Step-by-step guide

Installing Foom

From unboxing to voice control in about 15 minutes. No electrician required.

✅

Check compatibility first

Foom works with millivolt gas fireplaces that use a simple two-wire wall switch. If you're not sure whether your fireplace qualifies, check the compatibility page before installing.

In the box

  • Foom controller (ESP32-based, pre-flashed)
  • Two wires with male spade connectors — connect to fireplace switch terminals
  • Two wires with female spade connectors — connect to your existing wall switch
  • USB-C power cable
  • USB-C power adapter (5V, 1A minimum)
  • Quick-start card (Wi-Fi hotspot name and password)

Part 1 — Wiring

1

Access the fireplace wiring compartment

Foom installs at the fireplace itself — not at the wall switch. Most gas fireplaces have an access panel on the front or bottom that exposes the gas valve, control board, and wiring. You'll also find a standard electrical outlet here for powering accessories.

Open or remove the access panel to expose the wiring. The wall switch in your wall stays exactly as it is — you won't touch it.

📸

Take a photo first

Before disconnecting anything, photograph the existing wiring so you can restore it if needed.

2

Locate the switch terminals and wall switch wires

Find the two switch terminals on the gas valve or control board — typically labeled TH and TP (or just labeled "switch"). Two low-voltage wires will be connected here that run through the wall to your wall switch.

Disconnect those two wires from the switch terminals. These are the wires Foom connects in-line with.

3

Connect Foom in-line

Foom sits between the fireplace switch terminals and the wires that run to your wall switch:

Fireplace switch terminals (TH / TP)
    ↑ plug in →
Foom MALE spade connectors

Foom FEMALE spade connectors
    ↑ wall switch wires plug in →
Wires to wall switch

Push Foom's male spade connectors into the fireplace's TH and TP switch terminals.

Push the wall switch wires (the ones you just unplugged) into Foom's female spade connectors.

Polarity does not matter — these are low-voltage switch wires with no positive or negative side.

4

Mount Foom and connect power

Foom can rest inside the wiring compartment or be mounted nearby. Plug the included USB-C power adapter into the outlet already present in the compartment and connect it to Foom.

Replace the access panel. The wall switch in your wall is unchanged and continues to work exactly as before.

Part 2 — Wi-Fi setup

5

Power on Foom

Connect the USB-C power adapter. Within a few seconds, Foom will broadcast a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Hotspot name foom
Hotspot password fireplace123
6

Connect your phone to the "foom" hotspot

On your phone, open Wi-Fi settings and connect to the network named foom. Use the password fireplace123.

A captive portal page will open automatically. If it doesn't, open a browser and go to http://192.168.4.1 (or http://192.168.4.1:8080 for the HomeKit and local Alexa versions).

7

Enter your home Wi-Fi credentials

On the configuration page, tap Configure and enter your home Wi-Fi network name and password. Foom only connects to 2.4 GHz networks — if your network is 5 GHz only, use a 2.4 GHz guest network or change your router settings.

You can also set a custom name for the device (e.g. "Fireplace" or "Living Room Fire"). This is the name Alexa or HomeKit will use.

Save the settings. Foom will reboot and connect to your home network.

Part 3 — Smart home connection

8

Connect to your smart home system

The next step depends on which version of Foom you have:

Pair with Apple HomeKit

Foom appears as a HomeKit accessory on your local network automatically after connecting to Wi-Fi.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the + button, then Add Accessory.
  3. Tap More options if Foom doesn't appear automatically — it should be listed as a nearby accessory.
  4. When prompted for a setup code, enter the 8-digit code printed on the bottom of your Foom device. (It is also shown on the device's status page at http://foom-fireplace.local:8080.)
  5. Assign Foom to a room and give it a name. You're done.

💡

Say: "Hey Siri, turn on the fireplace"

Once paired, Siri can control the fireplace on any Apple device signed into the same Apple ID.

Discover with Amazon Alexa (local network)

Foom emulates a Philips Hue device on your local network, so Alexa can discover it automatically without any cloud account.

  1. Make sure your Alexa device (Echo, Echo Dot, etc.) is on the same Wi-Fi network as Foom.
  2. Say: "Alexa, discover devices" — or open the Alexa app, go to Devices → Add Device → Other → Discover Devices.
  3. Wait 20–30 seconds. Alexa will find a device matching the name you configured (default: "Fireplace").
  4. Say: "Alexa, turn on the fireplace" to test.

💡

No Sinric Pro or cloud account needed

This version works entirely on your local network. Alexa communicates with Foom directly — no internet connection required for the fireplace commands.

Add to Home Assistant

Foom uses ESPHome and is discovered automatically by Home Assistant on the same network.

  1. In Home Assistant, go to Settings → Devices & Services.
  2. Look for a new ESPHome device in the Discovered section. It will appear as foom-XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is part of the MAC address).
  3. Click Configure and follow the prompts to add it.
  4. The device exposes a Fireplace switch entity and a Fireplace Switch binary sensor (physical switch state).
  5. Add the switch to your dashboard or use it in automations.

💡

Use any voice assistant

Once in Home Assistant, you can control Foom with Alexa, Google Home, Siri (via HomeKit bridge), or the built-in Assist voice assistant.

Part 4 — Test everything

9

Test smart control

With the gas valve open, use your smart home app or voice command to turn the fireplace on. The fireplace should ignite within a few seconds. Turn it off the same way.

If the fireplace doesn't respond, check the status page at http://foom-fireplace.local to confirm Foom is online and connected.

10

Test the wall switch

Press your original wall switch. The fireplace should turn on — and your smart home app should reflect the updated state. Release the switch to turn it off.

The wall switch always works, regardless of Wi-Fi or internet status.

11

Test the fail-safe

Unplug Foom's USB-C power. The wall switch should still operate the fireplace normally — the safety relay closes automatically when Foom loses power, restoring direct switch control.

Plug Foom back in. Smart control resumes within 30–60 seconds after it reconnects to Wi-Fi.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely cause Fix
No "foom" Wi-Fi hotspot after power-on USB power insufficient or device not booting Try a different USB-C cable or adapter (needs 5V, 500mA minimum). Wait 30 seconds.
Captive portal page won't load Phone auto-switching back to mobile data Disable mobile data temporarily. Manually navigate to 192.168.4.1 (or :8080).
Foom connects to Wi-Fi but fireplace won't turn on Wiring issue or incompatible fireplace Check that male spade connectors are fully seated in the fireplace wires. Verify compatibility.
Wall switch stopped working after installation Female connectors not fully connected to switch Unplug Foom's power. The switch should immediately resume control via the safety relay.
Alexa says "device is unresponsive" Foom offline or Wi-Fi disconnected Check the status page. If Foom is online but Alexa can't reach it, run "Alexa, discover devices" again.
HomeKit shows device as "No Response" Foom offline or pairing lost Check Wi-Fi connection on status page. If needed, factory reset Foom by power-cycling it 5 times rapidly.
Need to change Wi-Fi network Moving router or changing network Factory reset Foom by power-cycling it 5 times within 10 seconds. It will return to hotspot mode for reconfiguration.