INDUSTRY INSIGHT
HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE
SPONSORED CONTENT
SMART HOME SENSORS CAN SAVE YOU FROM CALAMITY
O
ne of the nastiest surprises homeowners can encounter is
finding out about damage to their home that they could
have prevented had they caught the problem earlier.
For example, a leak that’s been slowly dripping behind
your wall and causing extensive damage may not be covered by your
homeowner’s policy since you should have caught it with regular
upkeep.
Homeowners have countless stories of leaks that caused extensive
damage, sump-pump failures that flooded whole rooms, frozen pipes
that burst, and gas leaks that led to fires, or worse.
Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue with a number of
smart home sensors that can detect problems when they develop,
either suddenly or slowly. Thanks to a number of smart sensors that
can alert your phone if something is amiss, you can greatly reduce the
damage any of the above scenarios may cause.
You can set up some smart sensors as stand-alone units with their
own dedicated hub, while others are adaptable and can communicate
with brand-name smart home hubs like:
• SmartThings
• Apple HomeKit
• Wink
The sensors communicate with a central hub using Bluetooth
technology, while the hub uses your home Wi-Fi to alert the app on
your phone.
Here are the sensors that can give you the most bang for your buck
in terms of safety and preventing damage to your home, its contents,
your family, and even pets:
WATER SENSORS
There are a number of smart leak detectors on the market, and
depending on the brand, the system can shut off the water in about
five seconds after detecting a leak in your home. This can save you
thousands of dollars in property damage.
You can place these sensors at specific points where leaks are
possible, such as sinks, appliances and water heaters. This allows
you to customize a leak detection solution based on your needs
or concerns. Some sensors can even detect changes in water
temperature, which can help you avoid damage from frozen pipes.
These sensor units may also include shut-off valves, which can
be installed at strategic locations in your piping. It’s best to call a
plumber because installing a shut-off valve may require cutting
into the water line. Leave that to the pros.
FREEZE SENSORS
These are typically only necessary in regions that have freezing
temperatures and snow for periods of time in the winter. When pipes
freeze, they can back up, expand and burst, possibly flooding parts of
your home.
Many of the systems that detect leaks also can detect if pipes
have frozen. Like leak sensors, freeze sensors are small devices that
constantly monitor the temperature of the object or area they’re in
touch with. If a sensor detects frozen pipes, it will notify you via your
smartphone app or activate a shut-off valve if it’s installed.
SMART SMOKE ALARMS
A smart smoke alarm works just like a normal smoke alarm, except it
has the added feature of notifying you if there is a fire and you are not
home. That gives you the opportunity to call the fire department or a
trusted neighbor to ensure a faster response.
If you own an Alexa speaker, it has a feature that will act as a smoke
alarm by listening for the sound of your regular smoke alarm then
send you an alert. There is also a smart 9V battery on the market that
you plug into your smoke alarm that will alert you in case it goes off.
TEMPERATURE SENSORS
Smart temperature sensors can alert you to changes in areas of your
home that need to have steady temperatures, such as wine cabinets,
crib rooms, pet enclosures, and humidors.
Window and door sensors
For your home security needs, you may want to consider door and
window sensors. They usually come in two parts: one that attaches to
the door or window frame, and another that attaches to the door or
window itself.
When the door or window is closed, the circuit between the two
parts of the sensor is complete and so is marked as “closed”—but as
soon as a door or window is opened, the circuit is “broken,” which
triggers an alert.
LIFE CHANGES
AND SO DO YOUR
INSURANCE NEEDS.
Cusumano Insurance, a local family-owned business, has been serving the Pittsburgh
area since 1958. The agency represents several insurance companies offering various
options for your personal and business insurance needs. Its experienced staff are
creative problem solvers who help find the suitable insurance companies, products
and discounts to meet your specific needs. Give them a call today for a free insurance
review.
This Industry Insight was provided by:
Joann
Cusumano
Sciulli, AAI
Agency
Principal
Rosann
Cusumano
Elinsky, AAI,
LUTCF
Agency Principal
178 Clairton Blvd | Pittsburgh PA 15236
412-655-4432
[email protected]
www.cusumanoinsurance.com
Cusumano Insurance Agency, Inc. • 178 Clairton Blvd • Pleasant Hills, PA 15236
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS
❘
SPRING 2020
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