How smart plugs can make your life easier and safer

By Gary Elinoff, contributing writer

A smart plug is a two-ended device. One end plugs into an electrical outlet, and the other end is a receptacle into which you plug in an electrical appliance. The reason that it is “smart” is that it can be commanded to turn on and enable current to flow into your appliance, or it can be commanded to turn off and effectively shut your appliance down.

While a common, switchable power strip can accomplish this function, a smart plug can be controlled remotely from a smartphone app, allowing the control of household devices from anywhere in the world. Additionally, it can also form the basis of a home automation system.

The TP-Link smart plug. Image source: TP-Link.

The TP-Link smart plug, illustrated above, can be controlled by the Kasa app, which works on both the Android and iOS platforms. For more complete home automation, the app and smart plug can work with the Amazon Echo or the Google Assistant. In this manner, you can control your smart-plugged devices with only your voice.

Here are a few ways that you can use smart plugs to save money, improve safety, and to make your life easier:

Smart Plugs for Saving Money

Air conditioning when you need it

Plug your air conditioner into a smart plug. This allows you to turn it on from work late in the afternoon or only on the hot days that it’s necessary.

Control your space heaters

The convenience about space heaters is that they can warm up a room quickly. The inconvenient thing about them is that they gorge on electricity. So why heat an empty room in an empty house? Use a smartphone-controlled smart plug to power up your space heater just prior to your return.

Smart Plugs for Safety

Control your lighting

Nothing tips off a burglar to an unoccupied house as obviously as lights that are always on or always off. Mix it up with an app-controlled smart plug.

Eliminate fire hazards

If you find yourself constantly worrying about whether or not you turned off the electric iron or similar device, you don’t need to go to therapy! Just be sure that a smart plug controls the device in question. Then you can use the app to check its status at any time and put your mind to rest.

Smart Plugs to Make Life Easier

Control the coffeemaker

Why start the coffee when you wake up if it can be brewed and ready as soon as you open your eyes if your coffeemaker is powered by a smart plug?

Turn on your electric oven

Plug your electric oven into a smart plug. Fire it up on your way home, and that roast will be ready to eat when you arrive.

These, of course, are only a few examples, limited only by your personal needs and by your own imagination.