While having one of these is worthwhile in terms of avoiding the hassle of water damage (speaking from experience!), it’d be great if insurance companies offered a credit for installing one.
This is a must for peace of mind. I travel and can be away from my home for months at a time. This will be an amazing addition to keeping an eye on my home when I am away.
I got one today... Like the quality of the build and power of the motor to close the valve. I have the DN25 or 1" Main line that comes into my home. I think the only concern I have is the bracket used on a DN25 or 1" pipe. It requires you to use the metal hose clamp on the metal like shown at 2:18 of Shane's video, however the way it was shown on the demo pipe is not correct as the valves nut on the arm is supposed to align with the nut on the shutoff valve. In this picture it looks great because you are clamping down on the brass fitting when it should have been clamped to the 1" piping. In my experience, the hose clamp does allows a fair bit of flex, and after a few cycles the unit appears twisted. As Shane shows, he was able to add a piece of wood to provide support when opening or closing the valve, but that is not always the case. All in all it worked multiple times in testing, and in theory I am your not using this on a daily bases, so it will just sit there in case of an emergency leak, and I am confident it will do the job! I might recommend to anyone with similar experience that they inspect the unit on a regular schedule to make sure it keeps its alignment. Excellent video Shane, and besides Home Kit, I was able to pair with Home Assistant as well.
Installed mine last night. Works great. Been using the Aqara water sensors for years-saved my bacon at least twice just simply by alerting me. Now that it can shut the water off, I’m super excited. Install was super clean and easy for me. Couldn’t be happier that I got into Aqara products a few years ago-I’m a big fan. Really really like them.
Good deal for the price. I have the Bulldog and it's worked flawlessly on 3 occasions where I had a bad Aqara sensor that would give false alerts. There was no water leak, but it did prove that the system works as designed. I just replaced the water sensor with a new one and it's been fine since. Since the Bulldog and required hub can run close to $400 total, this Aqara device is certainly worth a look.
Nice. We spent most of 2023 remediating and rebuilding from water damage in our finished basement. Sadly, our home's main waterline failed at a spot BEFORE our shutoff valve. We had to shut off the water at the street. Granted, most water damage can be limited by quickly shutting off the water supply inside the home, so we will be making this investment to complement our MANY Aqara water detectors. Thanks for a thorough review of the Aqara Smart Valve Controller!
Awesome video, Shane! I’m surprised that they knocked this one out of the park for such a reasonable price! It’s in my shopping cart waiting for black Friday to see if it goes down a little bit, you never know!
Thanks for watching Larry! Since it's a newly launched product, I don't think it will go on sale during Black Friday. I would take advantage of that discount code in the video description before it expires if you were hoping to get one and save a little money.
how funny - I watched your older video this past week and ordered the yolink bulldog, was able to use the homebridge add on for yolink, get the yolink api and got everything in homekit. Works great!! Even shows that the water is running.
At 06:35, it dosn't look fully shut. Did you actualy drain your entire houshold system and make sure it was 100% off? At 07:12, it even shows it coming back a bit. Seems like you might’ve cut some corners and overlooked things for the sponsoring brand.
No corners cut. I shot and edited the video the same as I would, sponsored or not. Happy to answer your questions. No I did not drain my entire household system. I've shot other videos (there weren't sponsored btw) on water valves and I've never done this. My main valve is difficult to shut, as I explained in the video. This valve controller does just as good of a job as the previous valve controller I was using. The easier your valve is to open/close, the better the device will work. There are also the examples using the demo valve in the video to reference. At the end of the day, if I have a water leak and the valve closes, it will eliminate the immediate thread of water rushing through the house. I suppose even if the valve only closes 99% of the way, it's still a win. I'm happy with the product. If I overlooked anything, it was certainly not intentional for the sake of a sponsor.
Agreed with Robert, I think we need some more clarity via an official channel policy on what in the video is a sponsored talking point and which isn’t.
Great video. Now I need to look when I get home and see if we even have a shutoff valve in the garage. I know we have one outside, but not sure about near the water heater itself. Thank you!
Can they be used outdoors? My shut off valve is right next to the rainwater tank. I’m also thinking it might be a handy way to fill the water trough in the paddock when I think about it in the middle of the night 😂😂
Great peace of mind to have. We had a pipe freeze and break while out of town once-not pretty… I wonder if there is a way to integrate with SimpliSafe water sensors?
We had an absolute nightmare almost exactly 1 year ago which lead to us renovating our bathroom (a lot earlier than planned!). At least I got to fit some smart tech in the process 😉 and there are now 2 leak sensors in there.
