I’ve been exploring more of what Homey can do, and it made me curious about the features and automations that people actually use on a daily basis.
Is there a particular flow, device, or setup that has made a noticeable difference in your home? Maybe something that saves time, makes life easier, or just works so well that you barely think about it anymore.
I always enjoy hearing how others are using Homey because there’s usually a great idea or two that I haven’t considered before. What’s your go-to Homey setup these days?
Bathroom lights
Scene: automatically switching lights on, but the lights set depends of time. During day there are brighter lights, during night the dimmed lights. Also there is a red “On Air” light on door
Also, as here in forum multiple users/times discussed - notification about “Washing machine is finished”
I have a bunch of Flows that really make life easier and would be hard to replicate on simpler Smart Home systems:
Mailbox Alert
A battery powered motion detector from IKEA placed inside the mailbox, so I get a push message when the postman opens the lid to drop off mail. The flow is combined with a door sensor on my house door, so whenever I open the door, the flow is disabled for 2 minutes to not trigger the alarm when I fetch the mail myself.
Washing Machine and Dishwasher
A smart power plug per device monitoring power usage with some very precise timing/limits to and a bunch of flows. My doorbell chimes with a specific signal when the machine is done, and if I don’t turn it off within 8 minutes, it rings again and this time I also get a push message as reminder.
Whirlpool
I have a small indoor whirlpool, that has it’s own fuse/safety builtin. When power gets interrupted, the pool will switch off and stay off, even if power comes back. I have to press a button manually to reset it. This state is noticeable with a smart power plug, so I get a warning if the pool stays in that mode for longer than 15 minutes. Without that power reset, the water in the pool will go bad after some time (no heat, no movement).
For me, it’s the presence-based automations. Homey automatically adjusts lights and a few devices when someone leaves or arrives home, and after using it for a while, I completely forget it’s even running. Everything just feels more natural.
I also have a few simple routines that turn off unnecessary lights and devices at night. Nothing fancy, but it’s one of those things that saves time every single day.
The motion-sensor setup for checking on a family member is honestly a clever use of Homey, and I can definitely relate to the washing machine notifications too. It sounds small, but not having to remember to check if a load is finished is surprisingly useful.
Reading how everyone uses Homey is always inspiring. Every time I browse these discussions, I end up finding another automation I want to try.
I have the usual motion/presence sensor triggers light flows, some of which take the time of day (or sunset) into consideration.
I love the flows that send me messages when my plants are thirsty or need additional nutrients (Aqara plant sensors trigger these flows).
I wake up by natural light because I have a flow that opens the blinds in the bedroom in the morning.
I recently added a ton of waterleak sensors and a valve controller. When one of these sensors senses water, then a host of alarm bels and messages (lights on, Google Cast messages, notifications, etc.) get triggered, but also the valve controller closes the main water flow in the house. I never use it, but it gives me such piece of mind.
Next to Homey, I use Google a lot to get things done, like switching lights and controlling roller blinds.
