Smart home technology is supposed to make life easier. It adds convenience, saves time, and often offers peace of mind when you’re not home. But the Fourth of July isn’t just fireworks and cookouts. For many families, it’s one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer. That means an empty home, and that can mean risk. While smart technology can help secure your house while you’re away, it only works as well as it’s set up and maintained. If you’re heading out of town for the holiday, now’s the time to make sure your smart home is actually protecting you the way you think it is.
Start with your home network. If your smart cameras, locks, lights, and thermostats are connected to WiFi, that network becomes the backbone of your security system. Weak passwords or outdated routers put everything at risk. Make sure your router firmware is current and that your WiFi password is strong, long, and not something easily guessed. If you haven’t already done so, set up a separate guest network and keep your smart devices off your main network. This isolates them in case one gets compromised. You should also change the default login credentials on every smart device you own. Many of these devices ship with generic usernames and passwords. Leaving them in place is an open door to hackers.
Next, test your smart home devices. It’s not enough to assume everything’s working. Before leaving for the Fourth of July weekend, physically check your cameras to confirm they’re online and capturing footage. View them through the app, look at recent clips, and make sure you’re getting notifications as expected. Do the same for any motion sensors, smart doorbells, or door and window sensors. If you’ve set up smart lighting routines, review the schedule and make sure it mimics normal activity in the home. Lights turning on and off at realistic times can help deter break-ins. If your smart lights have vacation mode features that randomize patterns, activate that setting before you leave.
Smart locks are another important tool. Before you leave town, test all lock commands from your app. Make sure you can remotely lock and unlock doors without delays or errors. It’s also a good idea to disable any digital keys you’ve shared with service providers or temporary guests. If someone had access in the past and no longer needs it, revoke their permissions. If your system allows it, create a new PIN code just for your trip. That way, if a trusted friend or neighbor is checking on your home, you can monitor when that code’s used and delete it when you return.
Smart thermostats can save energy while you’re away, but poorly configured settings could tip someone off that the house is empty. Don’t shut the system off completely. Instead, set the temperature higher than usual but still within a normal range. For example, if you usually keep the house at 72 degrees, setting it to 78 or 80 will reduce usage without sending a clear signal that no one’s home. Some thermostats allow geofencing or travel mode features that adjust automatically when you’re away. Double-check those settings to make sure they’ll behave as expected during your trip.
Notifications are another key point. Most smart home apps can alert you to motion, camera activity, door access, and temperature changes. But if your app isn’t set to send push notifications or emails, you could miss something important. Check that your app permissions are active and that your phone’s allowed to receive alerts. You should also make sure your mobile device is backed up and up to date so you can stay connected without unexpected failures. If possible, assign a backup contact in the app who’ll also receive alerts while you’re gone. That’s helpful if your phone dies, is lost, or just misses a notification.
Backup power is worth thinking about too. Smart homes rely on electricity. If the power goes out, your WiFi and all your connected devices go offline. While most routers and modems shut down immediately, adding a small uninterruptible power supply can give you just enough time to get an alert or check your camera feed before it stops recording. Some battery-powered smart cameras can record locally and sync footage when the connection returns. These are good additions if your area gets summer storms or deals with power issues.
Internet outages can also knock out smart home functions. If your internet provider’s unreliable or your service is spotty, you might want to consider a cellular backup for your security system. Many modern systems support this as an optional add-on. It’s not necessary for everyone, but if you live in a rural area or rely heavily on cloud-based monitoring, it’s worth evaluating before you leave town.
App access and password management shouldn’t be overlooked either. If you can’t log in to your smart home apps while traveling, you’re flying blind. Make sure all apps are updated, that you know your login credentials, and that any two-factor authentication methods work with your current phone or email. You don’t want to discover you can’t access your camera feeds because a code’s being sent to a device that’s still back at home.
Before leaving, create a quick checklist. Run through each major system: cameras, locks, sensors, lights, thermostats, and WiFi. Confirm everything’s working as expected, that alerts are active, and that you know how to respond if something unusual happens. If you’re using cloud storage for your cameras, make sure your subscription’s current. You don’t want a service lapse right when you need to review footage.
If you’re not confident in your setup or haven’t tested your system recently, now’s the perfect time to schedule a support visit. At Lowcountry Network Consulting, we offer in-home and remote support for smart devices, networks, and security systems. We help clients configure, test, and secure their smart home tech before they travel so they can leave town with confidence. Smart technology is only smart when it works. Make sure yours is ready before you hit the road.