Dude, I'm going broke buying all the stuff you recommend! I have been lucky and want to keep it that way so I bought one. I don't want to be jixed if I ignore the warnings.. LOL I do know a person that had a really bad flood while they were away from home on vacation.
This is a game changer for me. We have a newer home and for some reason they did not put a shut off in the garage or somewhere inside the home like newer homes (in DFW tx) have. Ours is in our flower bed so i need something that runs on batteries. We will be trying this for sure
You had me at Matter support, only to discover later that it needs their Zigbee hub/bridge. So, really, it's a Zigbee 3 device, not a matter device. It would have been sold to me if it was Matter over Thread.
@@seanc.5310 The OP is right. One of the reasons I eventually got rid of Aqara is their insistence on continue to use a Zigbee hub for a whole range of devices that are not related to each other. They need to stop it with the Zigbee hub and either start doing Matter and Thread, or say they don't support it.
For me there are just not enough features with this device, it does not measure water flow so the only way you know that you have a leak is if you use their water sensors. The problem is that if you don't know where you might get a leak where do you place the sensors. However the price point is good and it is simple in operation. I could see it being handy if your access to your water valve is awkward or you have a need to be able to remotely turn off your water supply like is a holiday home/let.
Thanks for the comment. Yea, you won't be able to get much else from a retrofit device like this. If you want something that can measure water pressure, you'll to have to install something in line with your plumbing and will likely require a plumber (unless you are very handy).
Yes, once you connect the Aqara Valve Controller to Apple Home (via Aqara hub), you can create automations with the Eve water sensor and the Aqara Valve Controller in Apple Home.
Hey Shane, I’m hoping you’ll have some input on a question. Background: I have a lot of Aqara water leak sensors, but the Aqara Valve Controller T1 just didn’t have enough torque for my valve - which I expected. I’m looking at the BullDog EVC200 HC2LXL, which I believe is the model you’d used in the past, but it appears they now have a newer version, same model but different look I think. And a few other models: EVC200-HCSML and a WiFi version now. WiFi is obviously their app only - no hub needed. So the question is, do you know if the EcoNet bulldog will pair with the Aqara M3 Hub or, if not, are the only HomeKit options the Homey or Thinka, since I don’t want Homebridge for this install? I’ve seen the Hubitat Elevation might work too for less. Thanks for any input you might have.
The Econet Bulldog will not pair with an Aqara M3 as it is not a Matter device. If you got the z-wave version of the Bulldog, you would need a z-wave hub (Homey, Habitat, etc.). If you don't want to mess with the wifi version and Homebridge, then you would have to use one of these z-wave hubs and integrate the z-wave model into homekit that way.
@ Thanks, Shane. Appreciate the help, and channel. That’s what I figured, and it looks like the Hubitat is the most cost effective path for my goals. It’s a vacation home, and the WiFi version wouldn’t easily get me the automation options I’d like. Homebridge would, and I’m running it at my main residence, but that adds some security admin maintenance overhead.
Hi Shane. I am totally interested in one of these, but my shutoff valve is outside and our house is cinder block construction. Not sure it can reach my Aqare M3 hub located inside the house. Any thoughts/suggestions? Also, does the Aqara app (or Apple Home) warn you about batteries needing replacement?
Good question. I would assume and hope that I'll get a notification when the battery gets low, but I cannot say for sure because I have not had it long enough to drain the batteries. Other Aqara products, like their smart locks, will send you a notification when batteries get low. This would be good feedback for Aqara though, if it's not already a feature. Regarding the range of the M3, it's hard to say. Zigbee range is typically pretty good but there are lots of factors to consider like walls, etc. My M3 hub is located in the middle of my house and I have a door sensor outside on my gates on both sides of the house. They connect fine. You might be able to get a zigbee repeater device, like their smart plug to place in between the valve and the hub to extend the zigbee range.
This unit is not compatible with outdoor shut off valves. It will likely not have the torque necessary since those valves aren't "greased" often and are exposed to the elements. Plus, it's not weatherproof or waterproof.
Nice video. Not wanting to be a Doubting Thomas, but it looks like if you didn't have the wall (Aqara) and the wood block (Bulldog) for leverage, neither might have been able open/close your house valve. My house has it's shutoff inline in a free-standing pipe. I could see having to jury rig a support bracket to provide additional leverage.
Yes you may be right. That's why I wanted to mention it. The easier your valve is to turn, the better these products will work. As seen, my demo valve turned fine with no issues, but my actual valve is much harder to turn.
The biggest problem with these devices is that they struggle with anything other than a newish shut off valve. These will get stiffer over time and if you have hard water, even faster. Whether you automate or not, exercise the valve periodically to ensure it moves when you need it to.
