Automation with temperature sensor does not work reliable

Configuration
1

Hi,

I’m using an automation to switch my heating on, if the temperature is below 20.8. But only inside a given time frame on specific days. This is not working reliable.

Any idea what I’m missing here?

alias: Heizung.Wohnzimmer.WE.einschalten
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: numeric_state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.wohnzimmer
    below: 20.8
conditions:
  - condition: time
    after: "06:30:00"
    before: "21:00:00"
    weekday:
      - sat
      - sun
actions:
  - type: turn_on
    device_id: 14ea2defc2cc3cbd70b7fc9a76ae6a60
    entity_id: c9be70aaf2d2205b5056a5ad1b38efb3
    domain: switch
mode: single

This is todays data of the sensor. The automation did not start the switch:

sensor.wohnzimmer,21.17,2026-03-30T23:13:31.274Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,21.07,2026-03-30T23:57:48.397Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,21.03,2026-03-31T00:01:11.164Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.87,2026-03-31T00:50:01.378Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.77,2026-03-31T01:37:21.702Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.75,2026-03-31T01:44:36.510Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.59,2026-03-31T02:36:39.288Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.6,2026-03-31T02:42:43.422Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.49,2026-03-31T03:16:04.848Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.45,2026-03-31T03:36:58.241Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.38,2026-03-31T04:18:55.116Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.36,2026-03-31T04:27:51.074Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.13,2026-03-31T05:20:14.640Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.1,2026-03-31T05:50:24.408Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.08,2026-03-31T06:17:11.537Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.03,2026-03-31T06:32:32.687Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.93,2026-03-31T07:12:48.593Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.88,2026-03-31T08:02:10.877Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.86,2026-03-31T08:16:00.018Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.88,2026-03-31T08:28:38.834Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.94,2026-03-31T09:07:44.077Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.9,2026-03-31T10:01:49.191Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,19.97,2026-03-31T10:25:14.770Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.13,2026-03-31T10:53:12.840Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.25,2026-03-31T10:59:06.914Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.63,2026-03-31T11:37:51.904Z
sensor.wohnzimmer,20.75,2026-03-31T11:56:33.999Z
2

Your automation does not consider the possibility that the temperature might decrease below 20.8 before 06:30. When that happens, your automation triggers but, because the time is before 06:30, it does not execute the action.

You need to add a Time Trigger and a Numeric State Condition.

alias: Heizung.Wohnzimmer.WE.einschalten
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: numeric_state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.wohnzimmer
    below: 20.8
  - trigger: time
    at: "06:30:01"
conditions:
  - condition: time
    after: "06:30:00"
    before: "21:00:00"
    weekday:
      - sat
      - sun
  - condition: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.wohnzimmer
    below: 20.8
actions:
  - type: turn_on
    device_id: 14ea2defc2cc3cbd70b7fc9a76ae6a60
    entity_id: c9be70aaf2d2205b5056a5ad1b38efb3
    domain: switch
mode: single

NOTE

An even better way to handle this situation is to use the Generic Thermostat integration. It will create a climate entity that regulates heating (or cooling).

Your automation would simply turn on the climate entity at 06:30 and turn it off at 21:00 (using Time Triggers or the Schedule integration). The climate entity takes care of the temperature regulation. This approach gives you far more flexibility, control, and convenience.

2 Likes
3

Your automation will have triggered at 01:37, been blocked by the condition, and then stopped.

I wonder if you want it to work 24/7 on weekdays and just in the timespan on the weekends? If so, updating Taras’ example:

alias: Heizung.Wohnzimmer.WE.einschalten
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: numeric_state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.wohnzimmer
    below: 20.8
  - trigger: time
    at: "06:30:01"
conditions:
  - condition: or
    conditions:
      - condition: time
        weekday:
          - mon
          - tue
          - wed
          - thu
          - fri
      - condition: time
        after: "06:30:00"
        before: "22:30:00"
        weekday:
          - sat
          - sun
  - condition: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.wohnzimmer
    below: 20.8
actions:
  - type: turn_on
    device_id: 14ea2defc2cc3cbd70b7fc9a76ae6a60
    entity_id: c9be70aaf2d2205b5056a5ad1b38efb3
    domain: switch
mode: single
4

Many thanks. I’ve changed the automation but will also test the Generic Thermostat.

5

Any progress to report? Does the modified automation work better now?

6

Hi,

yes, I’ve seen the automation is working two days as expected!
Many thanks!
stefan

1 Like