Smart Home Installation in New Orleans

Smart Home Installation in New Orleans, Checked Before It Goes on the Wall

A smart thermostat that needs a C-wire, a video doorbell that needs more power than the old chime circuit gives, a camera aimed at the garage floor: plenty of homes in Metairie or Mid-City have a drawer of these. A lot of install trouble starts with skipping that check, so that is where we begin. We look at the wiring that is already there, compare it with what the device needs, and tell you before anything comes off the wall.

When you move, we take the devices down at the old place and set them up again at the new one, so on the first night the doorbell rings, the camera covers the driveway and the thermostat holds the temperature.

Devices We Install and Set Up

• Video doorbells, wired or battery, with the indoor chime working; if the existing doorbell power is too weak, we tell you so an electrician can upgrade it
• Security cameras, placed where they cover doors and driveways instead of the neighbor’s cat
• Smart thermostats, after checking for the C-wire many need for constant power; if there isn’t one, adding it is a job for an HVAC tech or electrician
• Smart locks and keypads, lined up so the bolt throws without catching, which matters on old doors that have shifted over the years
• TV mounting: studs or the right anchor for plaster or brick, the TV level, cables tidied; a new outlet behind the TV is electrician work
• Smart bulbs and plugs, connected to your app and named so “living room lamp” means the living room lamp
• Speakers and hubs for Alexa or Google, with routines for lights, locks and the thermostat

Old New Orleans Houses, New Devices

A lot of this city’s housing is far older than the gadgets going on it. Plaster-and-lath walls in Uptown need the right anchors, not just screws. Brick around a front door takes masonry bits and sleeves. Older switch boxes often lack the neutral wire smart switches expect, which is one reason in-wall switches go to an electrician. An old doorbell transformer may not power a modern video doorbell.

None of that is a reason to skip the upgrade; it just has to be known up front. Our installer checks each spot before drilling, so the device ends up working and staying on the wall.

Moving? Take Your Smart Home With You

Moves are when smart setups fall apart: cameras left behind, doorbells pulled off with paint attached, a thermostat left for the buyers by accident. Check your sale contract first, since some devices are expected to stay with the house. Then book the take-down with your move. We remove each device carefully, label the parts and mounts, and reinstall them at the new house.

Because the same company is doing the move, the devices travel in a marked box with the hardware, not loose in a kitchen carton, and we set them up in the new house once the crew has unloaded.

▶ Watch our crew

See an AD Movers crew in action

Smart Home Install Questions

Do I need to buy the devices first?

Yes. You choose the brand and buy the devices; we install and set them up. If you are not sure a doorbell or thermostat will work with your house, send photos of the existing one and its wiring before you buy, and we tell you what to look for.

What does it cost?

It is billed hourly and quoted before the visit. The time depends on how many devices, whether they are wired or battery, the wall material and how far your Wi-Fi reaches. Send the list and photos and we give you the price up front; nothing is added without your OK.

Do you handle electrical wiring?

Only low-voltage connections that are already in place, like an existing doorbell or thermostat wire. New outlets, new circuits, in-wall smart switches, dimmers and transformer replacements are electrical work, and that goes to a licensed electrician. We tell you before the visit if part of your list needs one.

Can you mount a TV on a plaster or brick wall?

Usually, yes. Plaster-and-lath and brick each need their own anchors and drill bits, and we check the wall and the mount’s weight rating before drilling. If a spot won’t hold the TV safely, we tell you and suggest another wall or a stand. You can price a TV install, including hidden wires, an outlet behind the screen and a soundbar, on our TV mounting page.

Will you set up the apps on my phone?

Yes. We connect each device to your Wi-Fi and your account, set alerts, motion zones and schedules, and add the other people in the house if you want. Before we leave, we walk you through it on your own phone.