Thanks for watching Gregg. It is not waterproof. Here are the temp and humidity requirements: Operating temperature: -10°C ~ 50°C (14°C ~ 122°F) Working Humidity: 0 ~ 95% RH, no condensation
This is awesome, will be looking to add this into the home. Question, are the Aqara water sensors reusable? After water touches them, are they done or can they be used over and over?
It's different , since this is a retrofit and Moen Flo is inserted into the waterline and it can detect leaks based on pressure/water usage If aqara came out with something that included with water usage that'll be something but barrier to installation gets higher have to install into the water line (major modification)
Watching your video I noticed that on a water detect close cycle the Aqara is like the cheap WiFI/Zigbee units that I have and your mention of, it does not fully close (leaver is not at 90°). That potentially is a trickle of water still moving in the pipe. What's your take on that comment?
Hi Shane, greetings from Barcelona. I have two questions, can you SHUT and OPEN the valve from the Home app? Also, it is shown in Home app as an outlet and not as proper valve icon?
Purchased a new valve, and the M3 hub. However the M3 is saying you cannot control this device while I try. The M3 on the Aqara page says it is Zigbee as well as others. Do you know if this is true? What hub are you using with it if I might ask? Probably just me having a connection issue, but appreciate the help. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes the Valve Controller works with the Aqara M3 hub. That is the one that I am using also. Try setting up the valve controller close to your M3 hub if you think you may have connectivity issues. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
@@ShaneCreates Thanks Shane! I will keep trying. Have them sitting next to each other. Trying to set up via Homekit option vs Matter option. Think I will try to Matter next.
Yes for now anyways. It does the job and I like how easy it is to connect the Aqara water sensors that I'm already using. As long as the batteries last a long time, I'll keep using it. I've actually been using mine for a few months now during testing.
It is not waterproof so it probably depends on location and climate. Here are the specs for temp and humidity Operating temperature: -10°C ~ 50°C (14°C ~ 122°F) Working Humidity: 0 ~ 95% RH, no condensation
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the bulldog work on its own network with the water sensors, so even if the smart home hub went offline the sensors can still communicate with the bulldog directly to get the water shut off?
Maybe. I honestly never used the bulldog sensors. I still always used Aqara and other sensors and created automations with those to control the Bulldog. Same thing should apply with the Aqara valve. The sensors all connect via zigbee to the hub, which is also how the valve connects. So technically if the hub goes off line, the automations should still work locally, especially when using Aqara sensors.
@@ShaneCreates aqara products require at least one hub or proxy hub to be functional (has limitations) proxy hub activates (below) , if all sub hubs are down (When Aqara hub products (Like a se second or more Hub M3, Hub M2, Air Conditioning P3, Camera Hub G3 placed around the house) (proxy supported devices) Smart scene panel switch S1 Curtain Controller C3, LED Strip T1, LED strip driver T1, Ceiling Light T1, Spotlight V1, Wall Outlet H2 (an associated aqara switch or aqara wireless button should still work if all hubs are offline) I like the aqara H1 light switches as they can operate even with no hubs available (T1/T2 relays can be manually activated by pressing the button on them) and most automations if the hub is available, even with no internet will function in local mode
So it supports Matter, but needs a Zigbee hub? So it's safe to say it doesn't natively work on HomeKit, and isn't technically compatible. Notice how the box only says Alexa and Google Home. It doesnt mean Apple's HomeKit specification.
Yes it works natively in HomeKit. Anything that supports Matter, supports HomeKit natively. I’ve used a lot of products that support Matter but don’t say “works with HomeKit” on the box. It might just mean they didn’t apply for HomeKit certification. But they really don’t need to with matter support. All that gives them is a stamp on the box. But Matter supports HomeKit.If it wasn’t native support, you would see the “This accessory has not been certified to work with HomeKit” message, which is not the case.
@@ShaneCreates Then why does it need a Zigbee hub? It should work with just a Thread compatible router like the AppleTV or Homepod Mini like other Aqara products.
Well Matter supports multiple protocols including Thread, WiFi, and bridges. Lots of matter Wi-Fi devices don’t support thread, for example. And if a bridge supports matter, then compatible child accessories do as in this case.
@@ShaneCreatesawesome! Were you able to integrate it into HA directly without the Aqara hub or will that be required? Hoping I can just integrate it via Zigbee without having to buy a hub.
@@EthanTripp320 Looks like an Aqara hub is necessary. I'd recommend getting the Smart E1 Hub from Aqara as it is the cheapest of their hubs that supports Zigbee 3.0 (which is what you need)
It wasn't mentioned in the review, but this is not compatible for a large number of homes, especially in southern US, that have water shut-offs on the outside of their home. It is not waterproof or weatherproof.
