The Digital Home Magazine

Smart tech reviews, how-to's and more

In recent years, smart homes have long since become a matter of course: More and more people are digitally networking individual elements in their homes. The networking of smoke detectors, thermostats or even electrical devices in the household can now be easily controlled from a smartphone or laptop. In this way there is a comfortable control with simultaneous energy savings . These advantages also bring door and window sensors with them, which can normally be retrofitted to all common window types and embedded in an existing smart home system.
Ultimately the type of sensors you’re going to want will depend heavily on the eco system you’re using, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi and RF (433mhz) systems are all widely available and can all be integrated with your smart home.

Benefits of door and window sensors

Window and door sensors are able to automatically detect whether windows and doors are closed or open. High-quality window sensors can also detect whether a window has been tilted. Thanks to the technical networking, installed sensors can also control the heating system in the house. When the window is open, the heating adjusts the output accordingly - this saves energy efficiently . Many systems also have a motion detector, which makes an important contribution to burglar protection and can be a practical addition to the alarm system.

Internal Door Sensors

Internal door sensors can also be used to toggle light switches, monitor rooms for use and presence detections depending on the system that they’re paired with. By using pre-set rules door sensors can perform different tasks at different times of the day, turning ceiling lights on during the day, and lamps on later in the day. If paired with motion sensors and light sensors more complex rules can be created.

How do door and window sensors work?

Most systems are made up of two compact parts : a fastening as a bracket and a magnet, when these are separated a signal is sent. Window sensors are usually battery operated and can be networked directly with the central control of the smart home system . The magnetic contact can then detect the integrated sensor and thus determine the state of the window - open, tilted or closed. This data is then transmitted to the smart home centre. The user can then use the app to see whether the window is currently open or not.

Smart Heading and Window Sensors

Door and window sensors prove to be particularly effective when they are linked to the radiator thermostat. If a window is open, the temperature sensor reacts and the house control automatically deactivates the heating. Considerable savings can often be achieved if energy-saving windows are also installed. In this way, the digital system can not only make a contribution to environmental protection, but also save money.
A window sensor as an exhaust air control ensures increased safety in particular if you operate an extractor hood with an extractor leading to the outside and at the same time, for example, a Swedish stove or open fireplace. The extractor hood is then controlled so that it only works when a window in the room is open. Otherwise there is a risk that poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide from the fireplace can get back into the room and damage the residents.

Installation of window and door sensors

  • Double-sided tape is required to install sensors for doors and windows. Often there are already adhesive strips on the components, from which only the carrier film has to be removed.
  • One problem, however, is often: If the windows cool down at night and in the winter months, the adhesive fastening sometimes also comes off.
  • It is therefore better to drill a hole. While the mounting bracket is being installed on the frame of the door or window, the magnet must be installed on the moving window sash.
  • Once installed, the system can then be connected to the SmartHome software immediately.
  • Special technical knowledge is not required for this; the manufacturer usually also provides instructions.

    What Smart Home Sensors are available?

    Smart home sensors come in a variety of formats including Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi and RF (433mhz) systems. Bluetooth BLE devices are also likely to hit the market more widely in the next year or so but for the moment are largely the mainstay of more expensive proprietary systems.