Integration, automation, protection, safety, and efficiency are the buzzwords in today’s home systems. Buyers want to control access, comfort, energy, and security with one device or application, and they demand that those smart systems be self-monitoring. This means products and technologies that add to the responsiveness and comfort of a home are tops with customers, even if they have to pay more for them.
Check out the list of products that can help make your homes more comfortable, secure, and reliable.
Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric's MLZ Series one-way ceiling cassette air-conditioning unit is designed to work with the company’s M-Series of multi-zone outdoor heating and cooling units. It features a narrow body designed to fit within standard 16-inch joist spacing. According to the manufacturer, the cassettes are effective regardless of ceiling height because of their adjustable airflow. The unit can be serviced from underneath, without requiring an access panel. A built-in condensate lift mechanism provides a 19-inch lift, reducing the installer’s need to manipulate joists. The indoor units are available in 9,000, 12,000 and 18,000 BTU/h models. The outdoor units feature SEER ratings of up to 19.2, and may support three to eight indoor units, depending on the model. metahvac.com
Brilliant
Designed to replace any existing light switch, the Brilliant smart-home control provides a wall-mounted hub for dozens of compatible smart devices, with simple touch and motion controls, voice activation through Amazon’s Alexa, and smartphone integration through the Brilliant App. Starting this spring, the system will be compatible with Apple HomeKit. Other features include a microphone and camera with a privacy shutter; storage space to display photos, art, or seasonal themes; and the ability to program custom lighting scenes around a single touch or verbal command. The hub is available in one-, two-, three-, and four-switch configurations. brilliant.tech
Rinnai
Rinnai is the first manufacturer to offer Amazon Alexa voice controls for tankless water heaters, and it recently introduced Google Home compatibility for its smart Control-R 2.0 models. The Control-R 2.0 tankless water heater modules, which also pair with the Control-R 2.0 mobile app, respond to more than 20 voice commands, and schedules stored locally on the Control-R module operate with or without a constant Wi-Fi connection. The app also allows users to remotely put the system into vacation mode or activate the system on demand without a schedule, plus it provides maintenance alerts, communication with dealers, and remote control of the connected tankless water heater via smartphone or tablet. The module may be installed with a new tankless water heater or on existing models made since 2006. rinnai.us
Jasco
The myTouchSmart Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer works with Jasco’s existing line of smart lighting to allow users to set a unique lighting schedule for every day of the week based on daily presets, customized settings, a 24-hour countdown timer, full range dimming and a smart Dusk-to-Dawn program. The dimmer also comes equipped with a built-in component that automatically recognizes sunrise and sunset times for a given region and adjusts on/off times accordingly. It can be controlled using any mobile device through the myTSmobile app and is certified with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. In addition to the new Smart Dimmer, the myTouchSmart Wi-Fi family includes an In-Wall Smart Switch, In-Wall Smart Outlet, and Indoor and Outdoor Smart Plugs. mytouchsmart.com
First Alert
The company’s new line of Onelink connected products creates a smart home system that monitors everything from network security to home safety. Surround Wi-Fi creates a closed, private network that prevents security threats and hacks, and can be used with its companion app that allows users to pause, filter, and set time limits. The Onelink Bell monitors who is at the front door with a 1080p HD live video, motion detection, and two-way audio. The updated Safe & Sound alarm now offers Alexa calling and messaging and Apple AirPlay 2 support; it is compatible with Alexa, Google, and HomeKit systems. It comes in either battery-operated or wired options and can also be paired with the Onelink Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm. onelink.firstalert.com
LG
With a 25.5 SEER rating and 12.0 HSPF rating, the single-zone Art Cool Premier wall-mount split system is among Energy Star’s Most Efficient certified products. The standard wall-mount unit’s output ranges from a 11,000 BTU max for cooling and 12,000 BTU max for heating, and performs at full capacity to 5 degrees F and continuously to -13 degrees F. The system is Wi-Fi enabled and connects seamlessly with LG’s SmartThinQ system, which allows users to control its functions via smartphone app, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. lg.com
Alea Air
Alea Air’s intelligent air management platform is an HVAC system that replaces standard registers with smart vents that the manufacturer says can track and adjust temperature, monitor air quality, and sense other environmental variables. The vents have 11 sensors, robotic louvers, and an energy harvesting unit, and are enabled by a cloud-learning system that analyzes data and sends instructions to vents based on room-by-room preferences, weather forecasts, occupancy, room size and orientation, and time of day. The system generates a thermal profile of the entire home, allowing it to run central heating and cooling systems—which typically account for over 50% of home energy expenses—at a higher efficiency than a standard HVAC system, saving money and conserving energy, says the company. alealabs.com
Bosch
The new 80% AFUE gas furnace in the BGS80 Series is the first-ever non-condensing gas furnace in the company’s residential lineup. It delivers up to 80% AFUE heating efficiency or convert up to 80% of the fuel it consumes into heat for the home, providing lower energy bills for homeowners, according to the manufacturer. The cabinet’s compact, 33.75-inch height and four-way multi-poise design allows contractors to fit the furnace in tight places, including basements and crawlspaces. Other conveniences include natural-gas-to-LP fuel conversion kits and left- and right-hand valves for gas and electric. bosch-climate.us
Weil-McLain
The new wall-mount line of combination and heat-only boilers, the AquaBalance Series 2, combines an updated energy-efficient system with an AFUE rating of 95% with on-demand domestic hot water. It uses a stainless steel, titanium-infused heat exchanger and comes in three sizes (80, 120, and 155 mbh input), in both combination and heat-only versions. It produces a constant supply of hot water up to 4 gpm at 70 degrees F temperature rise, the company says. The unit has the power to supply hydronic heat for up to a 2,500-square-foot home and enough hot water to run two showers and a dishwasher simultaneously, according to the manufacturer. weil-mclain.com