I live in southern US. It just depends on when your house was built and your particular setup. I have a water shut off outside in the ground, and also inside the garage. I know people who didn’t even realize they had one in the garage. But you are correct, it is not waterproof.
@ShaneCreates That's a fair point. It's worth checking. I guess the point I was trying to make is that if you don't have an indoor shut-off connection and only have an outdoor shut-off valve, like a good number of homes here do, then this is not the product for you. Don't buy this product if that's the case, which I think is an important point to highlight.
@joxseph yea that’s true. I wonder if there is a way to weatherproof it…like a weatherproof box or something. Maybe if the temperatures don’t get too cold. Would be tricky but might be possible for someone that is handy.
@@ShaneCreates Hmmthere's nothing on their website about a weatherproof rating, unless I'm blind. Has your below ground one been submerged in water and come out ok?
@@AliB333 I did not mean that I have an Aqara Controller outside. Sorry I was not clear. I meant that I have a shut off valve both outside in the ground, as well as in the garage. The Aqara Valve Controller is not waterproof and not intended for outdoor use.
I can’t say I understand the “this video is sponsored but all thoughts and opinions are my own”… like do those two things not contradict each other? What are they paying you for then if you’re allegedly just reviewing the product without bias?
They are paying for coverage... so I talk about their product and inform the audience about it. That doesn't mean they tell me what to say. I only do this with brands and products that I like and are a good fit. I turn down a lot more than I accept. If I think a brand or product sucks, it won't be a sponsor on my channel.
This seems like a false sense of security. Wouldn’t you need to have sensors under every sink, every toilet…and what about the possibility of a burst pipe?
this looks like such a poorly designed thing. why not build it so it clasps the pipe above and below the valve, and use those points as leverage for rotation? Pass.
![[#79] Основы умного дома. LED-ленты, умные драйверы - подключение и установка](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Zb4V7UgxyoI/mqdefault.jpg)
While having one of these is worthwhile in terms of avoiding the hassle of water damage (speaking from experience!), it’d be great if insurance companies offered a credit for installing one.
Some do. Check with your insurer.
This is a must for peace of mind. I travel and can be away from my home for months at a time. This will be an amazing addition to keeping an eye on my home when I am away.
I got one today... Like the quality of the build and power of the motor to close the valve. I have the DN25 or 1" Main line that comes into my home. I think the only concern I have is the bracket used on a DN25 or 1" pipe. It requires you to use the metal hose clamp on the metal like shown at 2:18 of Shane's video, however the way it was shown on the demo pipe is not correct as the valves nut on the arm is supposed to align with the nut on the shutoff valve. In this picture it looks great because you are clamping down on the brass fitting when it should have been clamped to the 1" piping. In my experience, the hose clamp does allows a fair bit of flex, and after a few cycles the unit appears twisted. As Shane shows, he was able to add a piece of wood to provide support when opening or closing the valve, but that is not always the case. All in all it worked multiple times in testing, and in theory I am your not using this on a daily bases, so it will just sit there in case of an emergency leak, and I am confident it will do the job! I might recommend to anyone with similar experience that they inspect the unit on a regular schedule to make sure it keeps its alignment. Excellent video Shane, and besides Home Kit, I was able to pair with Home Assistant as well.
Installed mine last night. Works great. Been using the Aqara water sensors for years-saved my bacon at least twice just simply by alerting me. Now that it can shut the water off, I’m super excited. Install was super clean and easy for me. Couldn’t be happier that I got into Aqara products a few years ago-I’m a big fan. Really really like them.
Great to hear. Thanks for sharing!
Really wish they’d offer Thread versions alongside the Zigbee.
Good deal for the price. I have the Bulldog and it's worked flawlessly on 3 occasions where I had a bad Aqara sensor that would give false alerts. There was no water leak, but it did prove that the system works as designed. I just replaced the water sensor with a new one and it's been fine since. Since the Bulldog and required hub can run close to $400 total, this Aqara device is certainly worth a look.
Nice. We spent most of 2023 remediating and rebuilding from water damage in our finished basement. Sadly, our home's main waterline failed at a spot BEFORE our shutoff valve. We had to shut off the water at the street. Granted, most water damage can be limited by quickly shutting off the water supply inside the home, so we will be making this investment to complement our MANY Aqara water detectors. Thanks for a thorough review of the Aqara Smart Valve Controller!
