HomeKit-Compatible 'Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller' Now Available to Buy Through Apple

A $100 dollar switch to turn off and on a faucet. Now I’ve seen everything

No you haven't. You'll have seen everything when they update this as a $200, 2-pack combo. ;)

Honestly, this is a step forward for a "poor-man's" lawn irrigation system. I used to have a $40 timer kit that had 4 vavles, so I could set up 4 individual zones to sprinkle various sections of my lawn. If they made one of these with 4 independent valves, I might be interested.

I worry about this leaking slowly over time. Anyone have problems with this? I'll even wrap my threads with teflon tape and they will still sometimes leak. Normally I wouldn't care about a slow leak since water here is cheap and we have no water shortages ever as we live near a huge river, but I have an office studio space that I just finished building in the basement directly below where this faucet is and I don't want water seeping in. Maybe our pressure is too high?

Here's my advice (note that I am not a plumber).

I would not use teflon tape to wrap metal male threads that then go onto a device with plastic female threads. You're just asking for the plastic to "stretch" and get permanently damaged.

If you're having leak issues, I would check the washer for damage or wear. It's very easy and cheap to replace. Also make sure the thread and hose bib are cleaned/cleared of any debris. If you have mulch near your hose bib, lots of time you'll get bits of mulch and dirt caught in the threads and that allows for water to slowly slip by.

Lastly, I had a hose bib that was chrome plated. It was a crappy one, however, and the chrome plating was chipping off, even on the threads. This led to leak issues until I cleaned up all of the loose material.

If you have water pressure issues, it could be from lots of things. Call your water department to ask them what the water pressure in the main should be. Then get a pressure gauge that you can attach to your hose bib. You'll know soon enough if there are pressure issues. Honestly, if you have serious pressure issues, you'll notice it at other locations first. Probably a toilet valve that fails prematurely all the time. Or a drip in a sink that you can't seem to get rid of.

City water pressure is typically very consistent. If you have pressure issues, it's probably something in your house that's causing a rise in pressure. If you have a pressure regulator right where the water comes into the building, and it's failed, then that could be it. Otherwise, maybe your hot water heater's expansion tank has failed and the HWH is pressurizing the entire system in the house. Depends on how your plumbing is configured.

A $100 dollar switch to turn off and on a faucet. Now I’ve seen everything

People pay far more for this EXACT automation in their homes. What is with the constant "now I've seen everything" type comments whenever a new homekit gadget is released?

I worry about this leaking slowly over time. Anyone have problems with this? I'll even wrap my threads with teflon tape and they will still sometimes leak. Normally I wouldn't care about a slow leak since water here is cheap and we have no water shortages ever as we live near a huge river, but I have an office studio space that I just finished building in the basement directly below where this faucet is and I don't want water seeping in. Maybe our pressure is too high?

Id rather take a sprinkler controller then a hose controller any day. Give me something that can control my sprinkler valves.

Check out Rachio (https://www.rachio.com)

It's not (yet?) HomeKit enabled directly but does support IFTTT. I've had the gen 2 for several years and it's great. Plus it does integrate with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings, so if you have those... you're in like Flynn! It's fun asking Alexa to water the patio plants (extra... the normal watering is scheduled/controlled via the app).

I have this an love it, best of all my gf loves it as she can simply walk up to it and press the power button to turn on the water hose instead of wrench on our water taps which are for some reason not very easy to turn. I do wish it was wifi for a little more stable connection when using HomeKit but so far it’s been pretty good. Ordered a second one for the back hose. Just for the manual turn on function it’s great but HomeKit integration makes it awesome and oh so nerdy ;)

A $100 dollar switch to turn off and on a faucet. Now I’ve seen everything

You are also forgetting the fact that you can now automate based on time of day and other factors, as well as controlling it remotely.

Id rather take a sprinkler controller then a hose controller any day. Give me something that can control my sprinkler valves.