The smart home uses a distributed control system. So, if one part of the house stops working, the rest of the house will still be able to operate as usual.
If something does stop working, you will need to contact your installation company. They will either be able the fix the problem over the telephone or will come out to repair the device.
With internet enabled homes it is posible for the installation company to know of a problem and be able to deal with it remotely.
The e-home systems are often integrated. Set up properly the controls and effects are easy to understand and use. However, misunderstandings do occur, components do go wrong and some interactions do confuse. The use of experienced systems integrators really helps. As does using a design team that understands the issues. Being able to talk through concerns and issues is necessary. As is being able to alter and change the system to meet new and changing needs.
Sometimes these intelligent systems provide extra help to you. They can provide evidence of equipment not working to specification, that normally you would not be aware of and find very dificult to identify and prove. In these circumstances the intelligent e-home can help provide the data and information needed so that repairs and replacement parts can be obtained and arguements about responibilities avoided.
In most ways the electronic aspects of the e-home are much more reliable than the mechanical parts they control. In a conventional home it would be very difficult to gather and analyse the data and information needed to ensure all the mechanical devices were working properly. The e-home enables. It is also true that for a lot of components, they operate more reliably under intelligent e-home control than they do by conventional means.