In the Fall of 2020, we had a laundry malfunction that flooded our downstairs. It happened fast and did a lot of damage quickly. I was already into smart home technology, but had not really used Aqara before. I had seen review videos of their devices and was surprised by how affordable they were. My first hub was the original M1 and a handful of leak sensors that I still use (and have expanded) to this day.
I say it all the time - most people don’t think about leak prevention until AFTER they’ve had damage and the costs have added up. So if you’re blessed to not have had this experience I would strongly advise you invest in leak sensors and even in an automated shut off system (like the Aqara T1 valve which came out years later).
My smart home journey has come a long way since then, and my story is intertwined with Aqara. I became a beta tester for Aqara in early 2022, and within the last year an Aqara forum Expert.
In my personal life, my career in tech and smart home hobbies intersected as I launched a smart home installation business in our local area, followed by a YouTube channel.
Now in my business, one of the first things I always recommend is water leak detection and shutoff. It’s too easy and affordable to skip over it when the other option is disastrous. I’ve had customers had this solution save them within weeks of install. It’s too common of a problem - But it’s what got me started with Aqara, so maybe that’s the silver lining.
