Heat meters and the 2027 deadline
Installed heat meters and heat cost allocators must be remotely readable by 1 January 2027, unless the country shows it is not cost-effective.
Blog
Experiments, tutorials, comparisons, and project stories from the field.
A new electricity connection: steps, timelines and fees
How to apply for a new connection with Sadales tīkls, what it costs by the price list, how long it takes and what the electrician prepares meanwhile.
RCDs: what they are, where they are required and why they trip
An RCD cuts power before current runs through a person. Where the Latvian code requires one, which type to pick and what to do when it trips.
Wiring inspection: when, what gets measured and what the report says
Latvian fire rules require a wiring check every 10 years. What the electrician measures, what goes with the report and when to check sooner.
Apple HomeView is not sold in Latvia. What to do with Matter now
Apple's new home screen will not be sold in the EU for now. Do not wait for it: Matter devices are on sale already, including at IKEA in Riga.
An electrician in Riga: what to fix first
A socket, the panel, and the cable to the gate come before a smarter home.
An intercom that rings your phone
An old stairwell intercom only rings if you are home. A new one can use the existing cable and ring your phone while you are at work.
Cameras for a private house
A camera shows the gate. It does not open the door, and a stairwell belongs to the building.
Sliding or swing gates
Sliding-gate automation needs room along the fence and a clear track. Swing gates need room where the leaf stops. A motor will not fix a gate that will not move by hand.
An alarm for a flat or a house
A flat needs the door, one motion sensor, and a leak sensor. A house adds the yard, where a cheap sensor lies because of the cat.
Sonoff and Zigbee: what you can fit yourself and when to call an electrician
Sensors, radiator heads and plugs you can fit yourself. A relay behind a switch is for someone who knows where the neutral is. Prices from a Latvian shop.
A smart home on your own: 6 things to fit without an electrician
Leak sensor, smoke detector, radiator head, temperature sensor, motion sensor and smart plug. What you can do, what not to touch and what it costs.
Home Assistant: what you need, what it costs, where it sticks
Free software that pulls every device in the house into one place and runs without a cloud. What to buy, what it costs and where people usually get stuck.
Motion vs presence sensors in a smart home: pros, cons, and real uses
Choose the right sensor for lighting and automations: fast PIR motion detection vs mmWave presence (including zoning with devices like Aqara FP2) and how to combine both in Home Assistant.
Myth Nr.1 - Smart home tech is expensive and only for new builds or full renovations
Most people freeze at the idea that home automation belongs in new construction only. In practice, wireless devices and retrofit modules let you start in a finished home—often without chasing new cables.
5 Home Automation Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
Common pitfalls that derail smart home projects — and how to sidestep each one before you spend a cent.
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