Smart technology can bring a vintage home up to modern standards without stripping away the character that drew you in. A smart thermostat can cut heating bills in drafty rooms, connected lighting can work with existing fixtures, and leak and air sensors can help monitor aging pipes and ducts. Most of these devices are simple enough for a weekend DIY project, making them a popular first upgrade for a vintage property.

Govee Edison Bulbs, ST19(58), Smart Vintage Light Bulbs RGBWW with E26 Base | RGB Color Changing and Tunable White, Compatible with Matter, Alexa & Google Assistant, LED Filament Bulb for Living Room

List Price: $69.99

Hazard Management in Older Homes

Hazard Management in Older Homes Photo by Roger Starnes Sr on Unsplash

Before you go any further with your DIY project, you need to understand that drilling holes in a vintage home can cause serious health problems. That’s especially true for properties built before 1980. The reason is that contractors used asbestos in those older homes, and it can be found:

• Around pipes
• In the compound that joins drywall sheets
• In textured ceilings
• In floor tiles
• Throughout the heating and cooling ducts

Over time, asbestos exposure can result in serious health issues like mesothelioma, which is a rare and aggressive cancer. Sealing off a work area can keep your family safe now, but it does nothing for anyone who was exposed beforehand. The problem is that mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years to show itself, so people being diagnosed today may have been exposed to it several decades ago.

Many of them seek mesothelioma legal help because the companies that made and sold the products knew the risks and warned no one. Lawyers who work in this area can piece together where and when the exposure happened, file suit, and submit claims.

Before installing thermostat wiring or mounting a hub, make sure your property has no hazardous materials. It’s also a good idea to ask professionals to have a closer look so you can handle your DIY projects with more confidence. Once you’ve ruled out any hazardous materials, you can proceed with installing devices such as:

• Smart air quality monitors: These devices can monitor fine dust particles and send data to your phone. When you notice the count rising, you can open a window or take other precautions to protect you and your kids.
• Smart leak sensors: Old pipes are brittle and may leak if you try to open a wall near them. A hairline leak behind the drywall can go unnoticed for weeks, and by then, mold is growing in the cavity, bringing a whole new air problem into a house you just cleaned up. A few smart leak sensors cover that risk for an affordable price. Tuck one under each sink and another wherever pipes are exposed, and the second water touches one, your phone goes off.
• Smart lighting: Smart bulbs screw into existing sockets and connect to your phone or a voice assistant without any rewiring. If you prefer to control a whole room from the wall, smart switches are the next step. Older switch boxes frequently lack the neutral wire that many smart switches require, so look for models labeled “no neutral needed” before you buy.

Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch (Smart Hub Required), No Neutral Required | For Caseta Systems, for Dimmable LED Lights, 150 Watt, Single-Pole/3-Way, PD-6WCL-WH, White

Endnote

Smart technology can make a vintage home more comfortable and efficient, but the safest projects start with knowing what is inside the walls. Test older materials before you cut, control dust as you work and use connected devices to monitor the air and the plumbing. With those steps in place, you can enjoy modern convenience without trading away your family’s health.