Don't let extreme winter weather ruin your comfort at home or risk freezing pipes from occurring that could cause expensive water damage in the future. With smart home automation, you can keep your home at a comfortable temperature and prevent your pipes from freezing. A combination of smart thermostats, temperature sensors, water-leak detectors, automatic shut-off valves, and a home automation controller are smart devices you can use to do just that. These devices can send real-time alerts to your phone if temperatures drop too low or if excessive moisture is detected, allowing you to respond quickly before a small issue turns into a costly repair. Program your smart system to automatically adjust your thermostat, activate heating in vulnerable areas, or shut off your water supply to prevent flooding. By integrating these smart home devices, you gain peace of mind knowing your home is safe from the harsh winter weather.

Start By Keeping Your Home Warm with A Smart Thermostat

One of the first things you can do to prevent freezing temperatures inside your home and in vulnerable areas is to install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats will allow you to set minimum temperature limits, such as not allowing the temperature to fall below 55°F. Smart thermostats also allow you to control them from a remote location, where you can monitor the temperature in your home from anywhere and adjust your thermostat if needed. They'll also send you alerts on your smartphone in instances when the temperature drops unexpectedly if your heating system suddenly fails or if a window is left open. You can even set temperature schedules throughout the week. For example, have your home warm up before you wake in the morning (at 6:00 a.m.), cool down after you leave for work (at 8:00a.m.), heat up again before you return (at 4:30p.m.), and lower the temperature once you go to bed (at 10:00p.m.). This way, your home stays comfortable when you’re there and conserves energy when you’re not. Smart thermostats also come in a wide range of options, many of which support various smart automation platforms and protocols such Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and others.

Here are some smart thermostats to consider:

The Honeywell Z-Wave Plus v2 T6 Pro Programmable Smart Multi-Stage Thermostat comes with a touchscreen interface that controls single and multi-stage HVAC systems and heat pumps.

The Ezlo Z-Wave Plus Thermostat (800 Series) is designed with an easy-to-use touchscreen, which allows you to command HVAC systems with up to 3 stage heating and 2 stage cooling.

The AprilAire Wi-Fi Touchscreen Thermostat is an Internet-accessible thermostat with 7-day scheduling for 4 events per day. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

The AprilAire 8840 is an advanced Internet-accessible thermostat with 7-day scheduling for 4 events per day and IAQ advanced features. Works with the AprilAire Wi-Fi Thermostat mobile app.

Detect Low Temperatures and Freezing Conditions Early

One of the major risks in living in an area where freezing temperatures occur is the potential for freezing pipes, which if left unchecked, can build pressure and cause major flooding in the future. Typically, when water in a pipe turns into ice, it expands and blocks the pipe, keeping the remaining water behind it to build pressure. In time, the pressure becomes too much and may cause a crack. So when the temperature rises and that ice starts to thaw, it will rush through the damaged pipe, into walls, ceilings, basements, and floors, causing flooding and expensive water damage.

But there are ways you can utilize smart devices to prevent that from happening. There are a variety of smart water leak and temperature sensors that are designed to notify you when the temperature drops below a certain level. These sensors can be placed near vulnerable water pipes throughout your home or in other areas that are prone to leaks such as near a water heater, bathroom sink, near sump pumps, or on basement floors; and once placed, they can be integrated into your home automation system. Pair them with a smart thermostat and smart home hub to set up an automation scene. So when the temperature in the monitored area drops below 55°F, your smart thermostat automatically turns up the heat. Or after receiving an alert on your phone you can adjust the temperature on your own from a remote location.

There are numerous smart temperature and water leak sensors available that support various protocols, including Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and Zigbee. Some models are also compatible with the 2GIG 345 MHz system, as well as Qolsys, GE, Interlogix, and other 319.5 MHz receivers.

Here are some smart temperature/water leak sensors to consider:

The Sensative Strips Drip Ultra-Thin Z-Wave 800 leak and temperature sensor adds environmental monitoring to hard to reach areas of a single room.

The Ecolink Z-Wave Plus Flood/Freeze Sensor monitors for leaks and freeze detection to help prevent costly water damage. Z-Wave Plus compatible.

The 2GIG Dual Flood/Temperature Sensor detects water leaks and ambient temperature in a room. Works with GC2 and GC3 security panels.

The Resideo L1 Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector pairs with the Resideo L5 Actuator to shut off a water line within your home to prevent flooding from water leaks.

Automatic Shut-Off Valves Are The Saviors To Prevent Costly Water Damage

Besides using a smart sensor to detect leaks and having to manually shut off your home's main water line yourself, you should take it a step further and pair it with an automatic shut-off valve to stop the damage at the source. Smart shut-off valves are the true heroes when it comes to preventing flooding at home because they're designed to install on your home's main water supply line to automatically close it whenever a water leak is detected.

Depending on your home automation system, you may need a combination of devices to make this work: a smart water leak sensor, a motorized shut-off valve, and sometimes a smart home hub to control all of these devices. But keep in mind that some smart shut-off valves integrate the sensor, valve, and control system into a single unit, eliminating the need for a separate smart home hub. There are a variety of smart shut-off valves available, some of which support protocols like Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or Z-Wave, as well as voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing for easy integration with smart home systems. 

Here are some smart shut-off valves to consider:

The Ezlo Water Shut-Off Valve with motorized actuator and built-in Z-Wave smart hub can shut off the water main automatically or from a remote location to prevent water damage from flooding or leaks.

The Resideo L5 Wi-Fi Actuator and NPT Ball Valve shuts off a water line within your home to prevent water damage from flooding or leaks.

The WaterCop Leak Stop+ is a flood prevention system that detects leaks and automatically shuts off your home’s water line to help prevent water damage from leaks or flooding.

The Greenfield Automatic Security Valve Kit provides remote control over the home's water supply and can work with various home automation systems.

If you’d like to learn more about how smart home automation can help prevent water leaks and flooding, or if you have any questions about home automation or home security, contact our team at (858) 693-8887 or service@homecontrols.com. You can also explore more insights on smart home automation and security devices by visiting our blog.