Keeping you and your family safe is always your number one priority, but keeping your home safe should be a big deal, too.
With schools now getting out for the summer, those fun filled weekend trips, and family vacations to the beach on the horizon; we want to take a moment to tell you some tips about how to protect your home from potential burglars while you are away.
School is out, BBQ get-togethers are planned, and flower beds are looking great. Now all there is to do is make sure your outdoor living space is ready for those warm summer days and nights with some tech savvy upgrades. Besides having some great tunes playing through your audio system, or having your own outdoor home theater, have you thought about your outdoor lighting display?
This upcoming Sunday, June 21st is Father's Day, and we all want to treat our dads to the best. So why not give him a little more than just a card and nice tie. Give him something that he will love and use daily!
Below are some of the best gadgets on the market:
Are you looking for a convenient solution for your home's lighting control needs? It is easier now than ever. As your needs change throughout the day, your lighting should adapt to fit the circumstances. A good lighting system provides energy management, architectural enhancement, safety/security, and the ability to "paint" with lighting.
The Curved Screen surrounds viewers with immersive visuals, drawing you into the action and offering a better sense of depth with greater contrast. It has an Auto depth enhancer & the PURCOLOR setting which expresses more detailed shades of color. Another feature is the UHD Up-Scaling that Up scales any lower resolution content closer to UHD picture quality. With several size options to choose from ranging 40-78”, It also allows for a greater viewing angle and better side viewing.
Speakers are actually relatively simple devices. You should understand at least the basics of how speakers work before incorporating them. Basically, you have an enclosure (typically a box) into which speaker drivers are attached. The drivers are the round elements that many people call the speakers (they’re not). Speaker drivers look like cones or horns (or even ribbons or domes), and in fact, the large surface area of the drivers is called the cone or diaphragm.These surfaces move back and forth to make the sound. If you have ever pulled the front screen off your speakers or have seen speakers without their front grille on, you’ve seen speaker drivers au naturelle.
Digital signage is an effective, user-friendly and proven means of delivering dynamic messages to the right targets at chosen locations. Bring life to your promotional displays with eye-catching and interactive displays. Ideal for hospitality, casinos, retail, transportation hubs, entertainment, and many other venues, users have the ability to manage their own digital signage network across any number of locations, resulting in more captivated and engaged customers.
We have always heard the saying, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” Well it is actually both, and since this past Saturday, June 21st was the day that Summer truly began- here at iSS we just want to take a moment to talk about some safety tips to beat the heat this year.
First safety tip is to think about you. Sometimes the best and simplest tip if it is too hot outside is to stay cool inside. Spending time in an air conditioned space for a couple of hours can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Just remember electric fans do not cool, they just blow hot air around. If you are going to be outside, remember to dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting, light-weight, light colored clothing can reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain body temperature.
Always wear sunscreen and try to protect your face and head by wearing a hat. Also, drink for the heat and not drink in the heat. I know the BBQ’s and pool parties are going on during this time of the year, but by drinking plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty can help your body retain some of your body fluids. By drinking in the heat, alcohol and caffeinated beverages can further dehydrate the body. Lastly, the best times for outdoor activities are during the early morning and late evening hours.
Second safety tip is to think about others. Of course this is a no-brainer, but please do not leave children in a closed vehicle even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach up to 190 degrees! When outdoors, protect children as much as possible from the sun. Their skin is more sensitive than ours. Also, protect your pets from the heat. It ‘feels’ as hot for them as it does for you. Be sure your animals have access to shade a few bowls of ice cold water.
Third safety tip is to think about your environment. Protecting windows by hanging shades, awnings, draperies, etc. that receives morning or afternoon sun can reduce heat entering the house by as much as 80%. Also try to keep lights off and the air conditioning to one cool temperature. This helps to not constantly turn the A/C unit up and down or completely off causing it to freeze up on you.
With so many different companies offering security systems, home automation, sound, lighting control, and custom home theaters...it can all be a little overwhelming when you begin your search for an installer.
You may have found someone to do the audio, but you still need someone to do security cameras. Or maybe you found a company that does media rooms, but you still need to get a fire protection system. You will probably feel like you are getting pulled in so many directions that you will want to abandon your projects altogether.
Fortunately, by selecting one company that is licensed and trained to do all of the above home upgrades, you will be saving yourself time, money, and lots of headaches for several reasons.
Time
In this day and age time really is a precious resource. When you choose one company that is experienced in all aspects of audio, sound, lighting, and security; then the help you need is only one call away. You also only have to worry about setting up one appointment.
When you hear 'home security' what comes to mind? Security systems designed just for the interior of a home? While a security system can do a lot to keep intruders out, the right outdoor lighting can do a lot to keep problems from arising in the first place.
Lighting is a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to protecting home and property. Burglars love the darkness and feed on creeping around in the shadows. A poorly lit home reads like an invitation for them to commit a robbery. There is no such thing as having too much lighting inside and outside your home.
