HomeKit Best HomeKit Device to Check on Laundry

[Joniz]

Hello,

Moving to a house that has the washer/dryer in the basement. Thing is, there’s no access to the basement from within the house. I have to go out the front door, down two sets of stone steps, across a large parking area, to a door on the side of the house. Bad enough, but in winter, it will be nothing short of painful.

My dryer works off of humidity, so I’m never sure how long it’ll take.

Anyway, I have no HomeKit, Google, or Alexa devices at all. What I’m looking for is a way to either a) be informed when the machine shuts off, or b) a way to check on it, like with a camera. And not needing to program a special set-up or spend a whole lot doing it.

Any suggestions for a HomeKit device? A camera or plug? (I don’t want either of the other two. Google or Alexa, that is.)

Thanks.

 

[Itinj24]

Hello,

Moving to a house that has the washer/dryer in the basement. Thing is, there’s no access to the basement from within the house. I have to go out the front door, down two sets of stone steps, across a large parking area, to a door on the side of the house. Bad enough, but in winter, it will be nothing short of painful.

My dryer works off of humidity, so I’m never sure how long it’ll take.

Anyway, I have no HomeKit, Google, or Alexa devices at all. What I’m looking for is a way to either a) be informed when the machine shuts off, or b) a way to check on it, like with a camera. And not needing to program a special set-up or spend a whole lot doing it.

Any suggestions for a HomeKit device? A camera or plug? (I don’t want either of the other two. Google or Alexa, that is.)

Thanks.

Aqara makes a vibration sensor that can send a notification when it stops vibrating. You’ll need an Aqara hub tho. You can use the native Aqara app or HomeKit. Both together will run you about 65 bux. Too bad you just missed Amazon Prime day. They were discounted pretty good.

 

[Joniz]

Aqara makes a vibration sensor that can send a notification when it stops vibrating. You’ll need an Aqara hub tho. You can use the native Aqara app or HomeKit. Both together will run you about 65 bux. Too bad you just missed Amazon Prime day. They were discounted pretty good.

Thanks, but how would that tell me that the washer or dryer stopped? From what I can see, it only tells you when something starts moving.

Though your suggestion did lead me to their camera, which looks like a possibility. Plus it appears to be a hub, and with the sensor you mentioned, I can also add a door sensor for pretty cheap. Thanks.

 

[Itinj24]

Thanks, but how would that tell me that the washer or dryer stopped? From what I can see, it only tells you when something starts moving.

Though your suggestion did lead me to their camera, which looks like a possibility. Plus it appears to be a hub, and with the sensor you mentioned, I can also add a door sensor for pretty cheap. Thanks.

The vibration. You can have it send a notification when it stops detecting vibration and that would let you know when it’s done. One of the more prominent HomeKit YouTube creators did just that.

You can get really creative and have it turn on a smart light when it stops vibrating 😎

Love the Aqara stuff. Work really great and affordable. Reliable stuff.

 

[Joniz]

One of the more prominent HomeKit YouTube creators did just that.

Thanks. I’ve been watching the videos. Very helpful.

It also struck me that a secure baby monitor might work.

 

[Itinj24]

Thanks. I’ve been watching the videos. Very helpful.

It also struck me that a secure baby monitor might work.

Shane Whatley is my favorite of all of them and the one I was talking about. He’s good with automations too.

 

[Joniz]

Shane Whatley is my favorite of all of them and the one I was talking about. He’s good with automations too.

Thanks again! I’ve been sitting through all his videos and now I’ve gone from knowing nothing about HomeKit to knowing everything!

I now know what needs to be done.

 

[malcky77]

If there is a smart plug that monitors power draw, then you would be able to know what the machines draw when just sitting idle against when it’s actually doing something…think that would be the easiest to do.

Edit: Just done a quick google search and posted a review of a product that just needs a wifi connection and the user to have the APP to check its info/status etc.

 

[malcky77]

 

[Joniz]

View attachment 1799585

Thanks. Problem is, the dryer runs off of 220v.