Amazon Echo allows you to control a large number of smart devices via voice commands, simply by configuring the skills and entering the access credentials for the various home automation services compatible with the Amazon Alexa app. If in the middle of autumn or winter we want to intelligently control the heating of our home, without having to get up and waste time on the thermostat or near the boiler every time, in this guide we will show you all the steps to be done to control the heating with Amazon Echo and Alexa . In the guide we will find all the steps to configure a Wi-Fi thermostat compatible with Alexa, how to create the account of the online service (necessary to replicate the operation even remotely), how to add the service to Alexa and finally how to configure the most useful routines, so as to control the heating through simple voice commands from the Amazon Echo in our possession.
How to control heating with Amazon Echo and Alexa
In order to effectively control the autonomous heating present in the home, we will have to configure an intelligent thermostat with dedicated remote control service (compatible with Alexa) and finally add it to the Amazon Alexa app, so that we can also create routines for the Amazon Echo our possession.If we still do not have an Amazon Echo at home, we can remedy it by visiting the official Amazon page and reading what the Amazon Echo is used for and how it works .
Choose the smart thermostat
First we will have to choose a new smart thermostat with which to control the ignition of the boiler; if we already have a thermostat but without smart functionality, we cut off the electricity from the meter and remove it from its housing, so that we can replace it with a new thermostat such as the Decdeal Wi-Fi Thermostat for Gas Boiler (€ 44).
This thermostat allows you to turn the boiler on and off via the dedicated app (which we will show you in the next chapter). Once the thermostat is obtained, connect it in its housing and reactivate the electric current to check its correct operation.
If we want to view other thermostats compatible with Alexa, we invite you to choose from the models visible on the official Amazon page.
READ ALSO: Smart thermostat and automatic heating and air conditioner control
Configure the online service of the thermostat
After connecting the thermostat to the boiler, we install its specific app to configure the remote control service; for the thermostat seen above we will have to install the BecaSmart app, available for Android and iPhone.
Once the app is opened, we immediately create a new account by providing an email address and a password, then we add the thermostat to the home Wi-Fi network, following the procedure described in the manual (when turned off we will have to press the specific button to open the thermostat configuration, connect the phone to it and provide the password to access the wireless network).
Once the thermostat is added to the Wi-Fi network, it will appear within the app and we can start configuring the scenarios to be used later on Alexa; to do this, open the Smart menu, press + on the top right and start creating a scenario for each thermostat mode ( Turn on, Turn off, Manual mode and Programming mode ).
From the thermostat app we are done; now we will see how to add the service to Amazon Alexa and later how to take advantage of the routines to control the heating in every room where an Amazon Echo is placed.
Add the thermostat to Amazon Alexa
To add the thermostat to Amazon Alexa we will first need to download the app of the same name, available for Android and iPhone.
Once the app is downloaded, open it and log in with our Amazon account; immediately after we press the button with the three horizontal lines at the top left, open the Skill menu and play and search for the Smart Life skill.
Click on the Enable use button and enter the access credentials registered on the BecaSmart app; in this way Alexa will be able to access the thermostat control settings and will also load the scenarios created, so as to have maximum control over the device's functions.
Configure routines for Amazon Echo
Now that Alexa is connected to the thermostat, we can configure the routines for the Amazon Echo, so that we can customize the voice commands to be launched to manage the heating in our home. We open the Alexa app, press on the bottom right on the Devices menu, select the room where the thermostat is located (if we have created one), press on the name of the thermostat then tap on the bottom Create a routine .
In the next screen we create a new routine by pressing the + button at the top right; now we will have to choose the condition to activate the routine (a specific voice command, an hourly schedule etc.) and start one or more scenarios among those loaded by the thermostat service, using Voice in the menu When this happens and Smart home in the Add a menu action .
Below we can find some examples:
- "Alexa, I'm cold" : how we can set the thermostat on and manual scenarios, so as to turn on the device and start the manual mode.
- "Alexa, turn on the boiler" : exactly as above we can set the Turn on and Manual scenarios .
- "Alexa, I'm going out" : as an action we can set the Turn off scenario, so as to turn off the thermostat in our absence.
- "Alexa, I'm going to sleep" : to avoid leaving the heating on all day, set the programming mode as scenario, so as to leave the ignition to the thermostat (and prevent them from remaining on during the night).
- "Alexa, I'm not cold anymore" : as above we set the programming mode as scenario, so as to leave the heating management to the thermostat.
To create more voice commands with Alexa, please read our Amazon Alexa guide : How to create routines and new voice commands .
Conclusions
Home automation is also this: things we normally did with a touch on the screen or with analog devices that can now be controlled with our voice, placing in the rooms of our house the smart speakers produced by the big manufacturers (in this case Amazon with its Echo).If instead of the Echo environment we wanted to use Google Home Nest and Google Assistant, we recommend you read our guides What Google Home (Nest) can do: voice assistant, music and home automation and Google Assistant: How to create new voice commands .
To broaden the array of smart home devices to be controlled with Alexa and Amazon Echo, we invite you to read our article Home Automation (Smart Home): the best devices to install and use .
