Here’s how to create schedules using home assistant.

Full video on the ultimate smart home heating setup on my channel

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – Smart Heating Schedules in Home Assistant appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

The Aqara U600 smart lock features a battery cover and lock button on the inside, and a keypad and fingerprint scanner on the outside. It also has an emergency key slot and a USB C port. The device supports Matter over Thread and is compatible with Apple Home Key, Samsung Wallet, and other smart home systems. You can unlock the lock using fingerprints, passcodes, car NFC cards, or Apple Home Key. Full video on my YouTube Channel @MarksTechVlogs

#aqara #smarthome #smartlock #matteroverthread #applehomekey #samsungwallet #homedecor #tech #gadgets #homeautomation #iot #smartdevice #review #tutorial #setup #unboxing #firstlook #techyoutube #hometech #wifi #app #security #locksystem
Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – Never get locked out again with this device 🔒 #homesecurity #gadgets appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Smart locks for UK doors aren’t new. The Yale Conexis has been around for years (with some very mixed reviews), and I tested the Simpled Smart Lock a while back. What’s different now is that Aqara has two locks that work on UK multipoint doors and support Apple Home Key: the Aqara U600 and the Aqara U200. That’s still a pretty short list.

The Aqara U600 launched at around £230, which is roughly £30 more than the Aqara U200.

Disclosure: Aqara sent me a review unit, so I didn’t pay for this lock. They didn’t see this review before it went live and had no input on what I’ve said. Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict

It’s a solid, reliable smart lock that’s easy for the whole family to use, and it’s one of the few UK multipoint options with Apple Home Key. The main thing to get your head around is that it always reports as locked, even when the door is open.

What I like

• The fingerprint scanner is fast and still works in the rain
• Matter over Thread, Apple Home Key and Aliro support, so it works with most smart home platforms
• The outside handle is locked by default, even if you forget to lift the handle
• Locking and unlocking is quick and quiet
• In most cases you won’t need to drill any new holes
• Emergency key and USB-C power if the batteries die

What I don’t like as much

• It shows as locked even when the door is standing open
• I had to widen my existing holes slightly to fit it
• Remote features in the Aqara app need a separate hub
• No independent security certifications yet

Design and build quality

This lock replaces both your inside and outside handles, and it looks good. It’s black, fairly minimal and feels modern without being flashy.

On the inside you get a battery cover and a lock button. On the outside there’s a keypad and a fingerprint scanner, plus a slot at the bottom for the emergency key.

The body is mostly metal and it feels properly well made. After a month of daily use on a back door that gets opened a lot, it’s holding up well with no signs of wear so far.

Features and smart home compatibility

Apple Home Key, Matter and Aliro

The U600 uses Matter over Thread and is Aliro ready. In plain English, that means it works with Apple Home Key and with whichever Matter platform you already use, including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. Aliro digital keys also work with Samsung Wallet, so Android users aren’t left out.

Ways to unlock

• Fingerprint
• Keypad passcode
• Apple Home Key (tap your iPhone or Apple Watch)
• Aliro digital key via Samsung Wallet
• Aqara NFC Card
• The Aqara app
• The emergency physical key

You can add passcodes remotely through Apple Home too, but for that you’ll need an Apple home hub such as an Apple HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K.

If you want scene automations and remote locking and unlocking inside the Aqara app itself, you’ll need an Aqara hub. The Aqara Hub M3 is the more capable option, and the Aqara Hub M100 is the cheaper one.

Batteries and weatherproofing

It runs on four AA batteries, which Aqara says should last up to 10 months. You’ll get an alert when the battery drops below 20%, and if you do get caught out, you can use the emergency key or plug a USB-C power source into the outside to give it enough power to open.

It’s also IP65 rated, which is what you want for something that lives on the outside of your house through a British winter.

Will it fit my door?

The U600 is compatible with most UK lift-to-lock multipoint doors that fall within these measurements:

• Backset: 35 to 70mm
• Centre distance: 72 to 92mm
• Door thickness: 40 to 80mm

The handle direction can be switched, so it works on both left and right hung doors.