I just had my father-in-law go through a serious bout of water damage in his home, so I’ll definitely be looking to get this in my home
Awesome video, Shane! I’m surprised that they knocked this one out of the park for such a reasonable price! It’s in my shopping cart waiting for black Friday to see if it goes down a little bit, you never know!
Thanks for watching Larry! Since it's a newly launched product, I don't think it will go on sale during Black Friday. I would take advantage of that discount code in the video description before it expires if you were hoping to get one and save a little money.
@ oh I didn’t know there was a code you didn’t mention it in the video at all. I’ll have to look for the code thank you, Shane!
how funny - I watched your older video this past week and ordered the yolink bulldog, was able to use the homebridge add on for yolink, get the yolink api and got everything in homekit. Works great!! Even shows that the water is running.
That's a great setup!
@@ShaneCreates Thanks! Honestly your older video was a ton of help just funny timing of this one too! thank you!
At 06:35, it dosn't look fully shut. Did you actualy drain your entire houshold system and make sure it was 100% off? At 07:12, it even shows it coming back a bit. Seems like you might’ve cut some corners and overlooked things for the sponsoring brand.
No corners cut. I shot and edited the video the same as I would, sponsored or not. Happy to answer your questions.
No I did not drain my entire household system. I've shot other videos (there weren't sponsored btw) on water valves and I've never done this. My main valve is difficult to shut, as I explained in the video. This valve controller does just as good of a job as the previous valve controller I was using. The easier your valve is to open/close, the better the device will work. There are also the examples using the demo valve in the video to reference.
At the end of the day, if I have a water leak and the valve closes, it will eliminate the immediate thread of water rushing through the house. I suppose even if the valve only closes 99% of the way, it's still a win. I'm happy with the product. If I overlooked anything, it was certainly not intentional for the sake of a sponsor.
Agreed with Robert, I think we need some more clarity via an official channel policy on what in the video is a sponsored talking point and which isn’t.
Great video. Now I need to look when I get home and see if we even have a shutoff valve in the garage. I know we have one outside, but not sure about near the water heater itself. Thank you!
Nice looks good. Just ordered two using your referral link and discount code. 😃
Can they be used outdoors? My shut off valve is right next to the rainwater tank. I’m also thinking it might be a handy way to fill the water trough in the paddock when I think about it in the middle of the night 😂😂
Great peace of mind to have. We had a pipe freeze and break while out of town once-not pretty… I wonder if there is a way to integrate with SimpliSafe water sensors?
We had an absolute nightmare almost exactly 1 year ago which lead to us renovating our bathroom (a lot earlier than planned!).
At least I got to fit some smart tech in the process 😉 and there are now 2 leak sensors in there.
Sounds like a great device, will it work on a rotary tap style stop valve? (Like we commonly have in the UK)
Dude, I'm going broke buying all the stuff you recommend! I have been lucky and want to keep it that way so I bought one. I don't want to be jixed if I ignore the warnings.. LOL I do know a person that had a really bad flood while they were away from home on vacation.
Are you still using the bulldog or did you switch to Aqara ?
Switched to Aqara and been using it for a few months. I'll keep using it as long as the batteries last a long time. Both are great options imo.
Have you checked out phyn? Seems to be a more indepth sensor without having to put pods all over the house.
This is a game changer for me. We have a newer home and for some reason they did not put a shut off in the garage or somewhere inside the home like newer homes (in DFW tx) have. Ours is in our flower bed so i need something that runs on batteries. We will be trying this for sure
Just know that it is not waterproof. So if putting it outside, try to weatherproof it somehow.
You had me at Matter support, only to discover later that it needs their Zigbee hub/bridge. So, really, it's a Zigbee 3 device, not a matter device. It would have been sold to me if it was Matter over Thread.
Aqara is making really good stuff stuff with a ton of support like matter. Prices are good and regularly go on sale
@@seanc.5310 The OP is right. One of the reasons I eventually got rid of Aqara is their insistence on continue to use a Zigbee hub for a whole range of devices that are not related to each other. They need to stop it with the Zigbee hub and either start doing Matter and Thread, or say they don't support it.
@@seanc.5310 almost everything I've looked at from them that supports matter is bridged and not a Matter over Thread.
For me there are just not enough features with this device, it does not measure water flow so the only way you know that you have a leak is if you use their water sensors. The problem is that if you don't know where you might get a leak where do you place the sensors. However the price point is good and it is simple in operation. I could see it being handy if your access to your water valve is awkward or you have a need to be able to remotely turn off your water supply like is a holiday home/let.
Thanks for the comment. Yea, you won't be able to get much else from a retrofit device like this. If you want something that can measure water pressure, you'll to have to install something in line with your plumbing and will likely require a plumber (unless you are very handy).
