New York IoT firm Aqara has announced the global availability of its Valve Controller T1, a retrofit designed for smart water pipeline control.

First unveiled at September’s IFA in Berlin, the controller is seen as a step forward in home automation by bringing intelligence to often-overlooked home components – water valves and pipes. With this launch, Aqara says it reinforces its commitment to making homes more safe, reliable and sustainable.

With safety as the priority, it offers homeowners peace of mind by providing an added layer of protection against water leak incidents. By pairing the device with water leak sensors, users can create a DIY water management system that offers round-the-clock real-time leak monitoring and immediate auto shutoff in case of a potential flood, which prevents water damage, particularly when homeowners are away from home. The valve controller can also be remotely controlled or scheduled via the mobile app, or by manual manipulation.

Designed with ease of installation in mind, it has a retrofit design that attaches to the lever or butterfly handle of most household valves. It is compatible with DN15, DN20 and DN25 pipes, and is DIY-friendly as it requires no major modifications to existing plumbing. Powered by a pack of four AA batteries, this device can be installed in virtually any location without the need of additional wiring. The low-power Zigbee protocol allows for a battery life of up to two years.

The controller integrates seamlessly with most third-party smart-home platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant, Homey and Samsung SmartThings. This integration is made possible through its Matter compatibility via an Aqara Matter bridge, ensuring the device is future-proof and easily connects with other smart home devices. An Aqara hub is required for Matter compatibility.

The device uses the Zigbee protocol for enhanced reliability through local networking. Its ability to respond promptly to potential threats makes it a useful component of a smart-home setup.

For more information, go to www.aqara.com/en/product/valve-controller-t1.