Are smart appliances worth it or just a gimmick?

Smart Home Forum
21

Smart features are mostly extra perks. For me:

  • Washer/dryer: Notifications help a lot. I get low detergent alerts, reminders if the kids forget the lint trap, and I can turn off that annoying buzzer.
  • Dishwasher: It’s handy if you have a quiet one. No more opening the door and forgetting to restart.
22

@Harrison
What brand is your washer?

23

I got a smart Instant Pot but never use the smart features. The robot vacuum, though? That gets plenty of use.

Locks and garage door openers are nice for peace of mind, but smart lights don’t add much. I’m usually near a switch anyway.

24

I moved to a condo that came with a smart washer/dryer. It’s nice for reminders, but I wouldn’t replace my regular ones just for those features. Honestly, a $15 smart plug can do the same thing by tracking power usage.

25

Smart dishwasher: Reminds me of maintenance, tells me when a cycle is done, which is useful.

Laundry: Notifications are useful too, and my washer has a ‘remote start’ feature so I can start a load while heading home.

Smart fridge: I don’t have one, but notifications for filter changes or door alerts would be handy.

26

@Keith
My smart fridge alerts me when the door’s left open—saved me a few times! It also reminds me to toss old ice.

27

@Keith
My dishwasher reminds me to start a load if it hasn’t run that day. It’s set up with routines so I don’t accidentally forget to turn it on before bed.

28

Only get smart appliances if they solve a real problem for you. I only have security cameras, smart lights, and a thermostat, and I love them all because they serve specific needs.

29

My new stove sends me a notification when it’s preheated, which is nice, but I wouldn’t pay extra for it.

30

Smart washer/dryer sends reminders through my speakers so I don’t forget. Not essential, but helpful for my ADHD.

31

Chloe said:
Smart washer/dryer sends reminders through my speakers so I don’t forget. Not essential, but helpful for my ADHD.

A smart plug could do that for $20!

32

Our Bosch fridge sends a notification if the door’s left open, which is helpful. But otherwise, I think smart appliances are a bit overhyped.

33

Depends on the device. We have a smart garage door opener that doesn’t integrate with anything else. Our smart TV, washer, and dryer, however, give notifications and integrate well, so we like them.

34

Arthur said:
Depends on the device. We have a smart garage door opener that doesn’t integrate with anything else. Our smart TV, washer, and dryer, however, give notifications and integrate well, so we like them.

Check out RATGDO for a DIY smart garage option! Integrates with Home Assistant without the extra proprietary stuff.

35

Our GE appliances are smart, but the features haven’t added much value and could just mean more repairs down the line. We didn’t get them for the ‘smart’ features.

36

I like that my smart fridge tells me if someone left the door open, and my washer sends alerts. Each one adds something small to make life easier.

37

Thought I needed smart appliances but found I barely use the extra features.

38

I have smart appliances like a coffee machine, washing machine, and fridge. Honestly, they’re kind of useless to me. And don’t worry, hackers can’t mine bitcoin on them!

39

I have a smart washer/dryer mainly for the alerts. Other features, like remote start, I rarely use.

40

Smart coffee maker? Maybe. But a smart washer or fridge just sounds like it’d be more expensive to fix if something breaks.