The team at Launch Systems is keeping an eye on all the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and around the world, and we are taking all necessary precautions to keep our employees, clients and community safe during this time. Health precautions and protocols in line with WHO and CDC directives are taking place throughout our organization to reduce the spread of disease. Every day our team reviews up-to-date recommendations to ensure we’re doing everything to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Though these may change over time, here are the current steps we are taking to reduce the risks associated with this novel coronavirus:

● Every technician is equipped with hand-sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean their hands. It is also readily available at our showrooms, offices and work sites to be used by all of our employees. In addition, all employees must wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

● Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees are instructed to notify their supervisor and their healthcare provider immediately upon experiencing any symptoms.

Learn How to Deter Burglary and Theft on Your California Property

Since the original burglar alarm was manufactured in the mid-1850s, home security has evolved leaps and bounds. Not only are there burglar alarms that make a siren sound upon unwanted entry, but systems now include motion detection, surveillance cameras, tracking devices and more to protect the modern American home. There are a few security measures you can take in order to keep your California property safer to deter burglary and theft. In this blog, we’ll cover a few of the ways you can use a smart home security system to protect your Newport Beach, CA home. Read on to learn more!

SEE ALSO: The Top 2 Home Security Camera Installation Locations

Video Doorbells & Smart Locks

Online ordering and direct to consumer shipping have blown up seemingly overnight! This influx in package deliveries has resulted in an increase in porch pirates – the ne’er-do-wells who take advantage of your unattended packages on your porch. To avoid dealing with package thievery, invest in a video doorbell and smart locks. This combination of devices serves as an integral piece to your smart home security system. A video doorbell allows you to see and communicate with people that not only ring your doorbell but even those that trigger motion on your front porch. By adding smart locks, not only can you can view and speak with the delivery person that rings your doorbell,  you can also unlock your front door to allow them to place the package inside your doorway. Once the delivery person has completed this task, lock the smart lock remotely from your smart device. No more unattended packages left to entice thieves!

Cellular Backup

Many traditional security systems communicate with an alarm company via a conventional landline. While this works well in most instances, burglars have been known to cut the phone line to prevent the alarm signal from going through to the company. Other issues like bad weather or fire could also cause the landline to become damaged or otherwise unable to communicate. Thankfully, many smart security systems provide additional backup protection for this issue. A cellular backup assists you in receiving 24/7 continuous monitoring with no phone or internet connection. It operates wirelessly on a dedicated cellular network. Your smart home security system is left communicating with your monitoring system without a hitch.

Motion Detection

While surveillance cameras can be placed throughout your property to help you keep an eye out and deter potential thieves, you can also use them in conjunction with motion sensors. Motion sensors can trigger surveillance cameras to begin recording and send you a mobile alert of the action. From your smart device, you can view live footage of the incident and determine if further action should be taken – perhaps call the authorities – or if there’s no cause for alarm.   Launch Systems can design a smart home security system that’s perfect and unique to your family’s individual security needs. Call us today at (949) 515-7030, chat with us below, or fill out our online form to get started on your free personalized consultation. We can’t wait to help you make your California home safer.

Watch These Tutorial Videos to Get the Most Out of Your System

Our favorite home automation company, Control4, introduced the latest upgrade to its operating system last year: OS 3. Control4 OS 3 introduced a wealth of new features previously unavailable in the first two iterations of the operating system, with a new focus placed on user personalization.   Personalization has become an essential desire of homeowners with automation in their homes, so features like active media bars, a Favorites option, and broad support of third-party devices was imperative in the new operating system.   In this blog, we’ll cover three ways you can manage the Control4 OS 3 system in your Laguna Beach, CA home, plus include helpful videos to help you navigate the process.

SEE ALSO: Expand Your Home Network to Improve Your Outdoor Areas

Control4 Security

You can enjoy improved peace of mind with security alarms, smart locks and surveillance cameras. Imagine managing and arming every component of your system remotely with your smartphone or tablet, or while you’re at home from an in-wall touch panel. Take a look at this video to learn how to do that, plus, how to monitor the different security zones of your home individually:  
 

Media Sessions

You can control every music zone of your Laguna Beach home with a few simple taps. After you’ve selected what tunes to stream on Spotify while you prepare dinner in the kitchen, expand the listening landscape by taking the music to the dining room as well. Once dinner is ready, move the music to the outdoor entertainment area to eat outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. You can also manage what’s playing in your home theater with ease. Click play to learn more:  
 

Customizing Pages

For each room of your home, you can customize your screen to show your favorite smart technologies. Simply tap and rearrange each technology feature you’d like to operate, then manage your Control4 system as you need. If you often dim the lighting, open and close the motorized shades, watch your TV, and listen to surround sound, then you can select those functions to show on your Favorites screen for your media room. Check out the following video to learn just how simple it will be to customize the interface of your Control4 OS 3 screen:
 
Now that you’ve gotten a sneak peek at how simple Control4 OS 3 can be, let us show you a system in action. Call us today at (949) 515-7030, chat with us below, or fill out our contact form to get started. We can’t wait to help you bring comfort and convenience to your California home with Control4.

3 Ways Lutron Offers More than Smart Light Bulbs

When you hear the term smart lighting, what comes to mind? Many homeowners think it means incorporating energy-efficient, smart light bulbs that don’t need to be controlled manually with a traditional light switch. Lutron lighting systems are so much more than that! Imagine walking into your Huntington Beach, CA home and the lights working in sync with your motorized shades to control the amount of light within your home. Plus, you can update your old-fashioned light switch plates to match your décor, all while you bring improved comfort and convenience to your home. Read on to learn three ways Lutron offers more than smart light bulbs.

SEE ALSO: Motorized Window Treatments Bring Style & Convenience

Elegance & Ambiance

Lutron lighting systems control light beautifully in your California home. Light dimming technology helps you transform the mood of any room, ensuring your romantic dinner for two is just that – romantically lit without harsh lighting. Your outdoor entertainment spaces can transform into relaxing areas with dimmed or colorful lighting, too, with only a tap of a button on a wall keypad or smart device app. You can even bring elegance to your lighting controls, opting for stylish style, color and finish options that complement your interior décor. Options include the Palladiom line for an architectural aesthetic and minimalistic design that’s customizable and backlit to the GRAFIK T slider with intuitive sliding touch control that adds style to your space. Finishes range from bright chrome to antique brass to ivory to aluminum – you’re sure to find something perfect for your home.

Programmed Scenes

You can program you Lutron lighting to astronomical clocks, so outdoor lighting can turn on automatically on at dusk or off at sunrise, ensuring no wasting energy costs. With the tap of a finger on a remote or wall keypad, you can set an Away scene that turns some lights on or off and lowers shades for improved security while you’re gone from your Huntington Beach-area home.

Occupancy Sensors

Maestro sensors can determine occupancy or vacancy in any room location once installed. Rooms that are notorious for lights being left on, such as the laundry room or garage, will turn on automatically when you enter a space and turn off after a designated amount of time. Major, minor, and fine motion can be detected, depending on your preferred settings. This is also valuable for indoor security, with any motion detected triggering indoor lights to turn on and startle burglars. If you’re ready to make your California home more elegant, convenient, and safe, call Launch Systems today at (949) 515-7030 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to working with you!