Strategically placing outdoor lights can deter potential intruders. Criminals do not want to be identified which is why they target property that offers them the most protection from neighbors and passersby.
Here are 5 tips to consider when securing your exterior:
1. Install motion sensors
Surely your shades are getting a lot of use this summer. Shade control is a very necessary and very dull aspect of owning a home, or at least until now. Lutron's plethora of shade control options speak to everyone with their beautiful designs and smart operation. Not only will you be pleased with how they function, but you might even enjoy selecting the perfect pick for your home. Here's why:
Multiple Style Options
Choose from Venetian blinds, Roman shades, roller shades, drapery, vertical drapery, cellular, and skylight shades in a variety of colors, patterns, and materials.
Safety Features
Cord-free design provides a clean look that is safe for children.
Security and peace of mind are usually what tops the list for homeowners looking to invest in a home security system. Smart door locks are one of the most beneficial aspects of security and even home automation. With just one touch you can lock and unlock your doors from anywhere, have a ‘goodnight’ button, and let the right guests into your home at the right time.
Smart door locks provide you with convenience. They can help you make sure your doors are locked or unlocked with access from your phone or tablet. They can also help you go key-free. Compatible door locks include keypads or touch screens where you can enter your own unique access code. So no need to carry those keys or try to remember where you placed them, enter your code and welcome home! You could also set your lights to come on immediately when your door opens. Smart door locks can also help you lock your doors from the bed and sleep securely with a touch of one ‘Goodnight’ button.
Also, smart door locks can help you let the right people into your home. For example, you have some family coming from out of town; you can give them their own personal code that works when you are expecting them. You can even get a text alert when they arrive. Another instance is you may have someone coming to work on or clean your home, you could do the same thing and give them their own code and even set an allotted amount of time for their code to work. You don’t have to worry anymore if they try to come back at a later date and time to try to break into your home. Their code will not work.
Another great thing about smart door locks is you can keep tabs on who is coming and going in your home. You can view door lock history and look at each specific code. For example, if you have children, especially teenagers, you could get an alert to know when they come home from school or if they came home on time from curfew.
We can help you pick the best lock for your needs and can provide insight on additional features and benefits. You’ll love the safety, convenience and peace of mind a smart lock can deliver. Let us know how we can help you.
This upcoming Sunday, May 10th is Mother’s Day, and we all want to treat our mothers to the best. So why not give her a little more than just a card and beautiful flowers. Give her something that she will cherish and use daily!
Below are some of the best gadgets on the market:
1. The Perfect Bake
We all can agree that we love our mother’s cooking, but what if we can get her something that will help her in the kitchen? Well if she is a baking enthusiast, The Perfect Bake system is a great addition to creating her favorite recipes and more!
2. Click and Grow
iSS seeks excellent candidates interested in becoming part of our growing team. We are currently looking for installation technicians.
Are you a creative and organized professional looking to join a great team? Do you know the ins and outs of security, CCTV, home theater, and home automation? If so, then we want you.
We are eager to hire individuals who are both quick and proficient workers. Strong work ethic is imperative, so you have to love what you do. This is a full-time position.
We prefer you to email resumes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., but you can also fax them to 865.690.8007.
If you are interested in a career as an installer, please submit your resume. We'd love to talk to you.
We are proud to announce that we are now a dealer for VisionArt Galleries! You may be asking yourself, what is VisionArt? Well we can tell you that…
VisionArt Galleries provides a solution that helps conceal a flat screen television. Their products are custom made and manufactured by expert craftsmen in the USA. VisionArt offers a wide range of styles and price levels, allowing customers to customize and build their very own television concealment system.
At iSS we take it a step further by providing exceptional insight on how and what will look best in your home. We help you from beginning to end, making sure everything looks and works exactly the way you want it. Check out the video below on our most recent install of a VisionArt concealment system.
If you have been thinking about wanting to display something more than the TV, call us at 865-690-0154. We would be happy to help offer you better life solutions.
This past Monday, February 2 was Groundhog Day. Our furry little friend saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter for us. Now as we all know living in East Tennessee our weather changes almost every minute. Sunshine to snow/rain and back to sunshine; East Tennesee weather can be very unpredictable. Well at iSS we thought we would take a moment to gather some great tips to get us all through these last six weeks of Winter. Our first tip(s) to get us through are some that we have discussed before, but are great reminders to any homeowner.
With tempatures changing, you never know when we could get a record low. It is as important as ever to prevent your home from frozen pipes. When water freezes in pipes, it expands causing the pipe to burst. Then you have a major situation on your hands as the water thaws and flows freely into your home. So we have come up with 5 quick tips to help prevent frozen pipes.
Check back in for the next tips that will get us through these last weeks of Winter!
The restaurant business can be very competitive and challenging. Not only are restaurants relying on their good food or happy hour specials, but they rely heavily on a great atmosphere for their guests as well as maintaining a sufficient staff.
