10 Contact Sensor Automation Ideas for Keeping an Eye on Your Home

Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 10, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerSmart home contact sensors are incredibly versatile and can be used for a wide variety of applications to monitor activities around the home. These sensors consist of a magnetic sensor and a magnet, and you can configure them to detect when a door,… Continue reading 10 Contact Sensor Automation Ideas for Keeping an Eye on Your Home

10 Smart Plug Ideas to Take Your Home Automation to the Next Level

Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 10, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIncorporating Smart plugs into your home automation system is a cost-effective way to bring automation and control to your home. While turning lamps on and off is a common use case, smart plugs can also automate a wide range of appliances and devices… Continue reading 10 Smart Plug Ideas to Take Your Home Automation to the Next Level

36 Smart Home Automation Ideas to Upgrade Your Home’s Security, Comfort, and Energy Efficiency

Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 9, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerSmart home automation has become increasingly popular over the years as a viable way for homeowners to improve security, comfort, and energy efficiency in their homes. The technology has matured significantly making it the right time as a homeowner to leverage the technology… Continue reading 36 Smart Home Automation Ideas to Upgrade Your Home’s Security, Comfort, and Energy Efficiency

Tips and Benefits to Improve Home Comfort and Convenience with Smart Home Technology

Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 7, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerSmart home technology has come a long way in recent years and in a relatively short time has quickly become a popular choice for savvy homeowners looking to improve home comfort and convenience. With connected smart home devices, as a homeowner you are… Continue reading Tips and Benefits to Improve Home Comfort and Convenience with Smart Home Technology

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21 Tips to Avoid Common pitfalls While Programming Smart Home Automations

Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 5, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerCreating smart home automations can be challenging; however, with the right approach, you can avoid common pitfalls and make the process easier. In this article, we will explore 21 tips to help you avoid common pitfalls on your journey to creating smarter home… Continue reading 21 Tips to Avoid Common pitfalls While Programming Smart Home Automations

How to Measure On-time Duration of Your Smart Home Devices in Home Assistant with a Reusable Python Utility Method

Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 4, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerCalculating time is an essential part of creating smarter automations for your smart home. Imagine you want to know how long your HVAC system has been running over a certain period of time. To do this, you need a way to calculate the… Continue reading How to Measure On-time Duration of Your Smart Home Devices in Home Assistant with a Reusable Python Utility Method

Review of the Zooz Z-Wave Plus Power Switch ZEN15

Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 27, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerThe Zooz Z-Wave Plus Power Switch ZEN15 is a smart switch that enables you to control and monitor heavy-duty 110V appliances in your home such as refrigerators, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and AC units, using Home Assistant. The switch is compatible with any certified Z-Wave… Continue reading Review of the Zooz Z-Wave Plus Power Switch ZEN15

How to Create a Home Assistant Automation to Make Your Dumb Fireplace Smart!

Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 24, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerA fireplace at home makes a cold winter night cozy and comforting. However, if left unattended for a long period of time, such as when you leave home or go to bed, it can become both an energy sucker and/or a fire hazard.… Continue reading How to Create a Home Assistant Automation to Make Your Dumb Fireplace Smart!

40 Must-Have Tips for Setting Up Your Smart Home

Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 15, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this article, I want to share with you 40 tips you cannot afford to miss while setting up your smart home, starting with purchasing, security, installation, performance, integration, compatibility, and usability. Purchasing 1. Follow a plan: Before you start buying and installing… Continue reading 40 Must-Have Tips for Setting Up Your Smart Home

How to Create a Custom Sensor in Home Assistant to Show the Day

Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 15, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this tutorial, I will show you how to use Appdaemon to create a custom sensor in Home Assistant that displays the day of the week. You may be interested in creating such a custom sensor if you have the need to show… Continue reading How to Create a Custom Sensor in Home Assistant to Show the Day