Smart Home Hacks

Chapter 3. Kitchen and Bath

Hacks 37–46

Your kitchen and bathroom are the utilitarian workhorses of your home, and the hacks in this chapter reflect that character.

You’ll find methods for keeping an eye out for water leaks [Hack #44], discouraging your teens from standing in front of an open fridge [Hack #42], and automating your furnace and air conditioner [Hack #41]. There’s some fun here, too, such as warming a toilet seat [Hack #43] for those cold winter mornings and an easy-to-set-up alarm that will let you know if a repairman sneaks a beer [Hack #38] when your back is turned.

Come to think of it, this chapter also reflects that great tradition of having a kitchen drawer for keeping doodads and tools that you’re not sure how you’d live without. If you look carefully, you’re sure to find something that brings a smile to your face or a technique that you’ll keep close at hand.

Brew Your Morning Coffee

Controlling a coffeepot is the home automation equivalent to a programmer’s “Hello World” application; everyone needs to try it at least once, even if you don’t drink coffee.

The promise of a freshly brewed pot of coffee, timed perfectly to coincide with your morning routine, is the stuff from which marketing campaigns are made. I dare say, this task is second only to home security when it comes to home automation’s raison d'être. Not only is it useful, particularly if you’re a coffee drinker, but it’s also a good starter project because it requires you to learn many of the key practices ...