Great video thanks. I use Eve water sensors will they communicate with this Aqara water shut off?
Yes, once you connect the Aqara Valve Controller to Apple Home (via Aqara hub), you can create automations with the Eve water sensor and the Aqara Valve Controller in Apple Home.
Hey Shane, I’m hoping you’ll have some input on a question.
Background: I have a lot of Aqara water leak sensors, but the Aqara Valve Controller T1 just didn’t have enough torque for my valve - which I expected. I’m looking at the BullDog EVC200 HC2LXL, which I believe is the model you’d used in the past, but it appears they now have a newer version, same model but different look I think. And a few other models: EVC200-HCSML and a WiFi version now. WiFi is obviously their app only - no hub needed.
So the question is, do you know if the EcoNet bulldog will pair with the Aqara M3 Hub or, if not, are the only HomeKit options the Homey or Thinka, since I don’t want Homebridge for this install? I’ve seen the Hubitat Elevation might work too for less.
Thanks for any input you might have.
The Econet Bulldog will not pair with an Aqara M3 as it is not a Matter device. If you got the z-wave version of the Bulldog, you would need a z-wave hub (Homey, Habitat, etc.). If you don't want to mess with the wifi version and Homebridge, then you would have to use one of these z-wave hubs and integrate the z-wave model into homekit that way.
@ Thanks, Shane. Appreciate the help, and channel. That’s what I figured, and it looks like the Hubitat is the most cost effective path for my goals.
It’s a vacation home, and the WiFi version wouldn’t easily get me the automation options I’d like. Homebridge would, and I’m running it at my main residence, but that adds some security admin maintenance overhead.
Hi Shane. I am totally interested in one of these, but my shutoff valve is outside and our house is cinder block construction. Not sure it can reach my Aqare M3 hub located inside the house. Any thoughts/suggestions? Also, does the Aqara app (or Apple Home) warn you about batteries needing replacement?
Good question. I would assume and hope that I'll get a notification when the battery gets low, but I cannot say for sure because I have not had it long enough to drain the batteries. Other Aqara products, like their smart locks, will send you a notification when batteries get low. This would be good feedback for Aqara though, if it's not already a feature.
Regarding the range of the M3, it's hard to say. Zigbee range is typically pretty good but there are lots of factors to consider like walls, etc. My M3 hub is located in the middle of my house and I have a door sensor outside on my gates on both sides of the house. They connect fine. You might be able to get a zigbee repeater device, like their smart plug to place in between the valve and the hub to extend the zigbee range.
This unit is not compatible with outdoor shut off valves. It will likely not have the torque necessary since those valves aren't "greased" often and are exposed to the elements. Plus, it's not weatherproof or waterproof.
@@ShaneCreatesthanks for all the great info and responses!
I have the Moen Flo, which works great but…. It requires a plumber to install. The Aqara would not work at my house because I have a 1.5” pipe.
Nice video.
Not wanting to be a Doubting Thomas, but it looks like if you didn't have the wall (Aqara) and the wood block (Bulldog) for leverage, neither might have been able open/close your house valve. My house has it's shutoff inline in a free-standing pipe. I could see having to jury rig a support bracket to provide additional leverage.
Yes you may be right. That's why I wanted to mention it. The easier your valve is to turn, the better these products will work. As seen, my demo valve turned fine with no issues, but my actual valve is much harder to turn.
Battery powered (not plugged) and also doesn't work with 1-1/2" water main. Will be sticking with my Bulldog via Hubitat.
The biggest problem with these devices is that they struggle with anything other than a newish shut off valve. These will get stiffer over time and if you have hard water, even faster. Whether you automate or not, exercise the valve periodically to ensure it moves when you need it to.
How do you stop people from accidentally turning it off with Siri commands like "turn everything off"?
Same concern here.
Can you use this for gas shutoff?
Hi Shane, thanks for the video. My water cut off valve is outside. Do we know if this has an outdoor rating?
Thanks for watching Gregg. It is not waterproof. Here are the temp and humidity requirements:
Operating temperature:
-10°C ~ 50°C (14°C ~ 122°F)
Working Humidity:
0 ~ 95% RH, no condensation
Looking at the test. it's not closing the valve all the way. I am hearing complaints about that. Is this outdoor rated?
This is awesome, will be looking to add this into the home. Question, are the Aqara water sensors reusable? After water touches them, are they done or can they be used over and over?
Yup, I’ve had several leaks and once the contacts are dry they keep on truckin’
Shane, hope you are doing well. I've been watching your video for years. What's your take on the Aqara vibration sensor?
How does the performance compare the the Moen Flo?
