Honestly, sometimes I think these “smart” gadgets are made for new builds, not houses with 1920s quirks.
Couldn’t agree more. My place was built in 1918 and every time I try to “upgrade,” it turns into a project. Last year I tried to put in a video doorbell—figured it’d be a quick swap. Nope. Turns out my doorframe is just slightly too narrow, and the wiring is a mystery even my electrician couldn’t fully explain. Ended up with a half-installed gadget and a bunch of plaster dust everywhere.
I get the appeal of smart stuff, but honestly, I trust my old-school hardware more. A physical key never glitches, and a light switch doesn’t need a firmware update. I do like leak sensors, though—saved me from a basement flood once. But if the WiFi goes down, I still want to be able to turn things off with my own two hands. Tech’s great, but it shouldn’t make basic stuff harder.
A physical key never glitches, and a light switch doesn’t need a firmware update.
Right? I tried swapping out my old thermostat for a “smart” one and ended up with a week of no heat in January. Sometimes I wonder if these gadgets are worth the hassle in older homes. Has anyone actually managed to get smart locks or switches working without tearing up half their walls? Or is it just me fighting with 100-year-old plaster every time?
Sometimes I wonder if these gadgets are worth the hassle in older homes.
I hear you. Last year, I tried installing smart switches in a 1920s bungalow. The wiring was a maze—no neutral wires anywhere. Ended up patching plaster more than actually automating anything. Sometimes, old-school just works better.
I’ve run into similar headaches with older properties. There’s a certain charm to those thick plaster walls and original fixtures, but they don’t exactly play nice with modern tech. I’ve found that sometimes the cost and hassle of retrofitting just isn’t justified, especially if you’re not planning a full renovation anyway.
That said, I’ve seen some creative solutions—like using smart bulbs instead of switches, or plug-in modules that don’t require rewiring. Not perfect, but it gets you some automation without tearing up walls. Have you looked into any wireless systems or battery-powered sensors? Curious if anyone’s had luck with those in houses where rewiring is off the table. Sometimes it feels like there’s a workaround for everything, but I wonder where folks draw the line between convenience and just keeping things simple.
Totally get where you’re coming from—those old houses have so much character, but wow, they can be stubborn when it comes to tech. I’ve actually had some luck with wireless motion sensors and battery-powered remotes, especially in spots where running new wires would mean basically gutting the place. It’s not always seamless (sometimes the signal just doesn’t want to go through those thick walls), but it beats ripping out original plaster. Honestly, I think there’s a sweet spot between convenience and preserving what makes the house special. Sometimes a little tech goes a long way, and sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle.
