I’m curious and honestly a bit clueless about smart devices for the home. I’ve used the same regular appliances for 10+ years without any issues. So, I’m wondering, what’s the real benefit of switching to smart appliances?
I’ve also heard rumors about hackers using them for things like mining bitcoin, which sounds wild. Are these concerns valid, and are the extra features actually useful?
Depends a lot on which appliance it is and your lifestyle.
What do you consider a smart appliance?
I only have smart sockets to monitor power use. They notify me when the washing machine or dishwasher finishes.
Are you talking about something like that or more like a fridge with a screen and cameras inside?
@Walter
Same here, and that’s all the smart features I really need. I’ll consider upgrading when they can move the laundry from the washer to the dryer on their own.
Russell said:
@Walter
Same here, and that’s all the smart features I really need. I’ll consider upgrading when they can move the laundry from the washer to the dryer on their own.
Technically, there are washer/dryer combos, but they have some downsides too.
@Walter
I’m thinking of any appliance that connects to the internet or to your phone.
Braint said:
@Walter
I’m thinking of any appliance that connects to the internet or to your phone.
If you don’t need it, I’d say don’t buy it. Also, hackers mining bitcoin with your fridge? That sounds unlikely—where’d you hear that?
Braint said:
@Walter
I’m thinking of any appliance that connects to the internet or to your phone.
With that kind of answer, the short response is… yes. I think we’re done here.
My washer/dryer sends me a text when it’s done and even reminds me if I leave wet clothes sitting. That’s about the only useful feature.
I’m no security expert, but I doubt it has enough computing power to mine anything.
@Frederick
Mine just dings when it’s done, and that seems to work fine. Does it do more than just send you a message?
Braint said:
@Frederick
Mine just dings when it’s done, and that seems to work fine. Does it do more than just send you a message?
Mine lets me set a delay on the machine or through the app so I can time it to finish as I get home. It also monitors detergent levels.
@Mia
Interesting. Can it actually dose the detergent for each load? That sounds handy!
Frederick said:
@Mia
Interesting. Can it actually dose the detergent for each load? That sounds handy!
Yeah, some models do that automatically. It’s called ezDispense for LG, for example.
@Maurice
I’ll check if mine does that—sounds useful!
Frederick said:
@Maurice
I’ll check if mine does that—sounds useful!
Glad to help! That’s the one feature I wish my model had.
Frederick said:
@Mia
Interesting. Can it actually dose the detergent for each load? That sounds handy!
Same here, mine doses automatically by weight of the load, which is pretty neat.
Braint said:
@Frederick
Mine just dings when it’s done, and that seems to work fine. Does it do more than just send you a message?
It also lets you know the approximate time left on a load. It’s not life-changing but can be handy.
Braint said:
@Frederick
Mine just dings when it’s done, and that seems to work fine. Does it do more than just send you a message?
Sometimes I can’t hear the machine’s signal from another room, so getting a message on my phone is nice.
Braint said:
@Frederick
Mine just dings when it’s done, and that seems to work fine. Does it do more than just send you a message?
My LG sends reminders for maintenance like tub cleaning and cycle completion notifications. It’s handy if the TV is on and I can’t hear the alert.
Braint said:
@Frederick
Mine just dings when it’s done, and that seems to work fine. Does it do more than just send you a message?
My dryer tries to ‘guess’ the time left, but it’s inaccurate. I set up an external smart plug to monitor the power draw and send me a heads-up when it’s nearly done. I also use a smart button to activate notifications when I want them.