Home Assistant: Automate Your Smart Home with Ease

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Home Assistant

Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that allows you to control and automate all aspects of your home. Whether it’s controlling lights, thermostats, cameras, or other smart devices, Home Assistant lets you bring together all your home automation needs into a single, easy-to-use interface. It is specifically designed to run on the Raspberry Pi, a low-cost single-board computer that is widely used in DIY smart home projects. In this section, we’ll explore what Home Assistant is, how it works, and what makes it a powerful tool for home automation.

1.1 What is Home Assistant?

Home Assistant is an open-source platform that enables you to manage and automate all your smart home devices in one central location. It is designed to be a flexible and powerful tool that can be customized to fit your unique home automation needs. It is built using Python and integrates with a wide range of smart home devices, such as lights, switches, sensors, thermostats, and cameras, as well as popular smart home platforms, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

1.2 How does Home Assistant work?

Home Assistant connects to your smart home devices through their APIs, allowing it to monitor and control each device individually. The platform then aggregates this data and presents it in a single, unified interface that you can access from your computer, phone, or tablet. This makes it easy to control all your devices from one location, without having to switch between different apps or interfaces.

1.3 Benefits of using Home Assistant

There are several benefits to using Home Assistant, including:

Centralized Control: With Home Assistant, you can control all of your smart home devices from a single platform, regardless of their manufacturer or protocol.
Customization: It is highly customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs and preferences.
Automation: It allows you to create advanced automation rules that trigger actions based on a wide range of conditions, such as time of day, sensor readings, and device status.
Open-Source: It is an open-source software project that is constantly evolving and improving, with a large community of developers contributing to its development.

1.4 What makes Home Assistant unique?

Home Assistant is unique in its flexibility and customizability. Because it is open-source, it can be customized to fit your specific needs. You can add new integrations, customize the interface, and automate your home in any way you see fit. Additionally, it supports a wide range of devices and platforms, so you can connect all your devices to a single hub.

In the next section, we’ll cover how to get started with Home Assistant, including how to install and configure the platform.

2. Getting Started with Home Assistant

2.1 Installation and Setup

To begin using Home Assistant, you’ll need to install and set it up on your chosen device. It can be installed on different platforms, such as Raspberry Pi, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Follow the steps below to install and set up Home Assistant on your preferred platform:

2.1.1 How to install Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi OS?

Obtain a Raspberry Pi board and a compatible microSD card.
Download the latest version of the Raspberry Pi Imager software from the official website (www.raspberrypi.org).
Use the Raspberry Pi Imager to flash the microSD card with the Home Assistant Operating System (formerly known as Hass.io).
Insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi and power it up.
Wait for the Raspberry Pi to boot up and connect to your network.
Access the Raspberry Pi terminal and run commands to install Home Assistant using the provided installation script or method.
Follow the prompts and wait for the installation process to complete.
Once installed, access Home Assistant through a web browser and continue with the initial setup and configuration.

2.1.2 How to install Home Assistant on Windows?

Visit the Home Assistant website (www.home-assistant.io) and go to the installation section.
Download the Home Assistant Supervised Installer for Windows.
Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Once the installation is finished, Home Assistant will start automatically.
Proceed with the initial setup and configuration using the web-based interface.

2.1.3 How to install Home Assistant on Mac?

Open a web browser and go to the Home Assistant website (www.home-assistant.io).
Navigate to the installation section and download the Home Assistant Supervised Installer for macOS.
Run the installer and follow the prompts to install Home Assistant.
After the installation is complete, Home Assistant will launch automatically.
Access Home Assistant through a web browser and proceed with the initial setup and configuration.

2.1.4 How to install Home Assistant on Linux?

Visit the Home Assistant website (www.home-assistant.io) and go to the installation section.
Choose the appropriate installation method for your Linux distribution (e.g., Generic Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, etc.).
Follow the instructions provided on the website to install Home Assistant on your Linux system.
Once the installation is complete, start Home Assistant using the appropriate command.
Access Home Assistant through a web browser and proceed with the initial setup and configuration.

After installing Home Assistant, you can access its user interface by opening a web browser and entering the IP address or hostname of the device on which Home Assistant is installed, followed by port 8123 (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:8123).

Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Home Assistant instance, including configuring integrations, adding devices, and customizing the interface to meet your needs.

That’s it! You’re now ready to start using Home Assistant to automate and control your smart home devices. Enjoy exploring the capabilities of this powerful home automation platform!

2.2 Configuring Home Assistant

To configure Home Assistant and set it up with your smart devices, follow the steps below:

Access the configuration.yaml file:
- Open a web browser and enter the IP address or hostname of your Home Assistant instance, followed by port 8123 (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:8123).
- Log in to the Home Assistant web interface using your credentials.
- Click on the “Configuration” tab located in the sidebar.
Edit the configuration.yaml file:
- Under the “Configuration” tab, click on “Server Controls” and select “Configuration UI” to access the configuration.yaml file.
- Alternatively, you can access the configuration.yaml file through the file editor or by connecting to the Home Assistant instance via SSH and editing the file manually.
Add devices and integrations:
- In the configuration.yaml file, you can define your smart devices and integrations.
- Home Assistant supports a wide range of integrations, such as Philips Hue, Nest, TP-Link, and many more. Refer to the Home Assistant documentation for specific integration instructions.
- Follow the instructions provided by each integration to add your devices and configure their settings. This usually involves specifying the device’s platform, IP address, authentication details, and other relevant information.
Customize the user interface:
- Home Assistant offers a customizable user interface called Lovelace. Lovelace allows you to create a dashboard with widgets and cards to control and monitor your devices.
- To customize the user interface, click on “Configuration” and select “Lovelace Dashboard.”
- From the Lovelace dashboard, you can add, remove, and rearrange cards to display the desired information.
- You can also create custom themes, change the layout, and configure automation scripts to control your devices automatically. Explore the available options and experiment with different configurations to create your ideal user interface.
Save and restart Home Assistant:
- After making changes to the configuration.yaml file or the Lovelace dashboard, save your modifications.
- To ensure that the changes take effect, restart the Home Assistant instance.
- You can restart Home Assistant from the “Server Controls” section under the “Configuration” tab.

By following these steps, you can configure Home Assistant to work with your smart devices and create a personalized user interface tailored to your needs. Enjoy the flexibility and control that Home Assistant provides for managing your smart home!

3. Devices and Integrations with Home Assistant

Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that can integrate with a wide range of devices and systems. In this section, we’ll explore some of the devices and integrations that can be used with Home Assistant to make your home smarter.

3.1 Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices are a major component of home automation systems, and Home Assistant can work with a vast range of them. From smart bulbs to thermostats to door locks, Home Assistant can control and automate these devices to help make your life easier. Some popular smart home devices that can be used with Home Assistant include:

Smart lights: Philips Hue, LIFX, and other popular smart light brands can be controlled with Home Assistant, allowing you to turn lights on and off, set schedules, and even change the color of the lights.
Smart thermostats: Nest, Ecobee, and other smart thermostat brands can integrate with Home Assistant to control your home’s heating and cooling system.
Smart locks: August, Yale, and other smart lock brands can be controlled with Home Assistant, allowing you to lock and unlock your doors remotely.
Smart cameras: Ring, Nest, and other smart camera brands can be integrated with Home Assistant to give you a unified view of your home’s security system.

3.2 Voice Assistants

Home Assistant can also be integrated with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control your smart home devices with your voice. This can be especially useful for those who may have limited mobility or difficulty with traditional switches and buttons.

3.3 Home Security Systems

Home Assistant can integrate with a wide range of home security systems, including popular brands like SimpliSafe, ADT, and Ring Alarm. With Home Assistant, you can control your home’s security system from a single interface, receive notifications when the system is armed or disarmed, and even trigger actions like turning on lights or sounding an alarm when the system detects an intrusion.

3.4 Entertainment Systems

Finally, Home Assistant can be used to control your home’s entertainment systems, including TVs, speakers, and streaming devices. With integrations for popular services like Plex, Kodi, and Spotify, you can control your media playback and even automate actions like turning on your TV and starting a movie when you arrive home.

