An MCU with an attached relay module that is connected to a DC solenoid controlling a valve should do the trick.

There are probably a few kinks to work out that will come up in practice!

Number one kink that prevents me from building such contraptions: how to ensure it doesn't catch fire and burn the house down?

Use high quality relays purchased from Digikey or another distributor (should be $10-30 in single quantities for AC mains) and put thermal fuses on the mains side of the relay (I generally put several, each going to different parts that are at risk of shorting). Slather everything but the heatsinks (add some if necessary) with fire retardant epoxy, carefully pushing the thermal fuse into the epoxy until it makes contact and pushes out most of the epoxy under the fuse.

Burning down the house isn’t even an issue for me. USB relay throws 24VDC from a UL-approved power supply that opens the valve. The noise from the air compressor OTOH....

Simple! You just rig up another contraption with to a gite extinguisher

Found the Krynnian gnome

I was thinking just fixing a servo motor with a short arm right above a regular can of compressed air. Unsure if it will be as simple as in my head.