When the window opens/closes, the ceiling fan turns on/off
As the weather turned colder, I’ve been keeping the windows mostly closed and opening them only once or twice a day for brief ventilation. To maximize the effect during those short periods, I created an automation that turns the ceiling fan on only while a window is open.
I attached a Aeotec door/window sensor to the window and frame so SmartThings can detect when it opens and closes, and I installed a ThirdReality Zigbee Smart Switch Gen3 over the ceiling fan’s wall switch to control it. The Thirdreality switch is convenient because, as long as the wall plate has screw holes at the top and bottom, you can install it without replacing the whole switch or doing any rewiring, just replace the screws. It works with both rocker and toggle type switches.
Thanks to this automation, even a quick open-and-close provides plenty of ventilation without making the room uncomfortably cold.
Required Devices
