If This Then That is a wonderful solution for controlling all IoT/ internet-connected devices and social accounts in an instance from your phone. It allows you to manage devices and accounts with input from another. This is a perfect way of combining multiple outcomes from one simple action. These outcomes can be finding your phone with an Echo Dot or logging your Fitbit sleep logs into a Google spreadsheet for easier review and trending.

IFTTT can take a mundane and truely time-consuming task of say, posting your recent article to all of your social media sites and complete it in an instance. With that much control and resources, it would be impossible to have all your devices operating in sync without this amazing free service. I have detailed three of the most commonly used programs in my home that only require the initial setup to begin working for you and making your house smarter.

1. Indoor Humidity Control

• Ecobee Thermostat
• Smart Plug – I used a Kasa Smart Plug

This is one of the first Applets I made for controlling my Ecobee. During the colder months, low humidity is very noticeable and can cause discomfort during season changes. Some of those discomforts include getting shocked by door handles, nasal issues, and dry skin. These are some of the sure signs that your house is missing moisture. Fortunately, Ecobee and IFTTT have got you covered. The Ecobee humidity sensor is very reliable when it comes to measuring the amount of moisture in the air. It’s very reliable for a consumer device and it’s impressive that it’s sensors are included too. Next up is the smart plug, I’m use a Kasa Smart Plug for controlling a regular room humidifier. Some more great options for smart plugs can be found in my write up, Looking for a Smart Plug. After combining a Smart Plug with a humidifier and setting up the Applet, getting shocked by doorknobs will be a distant memory.

2. Button Widget Service

The Button Widget is the perfect way to control all your smart switches, plugs, outlets, and other things that are connected to the IoT(Internet of Things). If it has an I/O interface, then I’m surely confident you can find a Button Widget and an Applet to manage it. This Service is a big deal to me and I’m sure this is not the last time you will hear me referencing this amazing feature. I previously touched on this in my Kasa Smart Light Toggle article, it’s just such a good all-around function that I can’t imagine not being able to control my whole home without it.

My home has multiple devices across different brands. It also has two users controlling those devices. Without the Button widget, I would have to switch between smart apps from different brands on top of trying to remember what button controls what. The Button Widget combines all my devices into one location for quick and easy control. And that control can be duplicated across other users phones. The cool thing is the buttons retain their app’s logo, so grouping similar brands is easy and only requires a quick glance to identify. If I could call this widget something catchy, it would be the Swiss Army knife of my home! Make sure to get this one going when getting started.

3. House Fire Alert

• Ecobee Thermostat

One day I was scrolling through IFTTT looking for something different and I stumbled upon this amazing Applet. I thought well there you go, it’s a no brainer! Now I can tell if my house is on fire when I am not at home. Genius and brilliant all around! Hopefully, no one ever has to experience that but it would be a wonderful thing to be notified ASAP! No leaving it up to my neighbors to try to contact me when they see smoke and flames.

So this Applet works on the idea that whenever there’s a fire, it gets hot! Well, that heat is beyond your normal house temp and that is sensed by the Ecobee thermostat on the wall. My version is set an alert temp of 119 degrees and I will receive a notification from IFFFT. This is perfect if you have a security camera, then you can verify and make the necessary calls to save your stuff.

This is exactly what technology is, improving on the last design. I believe that Ecobee is already a great device that allows the user access to its many features and functions. IFTTT just takes the Ecobee to the next level in making a home smart! This applet is the perfect solution to being in the know for caretakers, rental properties, and travelers.

I have detailed a few options to get started with IFTTT. Their catalog is vast, with a myriad of different possibilities that expand far beyond the smart home genre and apps. I would definitely encourage you to go check out their site and see what Applets and Recipes are available for you to connect you world and put you back in control.