Any suggestions for HomeKit indoor temperature sensor?

Last year we were away for a week in winter and came home to a house at 50F because the AAA battery died on the thermostat. Had we been gone longer, it would have been disaster with frozen pipes etc. So looking for suggestions for an indoor temp sensor.

This is my first foray into home automation, so would prefer a HomeKit compatible temperature sensor that would notify me if the temperature goes below a certain level.

I looked into the Apple HomePod Mini, but not sure if the automation when crossing a temp threshold can trigger a notification. Seems to me it can only trigger other home automations like closing blinds or adjusting thermostat.

Thanks

I had the Aqara temperature sensors and they worked, but required Aqara camera (or equiv hub)

I’m happy with the Nest thermostat we have. Not “HomeKit”, but the iOS app is good. Runs on AC power through a rechargeable battery. Don’t know how long battery lasts with no power as power never has been out for very long. Certainly longer than AAA replaceable batteries.

Been using both the Aqara ones but also Netatmo weather station with the additional indoor modules. Both working great, however the Netatmo ones expose CO2 concentration values to HomeKit whereas the Aqara ones are just temp and humidity.

I have Homepods Mini in 4 different rooms and use the temperature within Apple Home shortcuts to kick off various automations. It works really well.

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I use a pair of Ecobee thermostats (2 HVAC systems) that are powered by my furnace and they have power backup with an automatic generator. The Ecobee is HomeKit compatible.

Networking is not my area and looking for some help.
I would like to monitor temp in several zones in one house while I am in a different location. I do not need to control the thermostat, just monitor the temps.
I learned that whatever sensors I buy will need to link to a gateway or hub of some kind.
I tried Aquara sensors and its hub. Did not work for me as the hub requires a 2.4 GHz wifi network and our network is 5 GHz. Also, the hub was USB A connection and the only one running where I want to install the sensors is my Mac Studio, which will be powered down when I leave. Also, I had to use a dongle to add the USB A connection.
Optimally, whatever hub/gateway I get will work with HomeKit, but my experience with Home is quite mixed and I seem to have to reset devices all the time.
Thoughts and suggestions welcome.

I don’t believe that native Apple Home (previously HomeKit) has an easy way to display temperatures.

I looked a while ago to try and show my HomePods readings but didn’t find anything.

Thank you.
Another idea.
What if I select another app than HomeKit, like Govee, myQ, Aquara or another? Any experience with those apps working to connect sensors and report from a remote location via WiFi?

I use a Govee sensor in my motor home to monitor the temperature for the dogs in case power goes out while we are away. It sends alerts if temp goes above or below user set thresholds.

I don’t unfortunately

Great, thanks. I have follow up questions for some details.
What do you use for a hub or gateway. Also, if you don’t mind, do you connect using 2.4 GHz WiFi or another? In other words, how did you set this up to monitor remotely when you are in a different location than the devices?
Thanks.

The temperature sensor, model H5179, connects to a T-Mobile hotspot that stays in my motorhome all the time. The sensor connects via 2.4gHz. Govee provides an iPhone app that connects to the device remotely. Same app also talks to the gateway for my water sensors in my house. None of the devices are HomeKit compatible.

Many thanks for your setup information.
This HomeKit stuff, to me, is not nearly as seamless or easy as portrayed.

The Eve Home stuff is really appealing to me.