GE Appliances announced that its window air conditioners now works with Apple’s smart platform HomeKit, enabling iOS users to control the units with the Apple Home app or Siri.
GE Appliances announced that its window air conditioners now works with Apple’s smart platform HomeKit, enabling iOS users to control the units with the Apple Home app or Siri.
Delivering 8,000 to 12,000 BTUs to cool medium- to large-sized rooms, the AEC08LX, AEC10AX, AEC12AX, AHP08LX and AHP10LX models are the first air conditioners working with HomeKit available in the U.S. market.
Owners can also create automations to instruct a unit to perform certain actions, such as turning on or off at a certain time of day. Units can also be controlled remotely, outside of the home.
Inside the home, owners of GE’s air conditioners can operate the unit from the Apple Home app on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch, by using Siri on any device including HomePod or directly from Control Center.
Outside the home, owners need a HomeKit home hub (HomePod, 4th generation Apple TV or an iPad with the latest version of iOS) to remotely control these units or set up automations.
“Consumers told us they like how they can create their own schedules to keep rooms comfortable without wasting energy,” said John Desmarais, Commercial Director, Window A/C, Portables & Dehumidifiers for GE Appliances. “Many people also found peace of mind in having control of the unit anywhere they have internet access.”
Other features
These ENERGY STAR-compliant air conditioners allow owners to enjoy four-way air direction by selecting from three cooling settings or choosing “Energy Saver” mode, where the fan and compressor shut off automatically when the room is cool enough.
An electronic digital thermostat and standard remote also make manual operation simple and intuitive, while installation is no worry, thanks to an EZ-Mount window kit that includes everything needed.
Meanwhile, a reminder light tells owners precisely when to replace the filter to keep their unit operating at optimal efficiency.
The new air conditioning units are now available in The Home Depot and Lowe’s. Users may also contact local authorized GE Appliances dealer to learn about the products.
The ACs utilizes GE’s WiFi-Connected Technology, which means the products are also work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.