Aqara has announced the global availability of its Valve Controller T1, a retrofit solution acting as an emergency shutoff in smart water pipeline control systems. The smart home product was first unveiled at IFA 2024.
The T1 enters into a niche category of smart products addressing home systems that remain largely overlooked in modern automation and control: that being a house’s plumbing.
Aquara’s T1 Valve Controller Delivers Proactive Protection During Leak Events
According to Aqara, the Valve Controller T1 acts as a retrofit solution, attaching to the lever or butterfly handle of most household valves. The water leak detector works with DN15, DN20, and DN25 pipes (1/2 inch, 3/4 inch and 1 inch), and the product requires no major modifications to existing plumbing, meaning integrators with no broader expertise in plumbing can install the device.
A pack of four AA batteries powers the devices and allowing it to install in virtually any location without the need of additional wiring. The low-power Zigbee protocol allows for a battery life of up to two years, making the Valve Controller cost-effective and low-maintenance for both integrators and their clients.
One factor to note with the Valve Controller T1 is that it only provides the action of turning off a valve for homeowners. On its own, the device is incapable of detecting water leak incidents, and requires pairing with sensors in order to be able to automatically respond to leak incidents. Once paired with a leak sensor, however, the valve can activate as soon as it detects an event, allowing it to prevent water damage when homeowners are away from home.
2024 Lighting Controls and Fixtures Report
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.Download your copy now!
Users can also remotely control and schedule the valve controller via the mobile app, though manual manipulation is also an option.
The Valve Controller T1 integrates with most third-party platforms, such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant, Homey, and Samsung SmartThings as stated by Aqara. These integrations are done through Matter and require an Aqara Matter bridge to connect with other smart home devices.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