I have never used the Moen Flo.
It's different , since this is a retrofit and Moen Flo is inserted into the waterline and it can detect leaks based on pressure/water usage
If aqara came out with something that included with water usage that'll be something but barrier to installation gets higher have to install into the water line (major modification)
My water shut off has a circular handle so no bueno for me. Know of any automated shut off kits that support that handle?
Watching your video I noticed that on a water detect close cycle the Aqara is like the cheap WiFI/Zigbee units that I have and your mention of, it does not fully close (leaver is not at 90°). That potentially is a trickle of water still moving in the pipe. What's your take on that comment?
Hi Shane! Did you try also the new Aqara smoke detector? 😀
I have not. I believe the smoke detector is sold exclusively for the EU market and not US.
So I have a shop air compressor we have to turn on and off everyday? Could I use this and set automations?
Sure as long as it has a compatible valve
Hi Shane, greetings from Barcelona. I have two questions, can you SHUT and OPEN the valve from the Home app?
Also, it is shown in Home app as an outlet and not as proper valve icon?
Yes you can shut and open the valve from the Home app. It does not show as a valve icon. It shows as a switch in HomeKit as seen in the video.
Purchased a new valve, and the M3 hub. However the M3 is saying you cannot control this device while I try. The M3 on the Aqara page says it is Zigbee as well as others. Do you know if this is true? What hub are you using with it if I might ask? Probably just me having a connection issue, but appreciate the help. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes the Valve Controller works with the Aqara M3 hub. That is the one that I am using also. Try setting up the valve controller close to your M3 hub if you think you may have connectivity issues. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
@@ShaneCreates Thanks Shane! I will keep trying. Have them sitting next to each other. Trying to set up via Homekit option vs Matter option. Think I will try to Matter next.
@@ShaneCreates Firmware update did it! Thanks
Noticed on the Amazon page that it requires any Aqara hub except the G2h Pro, which is the one I have. Sad.
So Shane will you be switching from the Bulldog to the Aqara?
Yes for now anyways. It does the job and I like how easy it is to connect the Aqara water sensors that I'm already using. As long as the batteries last a long time, I'll keep using it. I've actually been using mine for a few months now during testing.
Can you use it outdoor?
It is not waterproof so it probably depends on location and climate. Here are the specs for temp and humidity
Operating temperature:
-10°C ~ 50°C (14°C ~ 122°F)
Working Humidity:
0 ~ 95% RH, no condensation
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the bulldog work on its own network with the water sensors, so even if the smart home hub went offline the sensors can still communicate with the bulldog directly to get the water shut off?
Maybe. I honestly never used the bulldog sensors. I still always used Aqara and other sensors and created automations with those to control the Bulldog.
Same thing should apply with the Aqara valve. The sensors all connect via zigbee to the hub, which is also how the valve connects. So technically if the hub goes off line, the automations should still work locally, especially when using Aqara sensors.
@@ShaneCreates aqara products require at least one hub or proxy hub to be functional (has limitations)
proxy hub activates (below) , if all sub hubs are down (When Aqara hub products (Like a se second or more Hub M3, Hub M2, Air Conditioning P3, Camera Hub G3 placed around the house)
(proxy supported devices) Smart scene panel switch S1
Curtain Controller C3,
LED Strip T1,
LED strip driver T1, Ceiling Light T1, Spotlight V1, Wall Outlet H2 (an associated aqara switch or aqara wireless button should still work if all hubs are offline)
I like the aqara H1 light switches as they can operate even with no hubs available (T1/T2 relays can be manually activated by pressing the button on them) and most automations if the hub is available, even with no internet will function in local mode
Batteries only is no bueno. For this it needs to ac first and battery back up
maybe the app warns you when the batteries get low
So it supports Matter, but needs a Zigbee hub? So it's safe to say it doesn't natively work on HomeKit, and isn't technically compatible.
Notice how the box only says Alexa and Google Home. It doesnt mean Apple's HomeKit specification.
Yes it works natively in HomeKit. Anything that supports Matter, supports HomeKit natively. I’ve used a lot of products that support Matter but don’t say “works with HomeKit” on the box. It might just mean they didn’t apply for HomeKit certification. But they really don’t need to with matter support. All that gives them is a stamp on the box. But Matter supports HomeKit.If it wasn’t native support, you would see the “This accessory has not been certified to work with HomeKit” message, which is not the case.
@@ShaneCreates Then why does it need a Zigbee hub? It should work with just a Thread compatible router like the AppleTV or Homepod Mini like other Aqara products.
