Aqara Valve Controller T1 Review

Product Name: Introduction

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Whether you want to remotely control your gas or water supply or shut it off in an emergency, the Aqara Valve Controller T1 is a simple retrofit device that works with virtually any butterfly or lever valve.

There are some installation limitations, but under the right conditions this handy kit can be a great upgrade.

Design and installation

• Uses 4 AA batteries
• Works with lever valves and butterfly valves
• can only bend in one direction

Equipped with a manual valve that allows you to shut off the gas and water supply in case of an emergency or during work. The Aqara Valve Controller T1 is designed to automate these valves and is a great option in many situations.

The Aqara Valve Controller T1 is powered by 4 AA batteries and can be placed almost anywhere, although not outdoors. Ironically, this valve controller itself is not waterproof.

It connects via Zigbee, so it requires a compatible hub to work. I used an Aqara M200 and bridged it to the Matter platform to automate my underfloor heating.

Before you begin, we recommend connecting the Aqara Valve Controller T1 to your hub and checking the connections where it will be installed before you go through the trouble of physically installing it.

I installed an Aqara valve controller T1 in my underfloor heating. The plumber the builder used when renovating the kitchen didn’t bother installing a 2-port zone valve, so the floor gets hot when the radiator is installed. However, you can use T1 to isolate the subfloor.

However, the Aqara Valve Controller T1 can be used with any butterfly or lever valve. When combined with Aqara’s leak and gas detectors, you can create a fully automatic system that shuts off gas and water if a problem occurs.

Installation is a bit tedious. The electric lever rotates 90 degrees, but only in one direction, so the valve must be fitted with an Aqara Valve Controller T1 for proper operation.

It’s quite large and bulky. I had to remove the plaster to put it on, but it was still a tight fit.

The adjustable collar made it easy to get a tight fit so that the Aqara Valve Controller T1 doesn’t move during operation, but I don’t have access to the manual button to manually operate the valve, and I have to remove the manual button to change the battery.

Features and performance

• Compatible matters via hub
• Works smoothly and reliably

The Aqara Valve Controller T1 can be operated directly from the Aqara app with easy on/off control. It responds quickly to commands and makes a low mechanical sound while operating.

If you have an Aqara sensor, such as a water leak sensor, you can automate everything from the app, including turning off valves when water is detected.

There is also a timer option so you can manipulate the sprinkler system to run for a set period of time before shutting down. Of course, that requires the correct type of valve to be installed inside.

In my case I connected M200 to Matter. I used Tado X using Apple Home. When the kitchen heating was set on, I turned on the Aqara valve controller T1 to open the water. The valve closes when the heating stops.

I’ve used this routine all winter and it’s worked without fail every time. Convenient savings over having a plumber come in and install a 2-port zone valve.

Battery life is rated at up to 2 years, assuming you turn it on and off once a day. I use it more than this per day during the winter, but that’s less than half the year, so a new set of batteries will probably last me about two seasons.

final thoughts

A handy tool, the Aqara Valve Controller T1 automates virtually any valve as long as you have the space to mount the bulky device in the correct orientation. The Aqara Valve Controller T1 is a very useful tool as long as it fits. You can automate valves for safety or remotely control gas and water valves. This is useful in vacation homes so you can shut things down while you’re away.

Test method

When we publish a review, you can rest assured that it is the result of long-term testing.

Smart valves typically exist within an ecosystem or set of products that all work together in harmony. Therefore, it is impossible to use the smart valve for a week and make a judgment.

We test smart home kits all day, every day, so we know what’s important and how a particular smart bulb compares to the alternatives you’re considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective, and unbiased, and of course, we don’t receive direct compensation to review devices.

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