Cameras, Leak Detectors and Other Smart Home Devices Are Now on Sale

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I, too, would love the new robot vacuum cleaner you deployed for Christmas that will roam your floors, or the smart oven that promises to never overcook or undercook, but the truth is that the average smart home runs on a hidden a stream of rather uninteresting things. : plugs, wall switches, sensors and the like. It’s not such a big splurge of money as a robot vacuum, but it does add up, so I always try to remember to stock up at this time of year when there are big discounts. Here are nine sales I’m paying attention to and why.

Tile Bluetooth Stickers

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I can lose anything, even at home. Keys, wallet, dog leashes, but the thing I kept looking for were remotes. Tile stickers solve this problem by sticking to the remote control and helping you find them. Unfortunately, you can’t replace the battery on these stickers, so once they die, you’ll have to replace them—and at $30 a pop, that makes you think twice. So grab them now for almost 30% off at 19.99. No, they’re not Apple tags and only work via Bluetooth, but they’re great for finding things around the house.

Mini indoor camera Blink

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Some people would never put a camera in their home, and I understand their concerns about privacy. But for me, being able to spy on passive things either from another room or while I’m not home, be it a houseplant, a boiling pot on the stove, or my pet, is a trade-off I’m okay with. If you decide that you do, my best advice is to get the Blink Minis, of which I already had several, and the Pan and Tilt base, which made my Minis even more useful. They are tiny and can be attached almost anywhere. Pan and tilt are currently 50% off, and Minis are also heavily discounted.

Smart surge protector Kasa

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The only surge protector I could find with more than one smart plug is the Kasa, which has six. After getting a big discount earlier this year, I bought one and am very pleased with how it works, interacting with my grow lights so I can automate them turning them on and off. It doesn’t require a hub, so if you’re new to Kasa products, you can control it using Alexa, Google Home, or the Kasa app. Almost half off, it’s time to buy it. In fact, you can use this time to save on all discounted Kasa smart plugs.

Moen Water Leak Detector

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I have water leak detectors all over the house: near the water heater, under the kitchen sink, in the corner of the garage where water can sometimes get in during a storm, and near my self-watering plants. I have always believed that the cost of the sensors outweighs the damage and annoyance that a flood can cause. I was quite pleased when my water heater started leaking while I was out of town last winter, but I had 1500 miles notice and could have sent someone before any real damage was done.

Smart Motion Sensor Switchbot

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I’ll be talking a lot about sensors this year because now that Google Home has better triggers, these sensors will power the automation in your home, office, and everywhere else you go. Switchbot is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands because they focus less on keeping things small and modern and instead make them useful. A motion sensor is a good place to start when building your automation system. Detect movement in the room to turn on the lights, see if anyone is raiding the pantry or if your cat is climbing on the counters while you’re not home. Mount it on the wall or use the included stand.

GE Cync Smart Light Switch

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Smart wall switches aren’t anything new, they simply make everything that was already connected to that switch smart – fans, lights, etc. If you really like being able to turn off every light in the house with a single button, replacing wall switches Switches Smart Switches will help you with this. What makes it special is that it does not require a neutral (white) wire that most smart switches require. So if this requirement is holding you back, GE has you covered.

Meross Smart Light Switch for HomeKit and Google

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Many devices work with either Homekit or Alexa/Google, so this switch from Meross is a good addition if you have a neutral wire to work with. Meross is a company I really like for their smart plugs, and while I haven’t tried this particular switch for under $20, I would definitely give it a try.

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