One important point: the lock can secure the outside handle without your multipoints being engaged, but you should still lift the handle to throw the multipoints for proper security. No smart lock on the market can do that bit for you yet.

Installing the Aqara U600

This lock replaces your existing cylinder, and the inside and outside handles are mechanically separate. The upshot is that you should be able to fit it without making any new holes in your door.

Here’s roughly how it went for me:

1. Check the installation guide in the box to make sure your door is compatible.
2. Remove your existing cylinder and both door handles.
3. Follow the instructions to test that the new handle can open your door.
4. Set the spindle holder so it faces the opposite way to your handle.
5. Fit the outside part. It has a couple of wires that go through the old cylinder hole, plus two adjustable posts with screws that line up with your existing handle holes.
6. From the inside, connect the screws, pop the cap on and put the batteries in.
7. Pair it in the Aqara app.

The only snag I hit was that the rounded parts on the handle were a little wider than my existing holes, so I had to open them up slightly. It’s not a big job, and it wouldn’t stop me putting a normal handle back on if I moved house.

Pairing was really easy. There’s no calibration step, and it went straight into Apple Home without any fuss, with Home Key set up right away. Fingerprints and passcodes are added in the Aqara app, and you can add passcodes in Apple Home as well.

Overall it’s a simple install. It’s not quite as easy as the Aqara U200, which is a retrofit lock that keeps your existing cylinder, but it was a lot easier than the Simpled Smart Lock.

What it’s like to live with

Day to day, it’s very easy to use. I’ve had it on my back door (the Aqara U200 is on my front door) and I’ve tried every entry method. Even in the rain, the fingerprint scanner reads quickly. For me, fingerprint and Home Key are the easiest ways to use a smart lock, and this one backs that up.

Getting out is simple. You just push the inside handle down. There’s no unlocking step, because the two handles aren’t connected.

That design choice has a few knock-on effects, and most of them are good:

• The door is effectively locked from the outside by default, even if the multipoints aren’t engaged.
• If you forget to lift the handle, the door is still locked.
• You don’t get the jam errors retrofit locks can throw when they try to lock and something’s out of line.
• It’s quick and quiet, because there’s no motor turning a key in a cylinder.

The one thing that takes getting used to

Because “locked” here really means “the outside handle doesn’t work”, the lock will report as locked unless you’ve unlocked it from the outside or the app. Open the door from the inside and walk out, and it still says locked.

From a security point of view, that’s fine. But if you’re the sort of person who occasionally leaves the back door ajar, it’s worth adding a contact sensor such as the Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2 so you actually know when the door’s open. Coming from other smart locks, it’s mostly a change of mindset.

You can also set it to auto lock a set time after it’s been unlocked, which I found really handy.

Is the U600 secure?

This is the question that matters, because it’s the thing protecting your house.

It meets all the requirements for Apple Home Key and communication is encrypted. It’s also been tested against Tesla coil attacks and electromagnetic interference, so it can’t be forced open that way. That’s reassuring, especially as this is a lock that makes it pretty obvious from the street that you’ve got a smart lock.

Passcodes are optional. If you use them, longer is better.

What about the letterbox?

People always ask whether someone could open a smart lock through the letterbox. With this one, probably yes, because the inside handle opens the door with a single push. Unless your letterbox has a secure design or a Letterbox Cage on the inside, I wouldn’t fit this to a door with a letterbox.

And smashing the glass?

Also probably yes. But this question always baffles me a bit with smart locks, because the same is true of any door with a thumb turn. By the time someone’s smashed your door glass, they’re getting in regardless of the lock, and that’s forced entry. The same goes for someone applying a lot of force to the outside handle. These are things to think about with every lock, not just smart ones.

I would like to see Aqara go after some independent security certifications for this lock. It would give more security-conscious buyers extra reassurance, and it may well happen.

Verdict: should you buy the Aqara U600?

After a month of use, I think the Aqara U600 is a solid, reliable smart lock. The fingerprint reader and keypad make it easy for less techy family members and guests, and Apple Home Key works just as well for everyone else.

I like the design a lot, and I like that the outside handle is locked before you’ve even lifted the handle to engage the multipoints. Auto lock is a nice extra too.