Well Matter supports multiple protocols including Thread, WiFi, and bridges. Lots of matter Wi-Fi devices don’t support thread, for example. And if a bridge supports matter, then compatible child accessories do as in this case.
Hopefully will be able to integrate natively with Home Assistant via Matter or Zigbee!
I have mine integrated into Home Assistant also via Matter.
@@ShaneCreatesawesome! Were you able to integrate it into HA directly without the Aqara hub or will that be required? Hoping I can just integrate it via Zigbee without having to buy a hub.
@@EthanTripp320 Looking for this answer too - thanks for asking!
@@EthanTripp320 Looks like an Aqara hub is necessary. I'd recommend getting the Smart E1 Hub from Aqara as it is the cheapest of their hubs that supports Zigbee 3.0 (which is what you need)
@@EthanTripp320 I am interested in this answer too, bit I am sure it is required since the Amazon posting states "Requires Aqara Zigbee 3.0 Hub."
Are there any that dont require a hub to work? Tired of having 10 hubs in the house for every little thing.
Nothing with native homekit support. There is a wifi version of the Econet bulldog, but it does not support HomeKit natively.
My water shut off valve is outside in the weather. Is that a problem?
Probably. These are not waterproof unfortunately.
Dang I missed the coupon code
Gggrrr…Not available for me in Australia 🇦🇺… Neither is the Aqara new Smoke Detector… AAARRRGGGHHH…
It wasn't mentioned in the review, but this is not compatible for a large number of homes, especially in southern US, that have water shut-offs on the outside of their home. It is not waterproof or weatherproof.
I live in southern US. It just depends on when your house was built and your particular setup. I have a water shut off outside in the ground, and also inside the garage. I know people who didn’t even realize they had one in the garage. But you are correct, it is not waterproof.
@ShaneCreates That's a fair point. It's worth checking. I guess the point I was trying to make is that if you don't have an indoor shut-off connection and only have an outdoor shut-off valve, like a good number of homes here do, then this is not the product for you. Don't buy this product if that's the case, which I think is an important point to highlight.
@joxseph yea that’s true. I wonder if there is a way to weatherproof it…like a weatherproof box or something. Maybe if the temperatures don’t get too cold. Would be tricky but might be possible for someone that is handy.
Is the valve controller water proof ?
It is not waterproof.
No option to power it through usb c? ☹️
No, battery only
It would be so much better if these devices had a hard-wired option instead of batteries. That's just a maintenance burden.
Check out the other one that I compared it to in the video if you prefer something that is plugged in.
This is great unless your shut off valve is outside in the ground =[
I have one outside in the ground as well as one in the garage. I know some people who have had one in their garage/house and never realized it.
@@ShaneCreates Hmmthere's nothing on their website about a weatherproof rating, unless I'm blind. Has your below ground one been submerged in water and come out ok?
@@AliB333 I did not mean that I have an Aqara Controller outside. Sorry I was not clear. I meant that I have a shut off valve both outside in the ground, as well as in the garage. The Aqara Valve Controller is not waterproof and not intended for outdoor use.
only downside of this is its battery operated. most people forget to put batteries in their fire alarms, probably will be the same for this device.
Conveniently, most home automation systems will notify you when device batteries run low
@@salbahejim true but so does a traditional fire alarm that keeps beeping but then will not get its batteries changed. just saying
@@bboycharminthat's not a fault of the device just people been lazy (the aqara will constantly warn you once the device is low power and offline)
@@leexgx true not a fault, just something critical like this could have an option to hardwire to power, but I get your point
I can’t say I understand the “this video is sponsored but all thoughts and opinions are my own”… like do those two things not contradict each other? What are they paying you for then if you’re allegedly just reviewing the product without bias?
They are paying for coverage... so I talk about their product and inform the audience about it. That doesn't mean they tell me what to say. I only do this with brands and products that I like and are a good fit. I turn down a lot more than I accept. If I think a brand or product sucks, it won't be a sponsor on my channel.
It cant be plugged in..
Good for not paying rent roommates
This seems like a false sense of security. Wouldn’t you need to have sensors under every sink, every toilet…and what about the possibility of a burst pipe?
I have sensors pretty much everywhere. Every sink, toilet, etc.
This is a bad device. You should not attach the valve to the pipe only. The bulldog is far superior to this device.
Naaa, I'm good. I love my dumb non-smart house ! Can't be hacked or if software support is dropped, then it's a hunk of junk.
Then why are you watching a fully smart home channel?
this looks like such a poorly designed thing. why not build it so it clasps the pipe above and below the valve, and use those points as leverage for rotation? Pass.
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Mister @Shane Whatley Any change for a new discount code? I just saw the video :/