Overall, it’s flexibility and integrations make it an ideal platform for building a smart home that’s tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

4. Automating Your Home with Home Assistant

Home automation is all about convenience and efficiency, and that’s where Home Assistant comes in. With its ability to integrate with a wide range of devices and services, it makes it easy to automate your home and simplify your life. In this section, we’ll explore the various automation features of Home Assistant and show you how to get started.

4.1 Creating Automations

One of the key features of Home Assistant is the ability to create automations. Automations allow you to set up actions that occur automatically based on certain triggers. For example, you can set up an automation to turn on your lights when you come home, or to adjust the thermostat based on the time of day.

To create an automation in Home Assistant, you’ll need to define a trigger and an action. Triggers can be things like motion sensors, door sensors, or even the time of day. Actions can be anything that Home Assistant can control, such as lights, switches, or media players.

4.2 Scripting

In addition to automations, Home Assistant also supports scripting. Scripts are similar to automations in that they allow you to define a series of actions that occur in response to a trigger. However, scripts are more flexible than automations, as they allow you to define more complex logic and use variables.

For example, you could create a script that adjusts your lights based on the weather outside, or that sets your media player to play a specific playlist when you say a certain phrase.

4.3 Scenes

Scenes are another powerful automation tool in Home Assistant. Scenes allow you to set up a specific state for a group of devices, such as turning on certain lights and adjusting the thermostat to a specific temperature. Scenes can be triggered manually, or as part of an automation or script.

For example, you could set up a “movie night” scene that turns off all the lights except for the ones near the TV, dims those lights, and sets the thermostat to a comfortable temperature.

4.4 Triggers and Events

Triggers and events are the building blocks of automations and scripts in Home Assistant. Triggers are what cause an automation or script to run, while events are what trigger automations or scripts to run.

Triggers can be things like the state of a device, the time of day, or a specific event. Events are specific actions that occur within Home Assistant, such as a device being turned on or off.

By using triggers and events, you can create complex automations and scripts that make your home smarter and more efficient.

5. Customizing Home Assistant

Home Assistant offers a great deal of flexibility and customization options, which allow users to personalize their home automation setup according to their preferences. In this chapter, we will cover some of the ways you can customize your Home Assistant installation, including themes, custom components, and user interface customization.

5.1 Themes:

Home Assistant comes with a default theme, but you can change it to suit your taste. The theme determines the colors and overall appearance of the user interface. You can choose from a range of built-in themes, or you can create your own custom theme using the frontend editor.

To change the theme, go to the Home Assistant frontend and click on your user profile picture in the bottom-left corner of the screen. From there, click on “Profile”, and then on “Theme”. You can then choose a theme from the list or create a new one.

5.2 Custom Components:

Custom components are a way to extend the functionality of Home Assistant beyond what is provided by default. They can be used to integrate with new devices, services, or platforms that are not supported out of the box.

To install a custom component, you will need to add its repository to your Home Assistant configuration. You can do this by adding a new line to your configuration.yaml file, like this:

yaml

Copy code

custom_components: – url: https://github.com/your_username/custom_component type: git

Once you have added the repository, Home Assistant will automatically discover and load the custom component.

5.3 User Interface Customization:

Home Assistant’s user interface is highly customizable, allowing you to create a unique and personalized experience. You can customize the user interface using the frontend editor, which allows you to add, remove, and rearrange cards, as well as configure their contents.

To access the frontend editor, click on the “Configure UI” button on the Home Assistant frontend. This will take you to the user interface editor, where you can customize the layout of your home automation setup.

Customizing your Home Assistant installation is an excellent way to personalize your home automation experience. Whether you want to change the theme, add new functionality through custom components, or customize the user interface, it offers a range of customization options to suit your needs. By taking advantage of these features, you can create a home automation setup that is tailored to your preferences and lifestyle.

6. Advanced Features of Home Assistant

As a highly versatile and customizable home automation platform, Home Assistant offers several advanced features that enable users to further extend the capabilities of their smart home systems. In this section, we’ll explore two of these features: machine learning and AI, and integration with other tools and platforms.

