Washing Machine Notifications

Automation Inspirations
1

Thought I’d share the setup for my washing machine notification automation in Home Assistant which uses Aqara sensors.

The functionality

  • Messages the person who started a wash once it’s finished if they are home
  • If no one is home, it will message the person who started it when they get home
  • If 10 minutes after finishing, the person who started it isn’t home but someone else is, it’ll message them
  • If no one has emptied the washing 30 minutes after finishing, it will deliver one last reminder.

The setup:

  • The washing machine is plugged in via an Aqara H2 smart plug
  • There’s an Aqara window/door sensor on the utility cupboard door (but you could easily just use an Aqara multi-state P100 sensor on the washing machine door).

The automation

  • HA monitors the power draw from the washing machine. Once it goes over a set threshold, it turns on a helper saying the machine is in use. Check who is currently at home and for anyone who is, turn on a helper for them.
  • Once the power usage drops below a set threshold for 30 seconds, and the machine in use helper is turned on; Turn off machine in use helper, turn on Wash finished helper, and if anyone who was home when the machine was started is currently home, send them a notification saying the wash is finished. Set a helper saying the door is unused.
  • When someone opens the utility cupboard, if the ‘door is unused’ helper is on, turn it off and turn off the ‘wash finished’ helper (which assumes the washing is now collected).
  • If someone who was home when the wash was started arrives home and the wash hasn’t yet been collected, message then 5 minutes after arrival.
  • If no one has collected the washing half an hour after finishing, message anyone at home.

I plan to add a BT strength grid to the house so I can determine who is in what room based on the signal strength with their phone, at which point I can more accurately determine who started the wash rather than just who was home at the time.

Let me know if you want copies of the YAML

11 Likes
2

Hello.nice setup but why complicate that much?I made my washing machine smart and to send me notification when the power drops under 2w made in Aqara home app.sure is an simple automation but it works perfectly.

3 Likes
3

Well firstly, I’m a big fan of over-engineering everything I lay my hands on, but also, I wanted it to notify the person who started the wash. If someone is at work and the other runs 3 washes in a day, the person at work doesn’t need to keep getting notifications, and if the wash finished while you’re out, even though you get the notification then, you may forget when you get home later, so this ensures both of those situations are covered.

But a lot of it is down to my obsession with over-engineering.

3 Likes
4

Sure each does and set their smart home for their needs I was just curious this is why I asked.for me my wife doesn’t care to much about smart home or if the washing machine is done this is why I made it more simple I also have an wireless button to turn on the plug so when I sleep in the morning to notify me if she was turned on the washing machine this way I know and no need to check for till it finish when I get the notification.

2 Likes
5

Thanks for sharing. Inspring

3 Likes
6

Then definitely check out the HACS-WashData integration, which can send you notifications and recognise the programme, showing you how much longer the wash cycle will take. It also works with tumble dryers, dishwashers and other devices.

That might not work passively, though. Modern smartphones (both iOS and Android) use Bluetooth MAC address randomization specifically to block that kind of passive tracking, so your grid will quickly lose track of the devices.

4 Likes
7

One safeguard I’d add is a minimum run time before the low-power check can mark the wash as finished. Some machines pause during a cycle, so a short idle period could otherwise look like completion. A longer low-power window might help too.

8

Yeah, that’s can be an issue, but check out Bermuda BLE or ESPresense. Both support tracking BLE via IRK (Identity Resolving Key) which stays constant unless you reset the BLE device. I don’t think this is a cure-all for all BLE devices, but it definitely addresses it for Apple iPhones, iPads, and watches.

2 Likes
9

Thanks for the tip!

I actually came across this integration by chance a few hours ago:

I tried it out right away, and it seems to work. Amazing. Is there anything you can’t do with Home Assistant?

However, the app is still miscalculating my distance. No matter which room I’m in or how far away I am, it always shows me as being 0.0 to 0.1 meters away. Let’s see if that changes over time.

2 Likes