Even the humble water heater isn’t spared from the smart home craze

Despite all the hype about smart home technology, most people aren’t using any app-connected home gadgets because their appliances – like boilers, central heating system, and AC units – are old. And because big appliances are so costly, they won’t be replaced until they break, perhaps more than a decade from now. That’s why one startup from Pakistan is launching a crowdfunding campaign today for a simple and relatively affordable gizmo that retrofits to old water heaters, turning them into greener and smarter machines that can be controlled from your phone.

The Geyser Controller [1] promises savings of 20 to 40 percent on the cost of running your gas-fired boiler. It simply snaps on to the boiler’s thermostat so that you can set specific times for when you need hot water via the app. That stops the water heater firing up at all times of the day to keep up to the set temperature, even when you’re out and you don’t need hot water. It can also be used to ensure there’s more hot water ready when you need it most, such as at the time you usually wake up.

The Lahore-based startup is seeking to raise US$35,000 in its crowdfunding campaign, which runs until November 6.

It may not look as sexy as the Nest Thermostat, but it’s a more affordable solution, with an early price set on Indiegogo at US$60. It ships to early buyers on December 15. It will be accompanied by an Android app that’s being tested, and an iOS version will follow later.

See: This Taiwan startup beasted its Kickstarter campaign to fund its smart hub for the smart home

Zia Imran, the CEO of Zaheen Machines, the team behind the Geyser Controller, says this is aimed initially at the Pakistan market because this version of the gadget is made to fit onto a very common type of boiler in Pakistan. The startup estimates there are five million of them out there, and they’re all potential customers for this.

The startup has already completed a test run involving 20 installations, so the product is more advanced than that of most hardware startups that seek funding. The team is currently finalizing electronics component suppliers for the Geyser Controller.

Imran adds that the controller will go on sale via normal retail outlets later. The team has also signed a deal with Pakistani gas company SNGPL to install 5,000 units for its customers, allowing people to pay for the gadgets in installments as part of their gas bill.

The team will later tweak the design for other boiler systems to sell it in other countries.