Since I started getting into smart home tech, I’ve noticed a lot of people have cameras inside their homes. I’m curious about the reasons behind this. I get the point of having cameras outside for security, but what about inside? I can understand using them to keep an eye on an elderly family member, but what other reasons do people have?
I have two main reasons. My homeowner’s association is tough to deal with, so I have cameras around every entry to my home. Plus, if someone breaks in, I’ll know exactly what they did inside. The golden rule with indoor cameras is to never put them in private spaces like bedrooms or bathrooms. Another bonus I didn’t expect is checking on the cats when we’re away for a longer time.
@PeeEye
Seems like pet monitoring is a major reason people use indoor cameras.
Mainly for my dogs and cats.
ace said:
Mainly for my dogs and cats.
Partly to check on my dog when I’m not home. I’m still on the fence about having cameras inside, though. Other methods to detect presence in rooms don’t always work well because they either react too much to pets or not enough when I’m just sitting. My solution so far is using a system called Frigate with person detection, but you can’t place cameras in private areas, which is a big drawback.
A friend of mine used one because her elderly mother was noticing things moving around the house. It turned out someone was actually coming through a window and stealing items. Many people use them to keep an eye on elderly family members or to check the house if an alarm goes off. Outdoor cameras don’t help much in these cases, and indoor ones can be hidden and have their own storage for backup.
@Clayton
My dad has dementia. I have cameras set up around my parents’ house and on the street so we can see which direction he went if he wanders off without his phone or tracker.
I have one in the basement by the sump pump to monitor for flooding, and another in the living area where my kids play. It’s useful for safety reasons in case someone gets hurt and also to see when my daughters get home from school.
@Samantha
Have you considered leak sensors for the basement?
Benjamin said:
@Samantha
Have you considered leak sensors for the basement?
I have a leak sensor too. The camera lets me see exactly what’s happening when the sensor alerts.
Benjamin said:
@Samantha
Have you considered leak sensors for the basement?
I have a leak sensor too. The camera lets me see exactly what’s happening when the sensor alerts.
Smart move. I use sensors on my gates too, with a camera pointed at them.
@Samantha
Agree about the basement or places where kids play. It often helps settle disputes about who did what. Plus, I use it to control the lights and other devices automatically based on whether anyone is there.
We first got our cameras because family had keys to our house and we weren’t allowed to change the locks. We aimed them at the main doors to see if anyone came in and what they did. Then I added one in the garage because our garage door indicator wasn’t reliable. Now we have a few more around the house, none in private areas. We let everyone know they’re being recorded to avoid any family drama. Plus, it’s fun to talk to friends house-sitting for us from our vacation spot!
@Delilah
I only have a garage door camera for similar reasons. It’s more accurate than the smart garage door indicator.
I use cameras to find misplaced items like keys or toys, especially with five boys at home. They also help figure out who started a fight. For privacy, I make sure these cameras can’t connect to the internet. I use them with person detection technology for better automation, like keeping lights on when everyone’s sitting still at dinner.
I use one to monitor my main door from inside, in addition to my external cameras.
I use them for security, as a baby monitor, and to look out of windows. I avoid placing cameras in private areas like bathrooms or bedrooms.
SecuritySam said:
I use them for security, as a baby monitor, and to look out of windows. I avoid placing cameras in private areas like bathrooms or bedrooms.
Is there any advantage to using cameras inside facing out, compared to having them outside?
@Lena
I also have outdoor cameras, but the indoor ones facing the street through a window work well too.
I have cameras set up inside pointing outside in places hard to fit an outside camera. I also have cameras in the garage linked to a garage door sensor, in the kitchen to watch the stovetop, and in the basement for cleaning or repairs when I can’t see the area directly.