If you’re not keen on a lock without a cylinder, take a look at the Aqara U200 instead. It’s been on my front door for a long time now and I rate it highly.

Aqara U600 FAQs

Does the Aqara U600 work with UK multipoint doors?

Yes. It’s designed for UK lift-to-lock multipoint doors with a backset of 35 to 70mm, a centre distance of 72 to 92mm and a door thickness of 40 to 80mm.

Does the Aqara U600 support Apple Home Key?

Yes. It supports Apple Home Key and is Aliro ready, so digital keys also work with Samsung Wallet.

Do I need a hub?

Not for basic use. For remote passcodes in Apple Home you’ll need a home hub like an Apple HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K. For automations and remote control in the Aqara app, you’ll need an Aqara hub such as the Aqara Hub M3 or Aqara Hub M100.

How long do the batteries last?

Aqara says up to 10 months from four AA batteries. You’ll get a warning at 20%, and you can use the emergency key or USB-C power if they run flat.

Does it lock the multipoints for me?

No. You still need to lift the handle to engage the multipoints. No smart lock can do that automatically yet, although the U600 does keep the outside handle locked even if you forget.

Will I need to drill new holes?

Usually not, as it uses your existing cylinder and handle holes. I did need to widen mine slightly for the handle’s rounded fittings.

The post Aqara U600 Review: A Smart Lock for UK Multipoint Doors with Apple Home Key appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Is the Aqara U600 the right smart lock for your home? I have been testing this new model on UK doors to see if it delivers.

Purchase Links:
Aqara U600: https://geni.us/tIAwA5f
Aqara M100 Hub: https://geni.us/Mi36
Aqara M3 Hub: https://geni.us/dY4D7
Aqara U200: https://geni.us/Mxgu6tp
Aqara Video Doorbell: https://geni.us/GEfgSnH

Aqara U200 Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyK-EZOL7Vk&t=8s

Testing new tech for a UK smart home setup can be tricky, especially when it comes to finding hardware that fits standard doors. In this smart lock review, I cover the installation process and share my honest thoughts after using the Aqara U600 for a month. We look at the smartphone interface and how it handles activity logs to give you a clear picture of the daily experience.

I highlight the positive aspects alongside a few drawbacks I encountered during my time with the device. Whether you are looking to improve your door security or just want keyless entry, this breakdown should help you decide if it is a worthy addition to your setup.

Subscribe for weekly smart home tech breakdowns, and let me know in the comments if there are other locks you want me to test next.

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
01:22 Design
01:52 Specification and Features
04:33 Installation
06:54 Using the U600 for a month – What I do and don’t like
08:42 Security
10:47 My Verdict

The post New Video – Is the Aqara U600 the ultimate UK smart lock? My 1-month review appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

The Aqara P1 motion sensor has a great range and is responsive, but it’s limited in its use with the Aqara app if you don’t want to utilize the built-in light sensor. It’s still a decent option for automating devices or monitoring your home, especially considering its affordability. Full video on my YouTube Channel @MarksTechVlogs

#aqara #smarthome #motion sensor #homeautomation #techreview #tutorial #gadgets #smartdevice #review #hometech #wifi #app #setup #unboxing #firstlook #techyoutube #smarthometech #technews #newtech #gadgetreview

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – Aqara P1 Motion Sensor Limited by Built-in Light Sensor appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Build the perfect Home Assistant heating setup for your home. Configure your temperature setpoints and modes for total control.

This guide demonstrates how to create a fully automated smart heating setup using Home Assistant. Whether you are moving over from an Apple smart home or just looking to refine your current routines, this walkthrough covers the essential configuration process needed to get your system running efficiently.

We look at how to manage HVAC automation by setting temperature setpoints and modes directly through the interface. I also demonstrate how to integrate hardware like the Aqara dual relay module to handle your physical heating controls, providing you with a reliable foundation for your smart home climate control without needing proprietary hubs.

Subscribe for weekly smart home tech breakdowns, and comment below if you want to see more heating automation guides.