As a restaurant owner, you want to wow your guests by having the most up-to-date T.V.’s and audio systems along with nice ambient lighting. Just imagine creating a fantastic atmosphere with one button. You could “Open” the restaurant by having this one button turn on all the T.V.’s to the selected channels you want, the temperature control would adjust for guests arriving, and the lighting and shades could adjust to the time of day you are opening up.
You could easily open your restaurant by one button and yet control everything on one simple and easy to use interface. This interface will help you manage your restaurant and be a little less stressful in those rush hour times. You can even be energy-saving mindful by having your restaurant automated.
What can easily be opened can also be easily “Closed”. As an owner, you can close the restaurant down by one button as well. Powering off all video, audio, and lights can be a breeze for you or your employees allowing them to focus more on the cleanliness and organization of the establishment.
Also as a restaurant owner, guests are always number one, but secondly you want your staff enjoying themselves and being satisfactory in their positon as well. Technology and automation can help them run their shift more smoothly. Not only just pressing one button to open or close, but quite a few restaurants are now incorporating touch pads for automating the floor plans and server’s shifts for guest sitting.
Last month we talked about Commercial Automation and how it can help enhance the atmosphere and organization of any restaurant or sports bar. Well this month we would like to touch on Commercial Security and how it can help improve the security of ANY business establishment.
The basics of commercial security should first and foremost be an adequate alarm system. As a business owner we are here to fit your needs. You could have the simplest security system with just a few alarms and motion detectors or the most enhanced system with cameras and a key code entry system. Whatever you need, we are here to provide you with security and peace of mind for your business.
For example, we suggest that the best security system for any commercial property would be a sufficient alarm system along with key codes for employees and visitors. You could manage employee and visitor access of the establishment; such as where only management should have access. Also, with cameras in and around the business, you can remotely log into the video feeds from anywhere on your smart phone or tablet to check on the property.
Lastly, exterior lighting is another step in providing security to any business property. For instance, exterior lighting goes a long way to provide security for your business, but also the safety of you and your employees. By using motion sensors and light timers, they can offer more visibility in multiple directions and stop a potential burglar when lights suddenly flip on if they are snooping around. Also, a great tip is to put lights and sensors out of reach so that they will not be tampered with by a potential burglar or even an animal.
We always suggest what fits your needs, but more importantly we provide you with better life solutions. Let us know if we can help you in providing security to your business establishment, we are just a call away.
At iSS, we provide an extensive amount of services to homeowners. From security to automation and everything in between, those services can also be provided to any business owner and their establishment. As a business owner, one of the most important things should be the security of your property, and most importantly yourself and your employees.
The basics of commercial security should first and foremost be an adequate alarm system. For example, we suggest that the best security system for any commercial property would be a sufficient alarm system with alarms, motion sensors, and security cameras. With cameras in and around the establishment, as a business owner, you can remotely log into the video feeds from anywhere on your smart phone or tablet to check on the property.
Furthermore, a business establishment should have key codes/cards for employees and visitors, this way you could manage employee and visitor access. Such as where only management should have access to certain areas, or to check on who came in and out on a specific day.
Lastly, exterior lighting is another step in providing security to any business property. For instance, exterior lighting goes a long way to provide security for your business, but also the safety of you and your employees. By using motion sensors and light timers, they can offer more visibility in multiple directions and stop a potential burglar when lights suddenly flip on if they are snooping around.
If you are business owner, and feel that your business is not adequately equipped with the best security system, give us a call and we would be happy to help. Also, be looking for our blog next week about some of the other commercial services we provide!
In last week’s blog we talked about how commercial security could give a business owner peace of mind knowing their property and employees are safe and secure. This week we want to discuss how some automation can help with the daily office tasks in a business.
Commercial automation for a business can be a simple or complex system; it all depends on the business owner and what they want. For example, as a business owner, you could disarm your security system, unlock the door, and turn on the lights all by one touch of a button on your smartphone. Furthermore, you could even adjust the HVAC unit to the optimal temperature while you are in or out of the office. Not only can automation can help a business owner manage their office remotely from any smartphone or iPad, it can also help manage energy efficiency of the office, too.
For instance, shade and lighting control can tie into your automation system very easily, and help with energy savings. If you have an office with many floor to ceiling windows, shade control can help maintain the heat/cooling of the office without constantly turning the HVAC unit temperature up or down. Also, lighting control motion sensors can help with energy savings as well, but lighting control can go beyond just turning on or off a light.
While still being energy saving conscious, lighting control can help create ‘scenes’ for certain areas of your business office. For example, you showcase your company’s work on the wall; why not create an illuminating scene for when guests and potential clients come in. Make your work noticeable and eye catching.
Also, many office waiting areas are either too dim or too bright, creating a dungeon like area or a stark clean hospital welcome. Well, if you have a waiting area; why not create an inviting and warm welcoming scene with lighting control!
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