6.1 Machine Learning and AI

One of the most exciting features of Home Assistant is its ability to leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to create more personalized and intuitive automation experiences. With machine learning, it can analyze data from sensors, cameras, and other devices to learn patterns and make predictions about user behavior. For example, it can learn when you typically arrive home from work and automatically adjust the temperature, turn on lights, and play music to create a welcoming atmosphere.

It integrates with popular machine learning platforms such as TensorFlow and Scikit-learn, making it easy to train custom models and create unique automation experiences tailored to your specific needs. With Home Assistant’s built-in support for natural language processing (NLP), you can also control your smart home devices using voice commands and create more advanced automation scenarios.

6.2 Integration with Other Tools and Platforms

Home Assistant is designed to be highly extensible, with support for a wide range of devices, protocols, and platforms. However, there may be instances where you want to integrate with tools or services that are not directly supported by Home Assistant.

Thankfully, Home Assistant offers several methods for integrating with external tools and platforms. For example, the Home Assistant RESTful API allows you to interact with Home Assistant from other applications or services. Additionally, the Home Assistant community has created numerous integrations and add-ons that extend the platform’s functionality, such as integrations for popular home security systems, weather services, and media players.

For more advanced integration scenarios, Home Assistant also supports custom components, which allow you to create your own integrations with virtually any tool or platform. With custom components, you can write Python code to interact with external APIs, devices, or services and expose them as native Home Assistant entities.

The advanced features of Home Assistant provide users with a wide range of tools and capabilities for creating more personalized and intelligent automation experiences. From machine learning and AI to integration with other tools and platforms, it is a powerful and flexible platform for building the smart home of your dreams.

7. Troubleshooting and Maintenance

If you are using Home Assistant regularly, you may encounter some issues or errors from time to time. Fortunately, most issues can be resolved easily with some basic troubleshooting steps. In this chapter, we’ll go over some common issues and their solutions, as well as how to update and upgrade your Home Assistant installation.

7.1 Common Issues and Solutions

Here are some common issues you may encounter while using Home Assistant and their solutions:

Unable to access the Home Assistant interface: If you are unable to access the Home Assistant interface, make sure that your network is working properly and that your Home Assistant server is running. You may also want to check your firewall settings to make sure that they are not blocking access to Home Assistant.
Devices not showing up in Home Assistant: If you are having trouble getting your devices to show up in Home Assistant, make sure that they are properly configured and connected to your network. You may also need to check the Home Assistant configuration to make sure that the devices are properly integrated.
Errors in the Home Assistant log: If you see errors in the Home Assistant log, these can often be resolved by checking your configuration and making sure that all necessary components and dependencies are installed and configured correctly.
Integration issues: If you are having issues with integrating Home Assistant with other services or platforms, make sure that you are using the correct integration method and that your configuration is set up correctly.
Slow performance: If you experience slow performance with Home Assistant, try optimizing your configuration by disabling unnecessary components or reducing the frequency of updates for certain devices or integrations.

7.2 Updating and Upgrading Home Assistant

Home Assistant is constantly evolving with new features and improvements, so it’s important to keep your installation up to date. Here are the steps to update or upgrade your Home Assistant installation:

Check for updates: First, check to see if there are any updates available for your installation. You can do this by navigating to the Home Assistant interface and clicking on the “Supervisor” tab, then selecting “System” and clicking on the “Check Home Assistant updates” button.
Back up your configuration: Before upgrading, it’s important to back up your Home Assistant configuration files in case something goes wrong. You can do this by going to the “Configuration” tab in the Home Assistant interface and selecting “Backup” from the drop-down menu.
Upgrade Home Assistant: To upgrade to the latest version of Home Assistant, navigate to the “Supervisor” tab in the Home Assistant interface and click on “System”. From there, click on the “Update” button next to the “Home Assistant Core” version.
Verify the upgrade: After the upgrade is complete, verify that everything is working as expected by checking the Home Assistant logs and testing your integrations and automations.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your Home Assistant installation is up to date and running smoothly. Remember to always back up your configuration files before making any changes or upgrades.

8. Conclusion

Home Assistant is a powerful and flexible platform for home automation that allows you to control and automate a wide variety of devices and services in your home. Whether you’re just getting started with home automation or you’re a seasoned enthusiast, Home Assistant offers a wide range of features and customization options to help you create the perfect smart home setup.