GitHub Link:
https://github.com/marktiddy/home-assistant-tutorials/blob/main/ultimate-smart-home-heating-setup.md

Products mentioned:
Habi Smart Heating System: https://geni.us/UGyB1D
Hebi Smart TRV: https://geni.us/TE5AehN
Aqara T2 Relay: https://geni.us/VYZV3Eq
Aqara Radiator Valves: https://geni.us/3Kndq

Videos mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaTPHi8GcGM
HomePod Temperature to Home Assistant:
Can Aqara run your Smart Heating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMrIZx810dU

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – Is This the Perfect Way to Control Heating? | Home Assistant appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Most of what I write about is Apple Home, and that isn’t changing. But I’ve been using Home Assistant for the last 7 or 8 months, and when something is this useful and this easy to set up, I want to share it. This is the exact setup I used last winter and I’ll be running it again as the weather turns.

You’ll only need a small amount of YAML, and I’ve put all of it in the written guide on my GitHub so you can copy and paste as you go.

What this Home Assistant heating setup does

By the end of this guide you’ll have:

• An individual heating schedule for every room, with each TRV and the main thermostat following its own timetable
• Geofencing, so the house isn’t being heated when nobody is home
• Automatic summer and winter switching based on the outdoor temperature, so you never have to remember to turn the heating off in May
• More accurate room temperatures, because your TRVs read from a proper sensor instead of the one sitting next to a hot radiator
• An optional boiler control automation if you use a relay like the Aqara T2 Relay, or your TRVs can’t call for heat on their own

And it costs nothing extra, assuming you already have the hardware.

The smart heating kit I’m using

You don’t need exactly the same devices as me. Here’s what I’ve got so you can see how it fits together.

Boiler

My boiler is a Viessmann with built in WiFi, which means it connects straight to Home Assistant. If yours doesn’t have WiFi, an Aqara T2 Relay can do the same job. I made a separate video on that, Can Aqara run your smart heating?, if you want to see it in action.

Thermostat and radiator valves

My main thermostat is part of the Habi Smart Heating System. It has a receiver box wired to the boiler and a wireless thermostat that sits in the living room. Upstairs I have three Habi Smart TRV valves on the radiators.

These are all set up in the Habi app first, which is what lets the TRVs call for heat from the boiler. They’re then exposed to Home Assistant over Matter. If your TRVs can’t call for heat, don’t worry, I cover a workaround at the end.

Temperature sensors

For room temperatures I use an Aqara temperature sensor, plus the built in sensors in my HomePod mini speakers, which sync across to Home Assistant. If you want to do the same, I’ve got a video on getting HomePod temperature readings into Home Assistant. Outside, I’ve got a SwitchBot Outdoor Meter.

Step 1: Create a heating schedule for each room

Home Assistant has a Schedule helper that’s perfect for this. To create one:

1. Go to Settings
2. Open Devices & Services
3. Click the Helpers tab
4. Click Create Helper and choose Schedule
5. Draw your heating times onto the weekly grid
6. Click each time slot and add additional data in the format temp: 20, using whatever temperature you want for that slot

Do this for every day and every time slot, then create another schedule for each room you want to control. I’ve got five: bathroom, bedroom, spare room, office and downstairs.

It’s a bit fiddly the first time. Once it’s done, though, you rarely touch it again.

Step 2: Use Better Thermostat for accurate TRV readings

Here’s the thing about TRVs. Their temperature sensor sits right next to the radiator, so they almost always think the room is warmer than it really is. The fix is to make them use an external temperature sensor instead.

I’d only bother doing this for your TRVs. A wall thermostat is usually placed somewhere sensible and reads fine on its own.

The integration that does all the clever offsetting for you is called Better Thermostat. It’s installed through HACS (the Home Assistant Community Store), so you’ll need that set up first.

Once Better Thermostat is installed:

1. Go back to Devices & Services
2. Click Add Integration and search for Better Thermostat
3. Give it a name, for example “Bedroom Thermostat”
4. Select the real thermostat, which is your TRV
5. Select the temperature sensor you want it to use, which is your external room sensor
6. If you have an outdoor sensor, select it here too. You can also add a weather entity
7. Set the outdoor temperature at which the thermostat should switch off
8. Set a tolerance. This stops the valve constantly flicking on and off around the target temperature
9. Save, then repeat for each TRV

You now have your room schedules and a set of better, more accurate thermostats. Time to tie it all together.

