For many of us, smart home sensors are an integral part of our everyday lives. They’re in our phones, and our cars, and they make up the backbone of our security systems.
While smart home sensors are most commonly used for detection, like motion, liquids, or the opening and closing of doors and windows, you can use these triggers with a smart home platform like MiOS to do some…well, awesome stuff!
We asked our Ezlo community to help us come up with creative use cases for the average smart home sensors and we weren’t disappointed! Below we share eight of the best.
Use smart home sensors to keep an eye on your teenager (or their friends)
Teenagers at home? Worried about the potential for a late-night raid on the liquor cabinet? Some especially creative parents have started placing door/window sensors inside their liquor cabinets or wine fridges and connecting those sensors to notifications on their mobile phones. Add an indoor camera to really win over the jury.
Use smart home sensors to keep your beer cold
Whether it’s a garage fridge or your best Yeti cooler, some engineering Ezlo users are using sensors to keep an eye on making sure their favorite beverages stay nice and cold for the big game. Easily receive a mobile notification when it either gets opened or doesn’t close after a set period of time. How you choose to handle the culprit is completely up to you!
Use smart home sensors to create a smart doorbell system
If you’re not quite ready to invest in a smart video doorbell, here’s a great way to turn any existing analog doorbell into a smart doorbell! Most door/window sensors have two wire leads that can be used to trigger a notification or action. By tying these leads into your existing doorbell button, you can trigger a mobile notification. And when connected to MiOS, you can use your existing doorbell button to trigger complex home automations, like unlock a smart lock, open a garage, or turn off all the lights in your home if you are expecting the in-laws!
Use smart home sensors to monitor your doggie door
Place a motion sensor on your doggie door to keep an ever-watchful eye on your fur baby when away from home. Depending on the sensor and type of door, you can also specify to be notified if your pet hasn’t returned after a certain period of time. Combined with an outdoor camera, this setup is great for reminding your coworkers how great you are at being a pet parent.
Use smart home sensors to get a snail mail notification
Waiting for something important? Avoiding Aunt Judy’s annual fruit cake? One clever Ezlo user placed a door sensor on the opening of their mailbox to be notified any time a letter has arrived.
If you have a rental property or second home, this trick also helps ensure you have someone there to grab important notices or documents.
Use smart home sensors to add security to your garage door
Just like with your doorbell, you can make your garage door just a little smarter, even if you’re still using the old-fashioned push-button remote to open and close kind. Add a simple door/window sensor to the frame of the door and you’ll never have to worry again as you drive off in a panic, late for work. This addition also adds piece of mind when away from your home for extended periods of time.
Use smart home sensors to help care for your fish…yes, really
Put this one in the column of “Today I learned something new.” If you are enjoying an aquarium at home, it’s crucial that your filtration pump is running regularly and that the temperature of the water is within a proper range. To put your smart home to work, get a multi-function device like the Qubino ZMNHAD3 which has Z-Wave relay and a built-in temperature probe. With a device like this running on MiOS, you can create notifications across your phone or work applications, like Slack, to let you know immediately if anything is wrong with little Nemo.
Use smart home sensors to create a smart sump pump
Using a standard leak sensor, if you have a sump pump pit in the basement, you can insert a water sensor with a probe into the pit. If the pump gets stuck or stops working for any reason, the water will start to rise, triggering the sensor. Ensuring you get notified before the water level breaches the pit, you’ll have time to take action and prevent any serious damage.
These are just a few of the ways that smart home sensors can improve your life in creative ways. Check out our collection of smart home sensors and let us know what you create!
