How can I get Smartthings to tell Alexa to turn on my water heater?

[JDRoberts]

As long as the water heater can be included in an Alexa routine ( not a smartthings routine) , there is now a very easy way to trigger it from SmartThings using a virtual contact sensor.

If it cannot be included in an Amazon routine, then you have to use the old hacking method of setting up a separate device, typically a cheap android tablet, to speak the commands for you.

See the FAQ. If your device can be included in an Amazon routine, then use the link in the FAQ to the thread that discusses how to do that. If it cannot, then read the rest of the FAQ. ( this is a clickable link)

FAQ: Can I trigger an Echo Action without Speaking to It?

Breaking News!!! As of August 2018, a SmartThings-connected Contact or Motion Sensor can now trigger an Amazon echo routine if you live in the US, Canada, or the UK !!! Amazon has now added the ability for some sensors to trigger an Amazon echo routine (not a smartthings routine), which does let you trigger other smart home devices which are not connected to SmartThings without having to speak an echo command! Or you can set it up so that your echo devices will speak a customized phrase, play a doorbell chime, or various other sound effects. And even better, that contact sensor can be a virtual contact sensor. And although it’s a bit tricky, a community member has created an edge driver that will create BOTH a virtual switch and a virtual sensor and keep the pair in synch. So…