When to use Smart Plugs or Smart Outlets

Smart Plugs or Smart Outlets allow you to control almost any appliance you plugin via your smartphone or a voice assistant. I love them as everyone in my household forgets to turn things off, and when we are pulling out of the driveway, we see lights still on. The days of having to go back inside and turn them off are gone.

They are no more complicated to use than a regular outlet but offer functionality to control the device. Smart plugs or outlets take you far beyond Simply switching appliances on and off. They give you more options on what that device should do and when. I have my kids nightlight on one and have it set to auto turn on and off at certain times.

Smart Plugs and outlets can monitor your electricity consumption and give you real-time reporting so you can see exactly which appliances are sucking that power up. My electric bill has been all over the place over the last year, and I used smart plugs and outlets to see why. I got a few and used the energy monitoring feature to see what my devices were doing and found out my garage freezer was using A LOT more power then it should, so I got rid of it. I'm happy to report my bill dropped around $55 a month by getting rid of my old freezer and even made money by having ComEd pick it up for me.

The only issue I have with Smart Plug is the design, and they stick out of the wall and can block the other outlet.  If you like clean and perfect looking walls, then get smart outlets.

 Smart Plugs

Pros

• If you move things around often and don’t want to put a lot of outlets in that won’t always get used
• If you rent or lease your home
• If you want to monitor energy usage for a long or short time
• If you're going to test the waters out first
• A cheaper option then outlets
• No electrician needed

Cons

• Ugly looking
• Blocks other outlets
• If you have kids, they can break the plug or keep unplugging it as it’s sticking out of the wall farther then a standard outlet.

Smart Outlets

Pros

• If you have Kids, Smart Outlets are the way to go.
• You want it to look like a standard outlet
• You move things around often
• If you want to monitor energy usage for a long time
• Clean looking
• Gives the home more value

Cons

• You might need an electrician
• Cost More
• If you are renting or leasing your home, they might not be a good idea

To some, this whole thing up, either one you pick, will make your home and life more manageable. From turning things on and off remotely or seeing what devices are costing you more money than they should.

For Smart Plugs I Recommend

1. Leviton- DW15P-1BW (No Power Monitor Built-In)
2. Kasa Smart (HS110) (With Power Monitor Built-In)
3. Wemo Insight Smart Plug (With Power Monitor Built-In)

For Smart Outlets I Recommend 

1. Kasa Smart (KP200) Outlet (No Power Monitor Built-In)