Smart device troubleshooting in Exeter
Professional smart device troubleshooting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Smart home devices not working? I'll diagnose connection issues, pairing problems, and control failures. Get your smart home working properly again without factory resetting everything.
When Your Smart Home Becomes a Stupid Home
Everything was working beautifully. Voice control, automations, scheduled lighting, the lot. Then one day it all stops and you've no idea why. Devices show offline, Alexa says she can't find them, your phone app won't connect, and you're about to throw the whole lot out the window.
Before you do that, let me have a look.
💡 Pro tip: 90% of smart home failures are WiFi-related. Either your router got updated/replaced, your WiFi password changed, or devices got kicked off the network. Rarely the devices themselves that are dead.
Why Troubleshooting is Tricky
Smart home problems cascade - one issue causes another, and suddenly nothing works:
| ✅ Proper Diagnosis | ❌ DIY Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| Find root cause, fix once | Factory reset everything, start from scratch |
| Preserve settings and automations | Lose all your scenes and routines |
| Understand what went wrong | No idea, just hope it works this time |
| Fix in 1-2 hours | Spend all weekend, still broken |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Diagnose | Work out what's actually broken (not what looks broken) |
| Fix | Get devices reconnected, paired, and responding |
| Test | Make sure everything works together again |
| Explain | Tell you what was wrong and how to avoid it next time |
📦 You're Left With
- Smart devices working again
- Automations and scenes preserved if possible
- Understanding of what went wrong
- Confidence it won't immediately break again
Pricing Guide
| Scenario | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single device offline | 1 hr | £60 |
| Multiple devices or complex issue | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Whole system rebuild | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after.
Common Problems I Fix
✅ Devices showing offline - WiFi or network issue
✅ Won't pair anymore - reset procedure or compatibility
✅ Voice control stopped - Alexa/Google connection broken
✅ Automations not running - trigger or routine misconfigured
Why Choose Us for Smart device troubleshooting in Exeter?
Get stuck devices working again
Fix connection and pairing problems
No need to factory reset everything
Plain English explanation of what was wrong
What to Expect
Step 1: Diagnose The Problem
I'll check your network, look at device status, test connections. Work out what's actually broken, not just what symptoms you're seeing.
Step 2: Fix & Reconnect
Get devices back online, repair broken connections, reconfigure anything that's lost settings. Try to preserve your existing setup where possible.
Step 3: Test & Explain
Make sure everything works together again. Show you what was wrong and how to prevent it happening again.
🔧 DIY Tips
Before calling me, try these quick fixes - they solve 50% of smart home issues:
🔧 The 5-minute checklist
- Reboot your router (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in)
- Check your WiFi password hasn't changed
- Make sure devices are on 2.4GHz WiFi (not 5GHz)
- Check your phone and devices are on same WiFi network
- Open the device app and see if it prompts for reconnection
📱 App troubleshooting
- Delete and reinstall the app (sometimes helps)
- Sign out and back in to your account
- Check for app updates in app store
- Clear app cache (Android settings, harder on iOS)
🗣️ Voice control issues
- In Alexa app: Settings > Your Skills > disable/enable the skill
- In Google Home: remove device, re-add it
- Say "Alexa, discover devices" or "Hey Google, sync devices"
- Check device and voice assistant are on same WiFi
🏠 Network issues
- Router changes break smart homes (new router, ISP change, WiFi rename)
- Most smart devices need 2.4GHz WiFi, won't work on 5GHz
- Too many devices can overload cheap routers
- Smart devices hate WiFi extenders (prefer mesh systems)
⚠️ When to call for help
- You've tried rebooting everything, still broken
- Devices worked yesterday, all offline today with no changes you know of
- One specific device won't pair no matter what
- Automations used to work, now don't
- You changed something and now can't remember what
💡 Pro trick: Before changing ANY settings on your router or smart home hub, take photos of all the settings screens. Makes it much easier to undo if something breaks.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Router just been replaced? That's the #1 cause of whole smart home failure. All your devices are still looking for the old WiFi network. I can get everything reconnected much faster than you doing it device by device.
Got lots of smart home stuff? Worth getting it properly documented - what's connected where, what automations you've got set up. If something breaks, much easier to rebuild. I can create that documentation while fixing things.
Thinking of expanding? If your current setup is flaky, fix that first before adding more devices. Building on dodgy foundations just makes the whole lot worse. I'll advise if your network needs upgrading before adding more smart kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of smart device problems can you fix?
Most connection and setup issues - devices that won't pair, things showing offline, automations not working, voice control stopped responding, apps can't find devices. If it's software/connectivity related, I can usually sort it. If the device itself is actually broken, I'll tell you honestly.
My smart home was working fine, then everything stopped - can you fix it?
Usually yes - that's normally a router change, WiFi password change, or firmware update that broke things. I'll track down what changed and get everything reconnected. Much quicker than you factory resetting everything and starting from scratch.
Do I need to tell you what brand everything is before you come?
Helpful but not essential. Most smart home stuff follows similar patterns (WiFi issues, pairing problems, app confusion). If you've got a weird ecosystem I haven't seen, I'll work it out - I'm good at reading manuals quickly.
How long does troubleshooting take?
Simple problems (one device offline, pairing issue) - about an hour. Whole-system issues or complex automation problems - up to 2 hours. I charge £60 for the first hour, then £50 for each additional hour or part thereof.
What if you can't fix it?
I'll tell you honestly if the device is dead or if it's a limitation of what it can do (not everything works with everything). You only pay for my time spent diagnosing - minimum £60. If I can't fix it in 2 hours, we'll discuss whether it's worth continuing.
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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