10 Hacks That Every Smart Home Owner Should Know - Lifehacker

10 Smart Home Hacks Every Smart Home Owner Should Know

Ready to refresh your smart home? These practical automations go far beyond turning lights on and off. Whether you use Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or Amazon Alexa, use these 10 hacks to save energy, boost security, and streamline daily routines.

1. Turn everything off when no one is home

• Goal: Cut energy waste by shutting lights and devices off only when the house is truly empty.
• Google Home: Use the 'Away' routine (Automations). Add conditions so it runs when your phone is away and no central devices (e.g., Chromecast TVs) are on.
• Apple HomeKit: Create a Shortcut for a 'Leave Home' automation. Add a 'Get State of Home' condition (e.g., Apple TV not in use) before turning off lights.
• Amazon Alexa: Use a location-based routine or 'Away Lighting' in Home/Away settings to enforce actions when you leave. Note: Alexa can’t natively detect a device’s on/off state.

2. Set the morning volume

• Goal: Prevent blaring audio first thing in the morning.
• Google Home: Create a daily morning automation that sets all speakers to your preferred volume.
• Apple HomeKit: Use a Time-of-Day Automation that runs a scene to set your HomePod volume.
• Amazon Alexa: Create a Routine with a scheduled trigger and set the volume on your Echo devices.

3. Deter people from your porch

• Goal: Visually discourage late-night lurkers with lights.
• Google Home: In Automations, set your doorbell camera as the starter (e.g., 'Person seen') and blast outdoor lights to 100%, plus flick inward-facing lights.
• Apple HomeKit: Use HSV-enabled cameras to trigger an automation that turns on designated outdoor and front-facing indoor lights.
• Amazon Alexa: With Ring, create a Routine from motion detection. Optionally enable Away Lighting to chime indoors on motion.

4. Focus mode for the house

• Goal: Eliminate distractions automatically during work hours.
• Google Home: Schedule a weekday routine (e.g., 9:30 a.m.) to set office lights, turn off stray lights/TVs, and pause internal-facing cameras.
• Apple HomeKit: In Shortcuts, create a personal automation triggered by a Focus mode (e.g., Do Not Disturb). Add 'Control Home' actions to set lights and devices.
• Amazon Alexa: Create a weekday schedule Routine to set lights, TVs, and other devices as needed.

5. Create a guest mode for smart devices

• Goal: Give guests easy control of essentials without exposing everything.
• Google Home: Invite guests as 'Members' for room-specific lights and devices.
• Apple HomeKit: Invite via Apple ID and restrict access to specific accessories. Exclude cameras and thermostats.
• Amazon Alexa: Use Amazon Household for device control (note: it broadly shares access, including payment methods). Alternatively, teach simple voice commands.

6. Protect your thermostat

• Goal: Keep your preferred temperature without constant negotiating.
• Google Home: Set a PIN for compatible thermostats (like Nest) to block manual changes.
• Amazon Alexa: For Alexa-compatible thermostats, check the manufacturer app for PIN options, or create a routine that resets the temperature on a schedule.
• Apple HomeKit: Create a scene (e.g., 'My temp') with your preferred setpoint, then schedule a Shortcut to run periodically to enforce it.

7. Never forget another load of laundry

• Goal: Get clear alerts when laundry is done.
• Google Home: Use your connected dryer’s 'cycle end' status to broadcast a voice message to selected speakers.
• No smart appliances? Use a smart plug with energy monitoring (e.g., Govee, TP-Link Kasa, 15A+). Trigger alerts when power drops, indicating the cycle ended.
• Apple HomeKit: Use an Eve Energy plug and a Shortcut triggered when current falls below a threshold. Action: flash lights or run a scene.
• Amazon Alexa: Use an energy-monitoring smart plug to trigger a Routine when wattage dips, then change a smart bulb color or announce completion.

8. Don’t water when it rains

• Goal: Prevent wasteful watering with weather-aware logic.
• Smart watering: Use B-Hyve or a smart plug rated for outdoors with your sprinkler system; add an outdoor temp sensor for accuracy.
• Google Home: Use seasonal schedules in Automations. For live weather conditions, use third-party services like IFTTT or Zapier.
• Amazon Alexa: Similarly, tap third-party integrations for weather-based routines.
• Apple HomeKit: Create a time-of-day automation, convert to a Shortcut, then 'Get Weather Forecast' and check for rain or a percentage chance. If rain is likely, do nothing; if not, turn the sprinkler plug on.

9. Play music or soundscapes on command

• Goal: Start focus music, ambient sounds, or playlists hands-free.
• Google Home: Create a household routine tied to a phrase (e.g., 'Hey Google, it’s chill time'). Set lights and play chosen media on a speaker or Chromecast from Spotify/YouTube.
• Apple HomeKit: Use a time or voice-triggered automation. On HomePod, play Apple Music or ambient sounds. Set 'Stop Playing After' to auto-stop.
• Amazon Alexa: In a Routine, choose Music & Audio and your source. Add a Sleep Timer so playback ends automatically.

10. Get an alert if someone leaves the garage door open

• Goal: Receive a smart alert without complex installs.
• Option 1: Use a budget camera with local storage to visually check the door.
• Option 2: Install a low-cost ZigBee tilt sensor and automate checks when everyone is away.
• Google Home: Tie the tilt sensor to 'Home & Away' status. If 'Everyone is Away' and the sensor reads 'open,' send a custom notification.
• Apple HomeKit: Use 'People Leave' automation; if the sensor is open after the last person leaves, notify your device.
• Amazon Alexa: Create a location-based Routine to check the sensor after you depart and send an alert if open.

Quick setup checklist

• Standardize: Name rooms and devices clearly across apps.
• Start small: Add one routine per pain point (energy, security, comfort).
• Test conditions: Verify presence detection and device states.
• Fail-safes: Use schedules and periodic checks to correct drift (e.g., thermostat enforcement, laundry alerts).

Upgrade your Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or Alexa ecosystem with these targeted automations and enjoy a smarter, safer, and more efficient home.

Source: https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-smart-home-owner-should-know