When it comes to home safety and security, there has been a lot of innovation within the past few years. These five smart home trends have helped homes stay protected and given families peace of mind.

#1 Impact Windows

Living in Florida, one of the biggest natural safety concerns is a hurricane. Strong winds, plus loose debris can equal dangerous projectiles that could shatter a typical window.

FAS Windows & Doors offers some of the safest, most reliable yet aesthetically beautiful ‘weather safe’ hurricane windows and doors, building code rated for the Southeast’s storm-prone weather. These impact windows, while still beautiful and similar to standard windows, are made to withstand high winds and the impact of flying objects. Although it is still possible to experience some damage, the result is likely to be less severe than if you had normal windows installed.

These impact resistant windows not only protect your home from hurricanes, but can also protect you against forced entry attempts. Shatter resistant glass is a huge deterrent for burglary, and can make all the difference.

#2 Outdoor Monitoring

For years, monitoring your home’s exterior was a lot of work and wiring. These days it’s simple to set up some motion-detecting cameras around your property.

There are several wireless home monitoring systems on the market today. Most of them can be programmed to communicate directly with your smart phone. This gives you the ability to keep an eye on your home no matter where you are.

#3 Smart Lighting

Home automation is the name of the game with a lot of the most recent home security trends. Smart lighting can give the impression someone is home, even when you’re not.

This is particularly useful when you’re going on a trip. Some lighting systems replay your typical lighting patterns to give the impression that someone’s home while you’re away.

#4 Cyber Security

Wifi, computers, tablets, phones – everything is connected these days. That’s why protecting your phone can be one of the most important ways to protect your home.

According to experts at McAfee Security, the most vulnerable link in any smart home system is the mobile device that controls it. Homeowners who use smart technology should, at the very least, use a passcode and theft recovery program on their phone. A device that features 128-bit encryption or higher is your best defense against hackers.

#5 Air Quality Monitoring

Nest Protect is a smoke and carbon monoxide detector that can be monitored from your smartphone. Its modern features make it a great alternative to the traditional white plastic smoke detector.

Making your home safer often means making it smarter in today’s world. However, even if you can’t splurge for all the digital equipment just yet, simple upgrades such as replacing your windows with impact resistant glass windows or doors can give you some peace of mind.

For more information regarding impact glass options, or for a window brand comparison, contact an FAS Windows & Doors expert by calling (877) 289-0825 or visit us at our Tampa showroom to see full-size samples of the different product lines we carry.

FASWD 12/19/2017