Throughout this book, we’ve explored the various features and capabilities of Home Assistant, from the basics of installation and configuration to more advanced topics like automations, custom components, and integration with other tools and platforms. We’ve also discussed troubleshooting and maintenance, ensuring that your Home Assistant setup runs smoothly and efficiently.

8.1 Summary of Key Points

Home Assistant is a powerful platform for home automation that supports a wide variety of devices and services.
Home Assistant can be installed on a variety of hardware, including Raspberry Pi, Windows, and Linux.
Home Assistant offers a wide range of customization options, including themes, custom components, and user interface customization.
With Home Assistant, you can create automations, scripts, and scenes to automate your home and make it more convenient.
Home Assistant supports integration with other tools and platforms, allowing you to extend its capabilities even further.

8.2 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Home Assistant is an incredibly versatile platform for home automation, and there’s no shortage of things you can do with it. Whether you’re looking to create a simple setup to control your lights and thermostats, or you want to build a complex system that integrates with all sorts of devices and services, Home Assistant has you covered.

As you explore the possibilities of Home Assistant, it’s important to keep in mind that there can be a bit of a learning curve, especially if you’re new to home automation or programming. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things, but also be patient with yourself and take the time to learn the basics before diving into more complex topics.

8.3 Additional Resources and References

If you’re looking to learn more about Home Assistant or need help with a specific issue, there are a wealth of resources available online. Here are a few places to get started:

The Home Assistant website (https://www.home-assistant.io) is the official source for documentation and support.
The Home Assistant Community Forum (https://community.home-assistant.io) is a great place to connect with other users, ask for help, and share your experiences.
The Home Assistant subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant) is another active community of Home Assistant users and enthusiasts.
The Home Assistant GitHub repository (https://github.com/home-assistant/home-assistant) is the place to go for development-related issues and feature requests.

9. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. What does a Home Assistant do?

Home Assistant is a home automation platform that allows you to control and automate various smart devices and systems in your home. It acts as a central hub, providing a unified interface to manage and monitor your smart home devices, integrate them with each other, create automation routines, and control them remotely.

Q2. What works best with Home Assistant?

Home Assistant is designed to work with a wide range of smart devices and systems. Some popular devices that work well with Home Assistant include smart lights (e.g., Philips Hue, LIFX), smart thermostats (e.g., Nest, Ecobee), smart locks (e.g., August, Yale), smart cameras (e.g., Ring, Nest), and voice assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant).

Q3. Does Home Assistant need a PC?

Home Assistant does not necessarily require a dedicated PC. It can be installed and run on various platforms, including PCs, laptops, Raspberry Pi, and other compatible hardware devices.

Q4. What hardware can I run Home Assistant on?

Home Assistant is compatible with a range of hardware devices, such as Raspberry Pi, PCs, laptops, NVIDIA Jetson, Intel NUC, and more. It is recommended to check the official Home Assistant documentation for specific hardware requirements and compatibility details.

Q5. Do you need a Raspberry Pi for Home Assistant?

While Raspberry Pi is a popular choice for running Home Assistant, it is not mandatory. Home Assistant can be installed and run on various hardware platforms, as mentioned earlier. Raspberry Pi offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient option, especially for smaller installations.

Q6. Does Home Assistant require a subscription?

No, Home Assistant is an open-source platform and does not require a subscription. It is free to use and does not impose any recurring fees. However, certain integrations or services used with Home Assistant may have their own subscription fees, which are separate from Home Assistant itself.

Q7. Can I run Home Assistant on a laptop?

Yes, Home Assistant can be installed and run on laptops that meet the hardware requirements. Laptops running Windows, Linux, or macOS operating systems can host Home Assistant.

Q8. What do I need to install Home Assistant?

To install Home Assistant, you typically need a compatible hardware device (e.g., Raspberry Pi, PC, laptop), an SD card or storage medium to install the operating system, and an internet connection. The specific installation steps may vary depending on the platform you choose, so it’s recommended to follow the official installation instructions provided by Home Assistant.

Q9. What is the small PC for Home Assistant?

