diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/__init__.py
index c302188ff20..bc1aa6c1301 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/__init__.py
@@ -4,15 +4,20 @@ import logging
 import voluptuous as vol
 from xknx import XKNX
 from xknx.devices import ActionCallback, DateTime, DateTimeBroadcastType, ExposeSensor
+from xknx.dpt import DPTArray, DPTBinary
 from xknx.exceptions import XKNXException
 from xknx.io import DEFAULT_MCAST_PORT, ConnectionConfig, ConnectionType
-from xknx.knx import AddressFilter, DPTArray, DPTBinary, GroupAddress, Telegram
+from xknx.telegram import AddressFilter, GroupAddress, Telegram
 
 from homeassistant.const import (
     CONF_ENTITY_ID,
     CONF_HOST,
     CONF_PORT,
     EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP,
+    STATE_OFF,
+    STATE_ON,
+    STATE_UNAVAILABLE,
+    STATE_UNKNOWN,
 )
 from homeassistant.core import callback
 from homeassistant.helpers import discovery
@@ -35,6 +40,8 @@ CONF_KNX_STATE_UPDATER = "state_updater"
 CONF_KNX_RATE_LIMIT = "rate_limit"
 CONF_KNX_EXPOSE = "expose"
 CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_TYPE = "type"
+CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_ATTRIBUTE = "attribute"
+CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_DEFAULT = "default"
 CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_ADDRESS = "address"
 
 SERVICE_KNX_SEND = "send"
@@ -57,6 +64,8 @@ EXPOSE_SCHEMA = vol.Schema(
     {
         vol.Required(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_TYPE): cv.string,
         vol.Optional(CONF_ENTITY_ID): cv.entity_id,
+        vol.Optional(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_ATTRIBUTE): cv.string,
+        vol.Optional(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_DEFAULT): cv.match_all,
         vol.Required(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_ADDRESS): cv.string,
     }
 )
@@ -244,6 +253,8 @@ class KNXModule:
         for to_expose in self.config[DOMAIN][CONF_KNX_EXPOSE]:
             expose_type = to_expose.get(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_TYPE)
             entity_id = to_expose.get(CONF_ENTITY_ID)
+            attribute = to_expose.get(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_ATTRIBUTE)
+            default = to_expose.get(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_DEFAULT)
             address = to_expose.get(CONF_KNX_EXPOSE_ADDRESS)
             if expose_type in ["time", "date", "datetime"]:
                 exposure = KNXExposeTime(self.xknx, expose_type, address)
@@ -251,7 +262,13 @@ class KNXModule:
                 self.exposures.append(exposure)
             else:
                 exposure = KNXExposeSensor(
-                    self.hass, self.xknx, expose_type, entity_id, address
+                    self.hass,
+                    self.xknx,
+                    expose_type,
+                    entity_id,
+                    attribute,
+                    default,
+                    address,
                 )
                 exposure.async_register()
                 self.exposures.append(exposure)
@@ -325,23 +342,26 @@ class KNXExposeTime:
 class KNXExposeSensor:
     """Object to Expose Home Assistant entity to KNX bus."""
 
-    def __init__(self, hass, xknx, expose_type, entity_id, address):
+    def __init__(self, hass, xknx, expose_type, entity_id, attribute, default, address):
         """Initialize of Expose class."""
         self.hass = hass
         self.xknx = xknx
         self.type = expose_type
         self.entity_id = entity_id
+        self.expose_attribute = attribute
+        self.expose_default = default
         self.address = address
         self.device = None
 
     @callback
     def async_register(self):
         """Register listener."""
+        if self.expose_attribute is not None:
+            _name = self.entity_id + "__" + self.expose_attribute
+        else:
+            _name = self.entity_id
         self.device = ExposeSensor(
-            self.xknx,
-            name=self.entity_id,
-            group_address=self.address,
-            value_type=self.type,
+            self.xknx, name=_name, group_address=self.address, value_type=self.type,
         )
         self.xknx.devices.add(self.device)
         async_track_state_change(self.hass, self.entity_id, self._async_entity_changed)
@@ -350,13 +370,31 @@ class KNXExposeSensor:
         """Handle entity change."""
         if new_state is None:
             return
-        if new_state.state == "unknown":
+        if new_state.state in (STATE_UNKNOWN, STATE_UNAVAILABLE):
             return
 
-        if self.type == "binary":
-            if new_state.state == "on":
-                await self.device.set(True)
-            elif new_state.state == "off":
-                await self.device.set(False)
+        if self.expose_attribute is not None:
+            new_attribute = new_state.attributes.get(self.expose_attribute)
+            if old_state is not None:
+                old_attribute = old_state.attributes.get(self.expose_attribute)
+                if old_attribute == new_attribute:
+                    # don't send same value sequentially
+                    return
+            await self._async_set_knx_value(new_attribute)
         else:
-            await self.device.set(new_state.state)
+            await self._async_set_knx_value(new_state.state)
+
+    async def _async_set_knx_value(self, value):
+        """Set new value on xknx ExposeSensor."""
+        if value is None:
+            if self.expose_default is None:
+                return
+            value = self.expose_default
+
+        if self.type == "binary":
+            if value == STATE_ON:
+                value = True
+            elif value == STATE_OFF:
+                value = False
+
+        await self.device.set(value)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/binary_sensor.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/binary_sensor.py
index 9f8c3cc8491..29effaa7ebf 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/binary_sensor.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/binary_sensor.py
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ class KNXBinarySensor(BinarySensorEntity):
         """Store register state change callback."""
         self.async_register_callbacks()
 
