How To Control a Fireplace with Zwave

We’re often asked how to automate a fireplace.  This article provides guidance on controlling a fireplace with Zwave and assumes you will be using a Vera, Hometroller, Smartthings or similar home automation controller that supports the Zwave products listed.

First and foremost, as with any DIY project, care is required and if you are not completely confident please consult a professional.  On the lighter side, if your fireplace is wood burning.. you can’t automated it.. time for a fireplace insert!

With that out of the way, the first step is to figure out what sort of fireplace you have. 

If possible, check with the fireplace manufacturer, your builder, or an installer.  If you have a wall switch that turns the fireplace on and off, you may also be able to look at the wiring going to the wall switch.  The switch may look like  standard light switch but the wiring may be much smaller than household 110V wiring.  You can/should also check with a volt meter to see what voltage is present if any.

If you have an electric fireplace that has a 110V wall switch running on 110V power at the switch, you can replace your wall switch with a Zwave automated on/off switch.  You must also have a neutral wire at the switch location.  Check this article for more information.  If your electric fireplace does not have a wall switch you may consider an inline module like the LFM-20.  This should be installed by a professional.

If you have a gas fireplace or if your fireplace is triggered by low voltage circuit, you can consider using a Mimolite.  The Mimolite has a plug-in power supply and a relay output  In order to integrate Mimolite, the fireplace wall switch low voltage wiring would instead connect to the normally open relay connections on the Mimolite allowing Zwave control.  If you wish to maintain on-wall control after integrating Mimolite, you could add one of the GE ZW5301 Zwave battery powered stick-on wall switches.