Two things to set up before the automations

1. A “should we be heating?” check

In my automations I check what mode my boiler is in. That tells Home Assistant whether heating season is on or off. If your boiler isn’t connected, create a Toggle (input boolean) helper instead, under Devices & Services, Helpers, Create Helper. Call it something like “Heating Season”. This is the thing we’ll automate later, so you never have to switch the heating off in summer and back on in winter yourself.

2. A “is anyone home?” check

The automations also check whether someone is in. If everyone in your house has the Home Assistant app, you can use their presence directly. In my house not everyone does, so I use a virtual switch that turns off when the last person leaves and on when the first person gets back. That way family members can stick with Apple Home and it all still works.

Step 3: Create an automation for each room schedule

Head to Settings, then Automations & Scenes, and click Create Automation. You’ll make one of these for each schedule. I name mine “Set [room] temperature”, so “Set bedroom temperature” and so on.

When

Use a State trigger and pick your room’s schedule. This means the automation runs whenever a new time slot starts.

And if

Add two conditions:

• We should be heating. For me that’s checking the boiler mode. For you it might be checking that your Heating Season helper is on
• Someone is home

Then do

Add a Climate: Set temperature action, target the room’s thermostat (the Better Thermostat version for TRVs), and toggle on Target temperature. Switch the field to YAML or template mode and use this, swapping in your own schedule name:

{{ state_attr('schedule.bedroom_climate_schedule', 'temp') | float(0) }}

That pulls the temperature from the current schedule slot and makes sure it’s formatted as a number. Also set the HVAC mode to Heat.

Because my TRVs can call for heat, that’s all I need. Changing the target temperature is enough to fire up the boiler. If yours can’t, keep reading, it’s covered further down.

Repeat this for each of your room schedules.

Step 4: Geofencing automations

Everyone has left

Create a new automation. The trigger is the last person leaving home (or, in my case, my virtual switch turning off). For the action, set each thermostat’s target temperature to your frost protection temperature. I use somewhere around 10 to 12°C, but pick what suits your home.

Because the room schedule automations already check that someone is home, they won’t override this while the house is empty. Nothing to worry about there.

Someone arrives home

Create another automation that triggers when the first person gets home (or when my virtual switch turns on). Under the actions, add a Climate: Set temperature action for each thermostat. For each one, set the HVAC mode to Heat and use the same template as before, pointing at that room’s schedule.

Now, when you walk through the door, every room jumps straight to whatever temperature it should be at for that time of day.

If you want to be extra careful, add a condition under And if to check that you should be heating at all. Otherwise you could come home on a warm June afternoon and have the radiators kick in.

Step 5: Automatic summer and winter switching

This is my favourite bit. No more remembering to turn the heating off when it gets warm, or scrambling to turn it back on during the first cold snap.

Cold outside: heating on

Create an automation called “Cold Outside”. Use a Numeric state trigger on your outdoor sensor, set to below 10°C for 12 hours. If it’s been under 10 degrees for half a day, it’s probably time for the heating.

For the action I change my boiler mode to auto. If you went down the helper route, turn on your Heating Season helper instead. (I also change one other thermostat here, but that’s my electric underfloor heating in the bathroom, so you can ignore it.)

Warm outside: heating off

Create the summer version and call it “Warm Outside – Boiler Off”. The trigger is your outdoor sensor being above 18°C for 8 hours. The action switches the boiler mode to off, or turns your Heating Season helper off.

Feel free to tweak those numbers. They’re what work for my house in the UK, but a draughty old terrace might want the heating on a bit sooner.

And that’s the full setup. Room by room schedules, geofencing, accurate TRV readings and automatic seasonal switching, all running in Home Assistant for free.

Optional: Boiler control for relays and TRVs that can’t call for heat

If your boiler is switched by an Aqara T2 Relay or similar, or your TRVs can’t tell the boiler to fire up on their own, you need one more automation. I call mine “Boiler Control”.

