you put them to good use.
One of their biggest advantages of the time savings that comes with remotely monitoring and controlling appliances.
And being notified when something goes wrong can save money by preventing damage. For example, water flow monitors on smart water softeners and smart whole home water filters can alert you to a leak, to help prevent costly water damage.
Some smart appliances — such as window air conditioners — can save on energy bills and make your home more comfortable.