The “small PC” referred to in the context of Home Assistant is often the Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi is a popular and affordable single-board computer that can be used to run Home Assistant. Its compact size, low power consumption, and compatibility with Home Assistant make it an attractive option for many users.

Q10. How to build a smart home with Home Assistant?

To build a smart home with Home Assistant, you’ll need to follow a few steps:

Install and set up Home Assistant on your preferred hardware platform.
Identify and acquire compatible smart devices for your home, such as lights, thermostats, locks, cameras, etc.
Configure and integrate these devices into Home Assistant using the provided documentation or integrations available.
Customize your Home Assistant interface, create automation routines, and define rules to control and automate your smart devices.
Test and refine your smart home setup, adding or modifying devices and automations as needed.

Details of each step are discussed in the above section of this guide.

Q11. Is Home Assistant a smart home hub?

Yes, Home Assistant can be considered a smart home hub. It acts as a central control and automation platform for various smart devices and systems in your home. By integrating compatible devices and using its extensive features, Home Assistant serves as a hub that allows you to manage and control your smart home ecosystem.

Q12. What are smart home assistants?

Smart home assistants are voice-activated virtual assistants that can interact with and control smart devices in your home. Examples include Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. These assistants can be integrated with Home Assistant, allowing you to control your smart home devices using voice commands.

Q13. What devices work best with Home Assistant?

Home Assistant is compatible with a wide range of devices, including but not limited to smart lights, thermostats, locks, cameras, sensors, and entertainment systems. Popular brands such as Philips Hue, Nest, Ring, and Amazon Echo work seamlessly with Home Assistant, offering a diverse range of options for your smart home setup.

Q14. How do I convert my normal home to a smart home?

To convert a normal home into a smart home, you can follow these general steps:

Determine your needs and goals for home automation.
Research and choose compatible smart devices based on your requirements (e.g., lighting, security, energy management).
Install and configure a home automation platform like Home Assistant.
Integrate the chosen smart devices into the home automation platform.
Customize settings, create automation routines, and explore additional features provided by the platform.
Test and adjust the setup as needed to achieve the desired level of automation and control.

Q15. Can you use SmartThings with Home Assistant?

Yes, Home Assistant has integration with Samsung SmartThings. This allows you to bridge SmartThings devices and control them through Home Assistant’s interface. By integrating SmartThings with Home Assistant, you can expand your smart home ecosystem and have more control over your devices.

Q16. How do I create a smart home plan?

To create a smart home plan, consider the following steps:

Identify your needs and priorities for home automation (e.g., security, convenience, energy efficiency).
Take inventory of existing devices and systems in your home.
Research and choose compatible smart devices and systems based on your goals.
Determine the integration capabilities of the chosen devices with Home Assistant.
Map out the desired automation routines, such as turning lights on/off, adjusting thermostat settings, or activating security measures.
Consider the budget, installation requirements, and long-term scalability of the smart home plan.
Execute the plan by installing and configuring the selected devices, integrating them into Home Assistant, and creating automation routines accordingly.

Q17. What do I need to set up Home Assistant?

To set up Home Assistant, you will typically need the following:

A compatible hardware platform (e.g., Raspberry Pi, PC, laptop).
An SD card or storage medium to install the operating system.
Access to a network connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) to connect the hardware device.
Basic computer skills and familiarity with the installation process.

Q18. What is the recommended way to install Home Assistant?

The recommended installation method for Home Assistant depends on your hardware platform. For Raspberry Pi, the Home Assistant Operating System (formerly HassOS) image is recommended. For other platforms like PCs or laptops, Home Assistant can be installed in various ways, including Home Assistant Supervised, Home Assistant Container, or Home Assistant Core. The official Home Assistant documentation provides detailed installation instructions for each method.

Q19. How long does it take to set up Home Assistant?

The time it takes to set up Home Assistant can vary depending on factors such as your familiarity with the installation process, the hardware platform you’re using, and the complexity of your smart home setup. On average, it may take a few hours to set up and configure Home Assistant, including installing the software, integrating devices, and customizing automation routines. However, it’s important to note that ongoing refinement and expansion of your smart home may require additional time.