Category Archives: How Things Work

Introducing the Smart, Safe Home iPad App


Our new iPad app has launched!  While the app doesn’t offer any additional functionality (because the current app offers full control already), it does make the experience a lot better by taking advantage of the full resolution of that beautiful new display on the iPad. Here are some of the reasons why we like controlling our home from our iPad:

  • The big screen: Let’s face it; the iPad screen is beautiful and offers a lot of room to have multiple controls and notifications on one screen. Now you can navigate your system remotely without having to tap through multiple screens, which makes the experience a bit faster and more fluid.  The app also works seamlessly in landscape and portrait mode.
  • Multiple video feeds: Now you can view all your video feeds simultaneously and enjoy much easier access to pan and tilt controls and recordings. You can quickly open, delete, or protect triggered video clips—all on the same screen.
  • Centralized access: Along with multiple video clips, the iPad also allows you to control everything in your home all at once. You can check the status of your locks, thermostat, lights, and appliances and change their status quickly, each  on their own screen. You can also see all of your lights and Z-Wave appliances with limited scrolling.
  • System history: As you click around on the app, it will show you the history of related items and help you remember where you’ve been and what you’ve changed. The app also allows you to sort your saved video clips with event and video filters.  The system history will automatically adjust and scroll to show the history events related to the screen you are currently viewing.

Nothing can take the place of a picture though.

Security

You can arm or disarm your home right from your iPad. You can see the history of what has happened with the system on the right side of the screen.

Thermostat

Raise or lower your thermostat remotely.

Locks

Lock or unlock the door remotely. You might want to let a serviceperson into your home while you are away. You can also see when the door was locked or unlocked in the right side of the screen.

Electrical Items Such as Lights

You can control lights and other electrical items from your iPad. Turn lights on or off – or even dim the bulbs. Or you might want to turn a coffeepot on before you come home.

Video

Cameras can be added to your system very easily. Check on kids or pets while you’re away.

Our job is to provide essential services to homeowners. one of those essential services is home security and automation. We provide affordable home automation to help protect families, allow them to use energy more wisely and simplify their lives.

About Burns & McBride

The Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system uses Z-wave technology to tie things like locks, thermostats and lights together so that you can control them whether you are home or away. Burns & McBride has been providing essential home services since 1949. To learn more about Burns & McBride’s Smart, Safe Home can help you – callus at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at www.burnsandmcbride.com

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Filed under How Things Work, Uncategorized

Z-Wave Wireless Home Control Module Goes Incognito


To connect lamps and appliances to your Z-Wave network, you used to plug a module into your power receptacle and then plug your lamp/appliance into the module. Now, Z-Wave has an in-wall receptacle, making it unobtrusive.

z-wave receptacle

Wireless Control In-Wall Split Receptacle

The Evolve Wall Receptacle replaces standard wall receptacles. The receptacle contains one Z-Wave AC outlet and one standard AC outlet. An LED shows feedback that the controlled device is working.

The duplex receptacle enables wireless control of on/off functions for standard incandescent table and floor lamps, fluorescent table and floor lamps, and small appliances. It replaces your current electrical outlet, uses your existing wiring, and provides a Z-Wave enabled outlet for the lamp/appliance that you would like to control and a regular pass-through AC outlet for other electrical devices.

The receptacle requires in-wall installation with hard-wired connections.

Any device displaying the Z-Wave logo can be incorporated in your Z-Wave network. Since Z-Wave operates on RF frequencies and every device is a repeater, the more devices you use, the better your network functions.

About Burns & McBride

The Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system uses Z-wave technology to tie things like locks, thermostats and lights together so that you can control them whether you are home or away. Burns & McBride has been providing essential home services since 1949. To learn more about Burns & McBride’s Smart, Safe Home can help you – callus at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at www.burnsandmcbride.com

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Filed under Energy Management, How Things Work, Installing and Mainaining, Uncategorized

What the Heck is “Z-Wave”?


Z-Wave lets you build your home control system as your needs grow.

Z-Wave Video

Start with one module

As just one example, let’s say you started by adding Z-Wave remote control to your home lights. You can easily program them to shut off when you’re at work, and turn back on to welcome you when you return home, saving energy and money.

Add more modules as needed

You could then introduce more functions to this basic setup. Just add Z-Wave to your garage door, your home entry, and your home security system. When you arrive from work, push a button and all your Z-Wave devices will work in concert — the garage door will open, your entryways will light up, your security system will recognize you, and your front door will unlock. How’s that for remote control?

Easily build to a complete home control system

Once you’re inside, your home can welcome you with just the mood you want. Z-Wave can have your favorite music playing for you on arrival, and the thermostat set to your preferred temperature. While you were away, Z-Wave made sure the lawn sprinkler watered your lawn on schedule. If it had rained, you could have bypassed the sprinkler from work, from a PC or even a cell phone. When you’re ready to call it a night, a single button could turn off your house lights, activate your security system, turn down the thermostat, lock the doors, turn on the bedroom humidifier, and set up the coffee pot to greet you with a fresh cup when you awake.

All with one button. All added easily and inexpensively to your home. All with no new wiring. And all according to your budget and timetables, to meet your needs and your lifestyle. Z-Wave gives you simple, affordable, personalized control solutions.

About Burns & McBride

The Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system uses Z-wave technology to tie things like locks, thermostats and lights together so that you can control them whether you are home or away. Burns & McBride has been providing essential home services since 1949. To learn more about Burns & McBride’s Smart, Safe Home can help you – callus at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at www.burnsandmcbride.com

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Filed under Energy Management, How Things Work, Uncategorized

2GIG Appears on Designing Spaces


As you know from this blog, we at Burns & McBride use 2GIG equipment to provide you state of the art, affordable home automation.

Obviously we aren’t the only company in the country using 2GIG.  One of our associates in the industry is Vivint from Utah. Recently there was a story on an episode of Designing Spaces where they explained the benefits of home automation and of 2GIG equipment

We liked it so much, that we thought we should share it with you since it does a great job of showing you how 2GIG can help you. Click on the logo to see the video.

Designing Spaces

As you can imagine, 2GG, like all manufacturers, is happy to put the name of different contractors on their equipment. 2GIG makes the equipment which is featured in this story.

We realize that its a little unusual to point you to an article featuring a competitor. This story does a good job of explaining just what the 2GIG system can do for you. At the end of the day, we want you to compare us with Vivint and with other contractors. We think the Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system offers some unique benefits from all other competitors, including Vivint. We’ll be happy to show them to you. At the end of the day – y0u’ll be the judge.

 

About Burns & McBride

Burns & McBride Home Comfort was founded in 1949 and is committed to providing dependable home comfort and safety services to homeowners throughout the Delaware alley. In addition to home security sales through its unique Smart, Safe Home system, it also provides homeowners with HVAC services, heating oil delivery and waste and recycling services. For more information on Burns & McBride please call us at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at www.burnsandmcbride.com

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Filed under Energy Management, Home Safety, Home Security, Home Security 101, How Things Work, Uncategorized