You’re sitting on the couch and suddenly wonder: Did I lock the front door? Is the garage door closed? Did I leave the lights on upstairs? 

With smart home technology, you may be able to check all of that from your phone without getting up.

Smart home technology has definitely come a long way from simply asking a voice assistant to play music or turning a light on from across the room. Today, homeowners can connect everything from thermostats and doorbells to security systems and even lawn irrigation. 

What once seemed like something reserved for high-tech homes is now becoming increasingly common. And while the convenience can be hard to resist, fully connecting your home also comes with some potential risks.

So, what exactly makes a home “smart,” and what should homeowners know before “plugging in”? Let’s take a closer look at how it all works, the benefits it can offer, and a few drawbacks to keep in mind. 

As PC Mag explains, a “smart home” is a dwelling “networked not only for computers and entertainment but also for security, heating, cooling, lighting, as well as control of appliances, including robotic vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers.” The tech magazine adds that “smart homes might rely partially or entirely on Wi-Fi and other wireless communications such as Bluetooth, ZigBee and Z-Wave.”  

Simply put, it’s a home equipped with internet-connected devices that allow homeowners to monitor, control, or automate different aspects of their property.

The technology can be as simple or as elaborate as a homeowner wants. A single smart thermostat technically qualifies as smart home technology, while a “fully connected home” might have dozens of devices working together.

While there are many potential benefits, the biggest appeal of smart home technology is probably convenience. Being able to turn off the lights, adjust the thermostat, or check that the back door is locked—all from wherever you are at the time—is pretty hard to beat.

But smart home technology can also provide some real, measurable advantages, particularly when it comes to energy use.

For example, a smart thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature when you’re away, while smart lights can be scheduled to turn off when they aren’t needed. Smart plugs can also help homeowners monitor and control electricity use, including electronics that continue drawing small amounts of power while in standby mode.

There are even whole-home energy monitoring devices that can track energy use and identify patterns, making it easier to spot appliances or systems that may be using more energy than expected.

Beyond energy savings, homeowners are also incorporating new technology to make their homes more secure. Smart cameras, doorbells, locks, and other devices can give homeowners a better idea of what’s happening around their property, even when they aren’t home. For example, you might be at work when you get an alert that someone is at your front door. With a quick look at your doorbell camera, you can see who’s there without having to wonder.

Of course, the same connectivity that makes smart home technology so useful can also create some concerns, and privacy is one of the biggest. 

Many smart devices collect information about how a home is used. Depending on the device, that could include information about when people are home or away, activity captured by security cameras, and more. So, before purchasing a smart device, homeowners should take a few minutes to understand what information it collects, how that information is used, and who may have access to it.

But privacy isn’t the only consideration. Like any other connected technology, smart home devices can potentially be targeted by hackers if they aren’t properly secured. To help protect themselves, homeowners should use unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication when it’s available, keep devices and apps updated, and make sure their home Wi-Fi network is secure.

Another drawback is the simple fact that smart home technology isn’t foolproof. An internet outage, power failure, software issue, or dead battery can make a connected device temporarily unavailable. That’s particularly important to consider with devices such as smart locks and security systems.

Compatibility can be another potential headache. Homeowners may purchase products from different manufacturers only to discover that they don’t communicate with one another as expected. Technology also changes quickly, so a device that works with today’s smart home platform may not necessarily be supported indefinitely.

At the end of the day, smart home technology is really about finding what works for you. You might love the idea of controlling your entire house from your phone, or you might be perfectly happy with a smart thermostat and simple video doorbell. Either way, it’s worth understanding the benefits and potential risks before connecting more of your home.

Remember, the goal should be simple: use technology to make life easier, not give yourself something else to worry about or manage.