Chapter 2 of The Smart Home Journal brings a range of updates and improvements to our current smart home setup.
The Smart Home Blog New Posts:
Getting Started with the Home Assistant Green
Adding the Eve Thermo to Home Assistant
The Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 Review
Eve Weather: The Brilliant HomeKit Weather Station
Adding the MeacoDry Arete Two to Home Assistant
Getting Started with HomeKit Energy Dashboard
New Hardware Added to the Smart Home
Aqara Presence Sensors FP2 (HomeKit and Home Assistant)
Installed two Presence sensors and redeployed motion sensors Presence allowed for more accurate automation in my smart home.
Four additional Window Sensors (HomeKit and Home Assistant). These trigger a number of automations when opened and closed. However I haven’t quite perfected these routines as yet. Two problems persist:
- When the window is closed the thermostat remains at 9 degrees.
- A scheduled change in thermostat temperature overrides the base temperature even if the window is open.
I predict I am going to have to move this automation to Home Assistant to fully integrate into my smart home. Finally we added the MeacoDry Arete Two to ensure the correct humidity upstairs. I have create a number of automations to control the dehumidifier:
- Power off at 10pm
- Power on when the bedroom lamp is turned on (between 6am and 8am)
- Adjust humidity level to 50% from 8am to 10pm.
Full List of Purchases [Amazon Affiliate]
Aqara Door and Window P2
Aqara Presence Sensor
Eve Energy
Ecowitt Soil Sensor (2nd)
Home Automation: Software Updates
Home Assistant 2025.3
The Home Assistant update saw a raft of updates with the release of 2025.3. You can read the full list of changes here. The Matter integration has come out of Beta and has now been officially certified by the CSA (The Connectivity Standard Alliance).
Home Assistant and the Open Home Foundation Matter server are the the first open-source projects to receive this certification. These are significant updates for our smart home setup.
Eufy Security Update
I removed Eufy cameras from HomeKit to increase recorded resolution. The advantages of HomeKit access do not outweigh the quality drop. To be honest I can do everything I need within the Eufy Secure App.
We installed the Eufy S3 Pro [Amazon Affiliate] at the end of last summer. One has limited solar coverage and the charge had dropped from full to 34%. As we approach summer It’s interesting to see that this has recovered to 44% with just a week of sunlight. I am hoping it reaches 100% by the end of June.
Home Assistant Weather Dashboard Update
Talking of solar I upgraded my weather dashboard thanks to Erwin in the Home Assistant Facebook Group. I have created a graph that will monitor daily max solar which aids in managing my smart home efficiently.
Read more about the Ecowitt Weather Station and Eve Weather Station.
Smart Home Maintenance: Replacing the Eve Door & Window Sensor Battery
Keeping smart home devices running smoothly often comes down to regular maintenance—something that can be easy to overlook. I recently had to replace the battery in my Eve Door & Window sensor [Amazon Affiliate], a task I only realized was necessary when my garage remained dark upon entry.
Like many users, I don’t always notice when these batteries are running low. Unfortunately, it’s often only when automation fail, like a light not turning on, that the issue becomes apparent. If you rely on similar sensors for seamless smart home functionality, it may be worth setting a reminder to check battery levels before they impact your daily routine.
Google Discontinues Nest Protect: Everything is (not) OK
This month, Google announced the discontinuation of its Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. While no specific reason was provided, the official statement acknowledged the device’s strong reputation and innovative features. It almost read like a mournful goodbye of a celebrated product by very company making it the end.
As a longtime Nest Protect user, I have four units in my home. Beyond their core safety functionality, they offer sleek design elements, including the signature path light, a feature many homeowners have come to appreciate.
For those who already own a Nest Protect, there’s no immediate cause for concern. Google has confirmed that existing devices will continue to function as expected until their expiration dates and will receive ongoing software and security updates.
That said, the search for a worthy replacement begins. If you know of a smoke and CO detector that rivals Nest Protect in both design and performance, (and ideally a path light) share your recommendations in the comments.
The Smart Home Dilemma: Is Nest Losing Its Edge?
When I first invested in the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Protect back in 2018, a nagging fear lingered in the back of my mind. Traditional, no frills thermostat systems have quietly and reliably controlled home temperatures for decades.
Would the risk of inevitable obsolescence of a high-tech alternative offset the money saved on energy efficiency? Would my Nest ecosystem become redundant within just a five or six years of installation?
Fast-forward to today, and my concerns don’t seem entirely unfounded. The Nest app has remained largely unchanged, with only a slow trickle of features migrating over to Google Home. In a twist of irony, I recently found myself celebrating the long overdue appearance of Nest Protect in the latest Google Home public preview release. Will the Learning Thermostats be next? With no Matter supported Nest Thermostats in the UK it feels like the final chapter may be drawing near.
At least I have three years left on my current Protects. I will miss “There is smoke in the family room, the alarm may sound, it’s going to be loud” each time I mess up lightning the stove. If anyone is aware of a system that offers voice announcements, please add it to the comments below.
Read last month’s Smart Home Journal
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