Comcast Pushes Xfinity Home Security Services for Home Protection During Holidays

Comcast urged customers to use home automation features to protect their homes this holiday season. In a blog post, Comcast said more than 70 percent of Americans plan to travel this holiday season. To keep the home secure, it suggested turning lights on and off remotely or to set a lighting schedule using smart home devices. Comcast cited Lutron products that can also manage window shades controllable from an app. “This way, the house looks occupied when you’re away, and you don’t have to worry about remembering to switch off the holiday lights, which can save money on electricity bills,” it said. Surveillance cameras monitor a home inside and out, which can be useful for watching for package deliveries or to see if a puppy is drinking tree water, it said. Homeowners can watch security video from a laptop, tablet or smartphone, it said. Comcast suggested 24/7 professional monitoring on a secure network with cellular and battery backup. It also encouraged smart home customers to set rules via “if this, then that” actions so appliances, electronics and other devices work in harmony. An option with Xfinity Home customers: Get a text if the front door doesn’t open between certain hours when the dog walker is supposed to visit or get a text when a package is delivered to alert a neighbor for pickup.