Owning an Amazon Echo has so many benefits whether you're in or out of the house. But in case you need to leave home for a while, it's always reassuring to know that your house is as protected as you want it to be. Here's how Alexa can help.
Alexa Guard
Amazon Echo has this amazing feature called Alexa Guard, which is conveniently built-in and available for free. This feature makes use of the Echo's microphone to detect signs of burglary, like a window breaking, every time you're out.
Activate Alexa Guard by opening the Alexa app menu and then Settings. Scroll down and choose Guard then Set Up Guard. Tap Add to receive notifications, whether it's an alert for breaking glass, presence of carbon monoxide, or the sound of smoke alarms.
Before leaving your house, simply say, "Alexa, I'm leaving," and Alexa Guard will be enabled.
Alexa Drop-in
This feature is a tremendously useful addition to Alexa Guard because it allows you to listen in on an Echo device in the event you receive a notification from a glass breaking or an alarm going off.
Simply open the Alexa app on your phone and tap Communicate. Choose Drop In and from there, you will be given the option to choose the Echo device you want to listen in on.
An Amazon Echo Show will make this feature even better since it allows you to see what's happening inside your home via a live feed.
Away Lighting
Away Lighting is perfect for those who have to leave home for an extended period of time. It effectively mimics your lighting patterns as if someone is inside the house. Simply allow Alexa to have control over your lights so it can turn them on and off. Obviously, you need to get yourself some smart lights for this feature to work.
You can find Away Lighting in the Guard settings. From there, tap the gear icon then choose Lights. The next screen should have the confirmation that your smart accessory is set to "light." Tap the device settings link so you can choose the smart accessories that work with the feature. Everything that you select will work when you activate Away Lighting when leaving your house.
You can also find an option that will allow you to purchase smart lights in case you don't have them yet. You will be directed to an Amazon page conveniently on a page where all the compatible accessories can be found.