This is also the approach to use if you’d rather go all in on Aqara. Pair the T2 Relay with Aqara Radiator Valves and this automation turns the boiler on whenever any of the valves want heat.

When

Trigger it when the current action (the hvac_action attribute) changes on any of your thermostats. Remember, our other automations are changing the thermostats’ modes and targets, so this will catch every change.

And if

Leave this empty.

Then do

Add a Choose action with one option and a default.

Option 1 uses a Template condition. Paste in the code below and replace the entity names with your own thermostats:

{{ expand('climate.bedroom_thermostat',
          'climate.office_thermostat',
          'climate.spare_room_thermostat',
          'climate.downstairs_thermostat')
   | selectattr('attributes.hvac_action', 'eq', 'heating')
   | list | count > 0 }}

In plain English, it checks whether anything in the house is currently calling for heat. If it is, the action for Option 1 turns your relay switch on.

For the Default action (nothing is calling for heat), turn your relay switch off.

Save it, and you’re done.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a WiFi boiler for this Home Assistant heating setup?

No. If your boiler isn’t connected, use an Aqara T2 Relay to switch it and a toggle helper in place of the boiler mode checks. The boiler control automation above handles the rest.

Why use external temperature sensors with TRVs?

TRVs measure the temperature right next to the radiator, which is the warmest spot in the room. An external sensor on the other side of the room gives a much more realistic reading, and Better Thermostat adjusts the TRV to match.

Does everyone in the house need Home Assistant for geofencing?

Not necessarily. I use a virtual switch that follows presence in Apple Home, so family members don’t need Home Assistant installed at all.

Can I use a different outdoor sensor?

Yes. Any outdoor temperature sensor that shows up in Home Assistant will do. You could even use a weather integration, although a physical sensor like the SwitchBot Outdoor Meter tends to be more accurate for your actual garden.

Links and downloads

All the YAML from this guide is in the smart heating setup guide on GitHub. Here’s everything else I mentioned in one place.

Products

• Habi Smart Heating System
• Habi Smart TRV
• Aqara T2 Relay
• Aqara Radiator Valves

Related videos

• HomePod temperature to Home Assistant
• Can Aqara run your smart heating?

Some of the product links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Got a question, or found a tweak that works better for your house? Leave a comment below, I read them all. And if this saved you a few quid on your heating bill, you can always buy me a beer.

The post Home Assistant Heating Setup: Room Schedules, Geofencing and Smart TRVs appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Create a professional Home Assistant heating setup for your home. Learn the configuration process for a more efficient system.

Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy

Products mentioned:
Habi Smart Heating System: https://geni.us/UGyB1D
Hebi Smart TRV: https://geni.us/TE5AehN
Aqara T2 Relay: https://geni.us/VYZV3Eq
Aqara Radiator Valves: https://geni.us/3Kndq

GitHub Link:
https://github.com/marktiddy/home-assistant-tutorials/blob/main/ultimate-smart-home-heating-setup.md

Videos mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaTPHi8GcGM
HomePod Temperature to Home Assistant:
Can Aqara run your Smart Heating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMrIZx810dU

This guide walks you through building an advanced climate control system using Home Assistant. I show you how to configure temperature setpoints and HVAC modes to ensure your home stays comfortable throughout the day. This approach is ideal for anyone looking to refine their existing smart home automation routines.

We also look at integrating hardware like the Aqara dual relay module to handle your physical heating controls. By connecting these devices, you can achieve granular control over your environment without needing proprietary hubs. This setup provides the technical foundation needed to automate your climate effectively.

Subscribe for weekly smart home tech breakdowns, and comment below if you want to see more heating automation guides.

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – How to Build the Perfect Smart Heating System | Home Assistant appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Discover how to use the Aqara P1 motion sensor with pets in mind. Learn about the lowest sensitivity setting and its benefits. I’ve tested it with both Apple Home and Home Assistant, and it’s been working reliably. Full video on my YouTube Channel @MarksTechVlogsShop

#smarthome #tech #aqara #homeautomation #smartdevice #review #tutorial #gadgets #automation #iot #smarthometech #techreview #markstechvlogs #hometech #wifi #app #setup #unboxing #firstlook #techyoutube #motiondetector #sensitivitysetting
Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:
Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – Aqara P1 Motion Sensor Lowest Sensitivity Setting for Pets appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Quick note before we start: this is a motion sensor, not a presence sensor. It’s best for areas where there’s always movement when you want things to happen (hallways, stairs, landings) or as part of a security setup. More on that at the end.