+    async def async_update(self):
+        """Request a state update from KNX bus."""
+        await self.device.sync()
+
     @property
     def name(self):
         """Return the name of the KNX device."""
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/climate.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/climate.py
index a3d5ac046a4..a58e5312c11 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/climate.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/climate.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from typing import List, Optional
 
 import voluptuous as vol
 from xknx.devices import Climate as XknxClimate, ClimateMode as XknxClimateMode
-from xknx.knx import HVACOperationMode
+from xknx.dpt import HVACOperationMode
 
 from homeassistant.components.climate import PLATFORM_SCHEMA, ClimateEntity
 from homeassistant.components.climate.const import (
@@ -215,6 +215,11 @@ class KNXClimate(ClimateEntity):
         self.device.register_device_updated_cb(after_update_callback)
         self.device.mode.register_device_updated_cb(after_update_callback)
 
+    async def async_update(self):
+        """Request a state update from KNX bus."""
+        await self.device.sync()
+        await self.device.mode.sync()
+
     @property
     def name(self) -> str:
         """Return the name of the KNX device."""
@@ -279,7 +284,8 @@ class KNXClimate(ClimateEntity):
             return OPERATION_MODES.get(
                 self.device.mode.operation_mode.value, HVAC_MODE_HEAT
             )
-        return None
+        # default to "heat"
+        return HVAC_MODE_HEAT
 
     @property
     def hvac_modes(self) -> Optional[List[str]]:
@@ -293,7 +299,9 @@ class KNXClimate(ClimateEntity):
             _operations.append(HVAC_MODE_HEAT)
             _operations.append(HVAC_MODE_OFF)
 
-        return [op for op in _operations if op is not None]
+        _modes = list(filter(None, _operations))
+        # default to ["heat"]
+        return _modes if _modes else [HVAC_MODE_HEAT]
 
     async def async_set_hvac_mode(self, hvac_mode: str) -> None:
         """Set operation mode."""
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/cover.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/cover.py
index 92e7e599bcb..731105f6629 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/cover.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/cover.py
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ class KNXCover(CoverEntity):
         """Store register state change callback."""
         self.async_register_callbacks()
 
+    async def async_update(self):
+        """Request a state update from KNX bus."""
+        await self.device.sync()
+
     @property
     def name(self):
         """Return the name of the KNX device."""
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/light.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/light.py
index bb82e86cd25..7ea5dc52155 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/light.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/light.py
@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@ class KNXLight(LightEntity):
         """Store register state change callback."""
         self.async_register_callbacks()
 
+    async def async_update(self):
+        """Request a state update from KNX bus."""
+        await self.device.sync()
+
     @property
     def name(self):
         """Return the name of the KNX device."""
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/manifest.json b/homeassistant/components/knx/manifest.json
index ab26c4b6287..941a62d2d14 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/manifest.json
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/manifest.json
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
   "domain": "knx",
   "name": "KNX",
   "documentation": "https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/knx",
-  "requirements": ["xknx==0.11.2"],
+  "requirements": ["xknx==0.11.3"],
   "codeowners": ["@Julius2342"]
 }
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/sensor.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/sensor.py
index 2679170b03d..2d278ec04b4 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/sensor.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/sensor.py
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ class KNXSensor(Entity):
         """Store register state change callback."""
         self.async_register_callbacks()
 
+    async def async_update(self):
+        """Update the state from KNX."""
+        await self.device.sync()
+
     @property
     def name(self):
         """Return the name of the KNX device."""
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/knx/switch.py b/homeassistant/components/knx/switch.py
index 3f06221cea5..00b98f0224b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/knx/switch.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/knx/switch.py
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ class KNXSwitch(SwitchEntity):
         """Store register state change callback."""
         self.async_register_callbacks()
 
+    async def async_update(self):
+        """Request a state update from KNX bus."""
+        await self.device.sync()
+
     @property
     def name(self):
         """Return the name of the KNX device."""
diff --git a/requirements_all.txt b/requirements_all.txt
index 741d0150d94..b1326f2ca8b 100644
--- a/requirements_all.txt
+++ b/requirements_all.txt
@@ -2207,7 +2207,7 @@ xboxapi==0.1.1
 xfinity-gateway==0.0.4
 
 # homeassistant.components.knx
-xknx==0.11.2
+xknx==0.11.3
 
 # homeassistant.components.bluesound
 # homeassistant.components.rest