Automate the upkeep

Helps prevent: Water damage, mold, ceiling stains

Placed under sinks, by the water heater, washer and dishwasher, they alert your phone the moment water appears. Cheapest protection against the costliest common damage.

What to look for

Battery Wi-Fi or Zigbee/Z-Wave/Thread leak sensors from major smart-home brands.

How to integrate

Pair with your phone app, then create an automation: leak detected → phone alert + flash lights. If you add a smart shutoff valve, leak → close the valve.

Helps prevent: Fire and carbon monoxide risk

Networked alarms notify you when you are away and report battery and sensor health so you are not relying on a chirp at 3 a.m.

What to look for

Interconnected smart smoke/CO alarms that support phone alerts.

How to integrate

Enable push notifications for every household member; link to smart lights to turn on hallway lights on alarm.

Safety note

Alarm replacement and hardwired wiring should follow the manufacturer instructions or use a licensed electrician.

Helps prevent: Wasted energy, HVAC strain, freezing pipes

Schedules and away modes cut energy use, and many report filter-change and runtime reminders. Low-temperature alerts warn you before pipes freeze.

What to look for

Learning or schedule-based Wi-Fi thermostats compatible with your HVAC system.

How to integrate

Confirm compatibility with your system wiring first. Link to your voice assistant and to your maintenance calendar for filter reminders.

Safety note

Confirm low-voltage wiring compatibility; have an HVAC professional install if unsure.

Helps prevent: Dust buildup, allergens, worn floors

Daily automatic cleaning keeps dust off floors and vents. Consumables (filters, brushes) give you a built-in recurring maintenance schedule.

What to look for

Mapping robot vacuums with scheduling and no-go zones.

How to integrate

Set a schedule for when you are away; trigger via voice assistant or 'everyone left home' presence automations. Add filter and brush replacement to your Maintenance plan.

Helps prevent: Overgrown lawn, overwatering, wasted water

Boundary-wire or GPS mowers keep grass short on their own. Weather-aware sprinkler controllers skip watering when it rains.

What to look for

Robotic mowers for your lawn size; Wi-Fi sprinkler controllers with weather skip.

How to integrate

Pause the mower on rain or when you are home; connect the sprinkler controller to a weather service. Add seasonal winterization to Maintenance.

Safety note

Buried boundary wire and irrigation plumbing can hit utilities. Call 811 before digging.

Helps prevent: Humidity, mold risk, poor air

Humidity and air-quality sensors show when a bathroom fan, dehumidifier or purifier is needed before mold starts.

What to look for

Indoor air quality/humidity sensors; smart plugs for dehumidifiers.

How to integrate

Automation: humidity above a set level → turn on dehumidifier or exhaust fan via a smart plug.

Helps prevent: Burst pipes and major flooding

Works with leak sensors to close your main water line automatically, and lets you shut water off from your phone while traveling.

What to look for

Motorized main shutoff valves with leak-sensor integration.

How to integrate

Link to leak sensors so any leak closes the valve and alerts you.

Safety note

Plumbing work on the main line is best done by a licensed plumber. Never alter gas lines yourself.

Helps prevent: Wasted energy, security gaps

Timers and presence-based lights make the home look lived in and cut wasted power. Plugs also give you remote on/off and energy readings.

What to look for

Matter-compatible smart plugs and bulbs.

How to integrate

Choose Matter-compatible devices so one app or hub controls different brands.