Design

The P1 comes in two parts. There’s an adjustable stand that rotates up to 360 degrees, which can sit freestanding or be mounted to a wall or ceiling. Then there’s the sensor itself, which doesn’t even need the stand — you can mount it directly on its own if you prefer.

It’s a clean white design that looks modern, though it’s not as compact as something like the Philips Hue Motion Sensor.

Specs and compatibility

The P1 is a Zigbee 3.0 device, so you’ll need either an Aqara Hub or your own Zigbee setup. Aqara Hubs start at around £25 on sale, or you can pair it straight into Home Assistant with a Zigbee dongle if you don’t need the extra features in the Aqara app.

Paired with an Aqara Hub, it works with Apple Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. I’ve been running mine through the M3 Hub into both Home Assistant and Apple Home.

• Field of view: 170° at up to 2 metres, 150° at up to 7 metres
• Sensitivity: three adjustable levels
• Detection timeout: configurable from 1 to 200 seconds (default 30)
• Batteries: two CR2450s, rated for up to 5 years with the LED indicator off and a timeout of 30 seconds or more
• Light sensor: built in, but only available in the Aqara app (or via direct Home Assistant pairing)

On battery life: after four months, mine is still showing 100% in Home Assistant using those recommended settings. I can’t vouch for the full five years yet, but it’s a promising start.

Setup

Setup is straightforward if you already have the Aqara app. Pull the battery tab out, hit the plus button in the app, and the sensor should be found automatically. If not, pick it from the device list and the app walks you through adding it to a hub.

If your hub is already linked to Apple Home or Home Assistant, the sensor appears there automatically too. You’ll just need to rename it and assign it to a room, then build your automations in whichever app you prefer. I’ve tested automations in both Apple Home and Home Assistant and it works well in each.

Living with the P1

I’ve got mine in the hallway by the stairs, covering the dead zones my existing Hue motion sensor misses. Between certain hours, if someone’s home, motion turns on the hall light. The light switches off once both sensors agree there’s no movement. All of this runs in Home Assistant, with the P1 paired through the Aqara Hub, and it’s worked reliably.

The built in light sensor is decent too. The frustration is that it’s only usable inside the Aqara app, or if you pair the sensor directly with Home Assistant. It isn’t exposed to Apple Home, Alexa or SmartThings, which limits what you can do with it.

I do like that you can turn off the LED indicator — handy if the sensor is somewhere visible at night, and it helps battery life.

For security, you can have the Aqara app send a critical notification when motion is detected while you’re away, or do the same thing through Home Assistant. That works fine, with one caveat…

Downsides

My cats can trigger it, even on the lowest sensitivity. That’s common with PIR motion sensors generally, but it’s why I’ve set my automation to only fire when someone’s home — and it’s worth knowing if you were planning to use it for away-from-home alerts in a house with pets.

The bigger issue is the light sensor not being exposed to third party services. A motion sensor that knows how bright the room is can skip turning lights on during the day, but unless you live in the Aqara app or pair directly with Home Assistant, you can’t use that here.

Verdict: should you buy the Aqara Motion Sensor P1?

The P1 has great range, responds quickly, works with all the major platforms and costs very little. For automating lights in hallways and stairs, or as part of a security setup, it’s a solid buy — with the caveat that the light sensor is effectively locked to the Aqara ecosystem.

One last thing for 2026: only pick a motion sensor over a presence sensor when the area you’re monitoring will always have people moving through it. For a living room, where people sit still, you’re better off with a presence sensor. They cost more, but I use a few Aqara FP300s for exactly this and they’re great — my full review is linked below.

Where to buy:

• Aqara Motion Sensor P1
• Aqara M100 Hub
• Aqara FP300 presence sensor

The post Aqara Motion Sensor P1 Review: Cheap, Reliable, One Big Catch appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.