Smart Water Leak Detectors Bring Peace of Mind Against Water Damage
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Smart Water Leak Detectors Bring Peace of Mind Against Water Damage
Fixing a leak before major water damage occurs can save not only a lot of money, but also the potential for loss of personal possessions and unnecessary safety concerns. Water damage can result from a variety of household issues, like broken seals, clogged lines, loose connections, excess water pressure, and more.
Smart water leak detectors are able to detect water and thereby help prevent excess moisture or even flooding that could result from faulty pipes or appliances. When water (or high humidity, or a risk for freezing pipes) occurs, sensors set off a physical alarm or trigger an alert to be sent via WiFi to your phone or computer. Some systems can even automatically shut off valves to prevent major damage.
The engineers at Good Housekeeping Institute have evaluated numerous smart water leak detectors over the years. When we test, we first and foremost check the effectiveness of the sensors when doused in water. We also assess the ease of setup and intuitiveness of the companion apps, and look at things like integration with other smart home products. Based upon our testing, category expertise, and reviews of newer and innovative leak detectors on the market, these are the best smart water leak detectors for you.
How to find the best water leak detector for you
Here's what you'll want to consider when shopping for a water leak detecor:
- Smart home integrations: If you already have other smart home gadgets, you’ll want to check if you can integrate the water leak detector with cloud-based platforms like Amazon Alexa or with other smart home products in your established ecosystems (i.e., Apple HomeKit). Some smart water leak detectors integrate with a smart home ecosystem, or require a hub that works as a kind of “central command” to link devices together – others work independently via an app. Whether you choose to have a stand-alone smart water leak detector or one that is integrated with a smart home system is a personal choice — both are effective.
- Multiple sensors: If you don’t get a whole home system, look for options that allow you to add multiple sensors so you can keep track of everything together. For example, you may want a sensor located near your washer, another near the dishwasher, one underneath that pesky spare room window that often leaks in a storm. The number of sensors you should have is determined by your home’s needs.
- Automatic water shut-off: The ability for the system to automatically shut off the water source if a leak is detected is extremely useful. An unchecked leak and resulting flooding can cause substantial damage – and can be very expensive.
- Temperature monitoring: For those who live in cold weather climates, look for a system that can also monitor freezing temperatures so you’ll be alerted to potentially freezing pipes. Some also sense excess humidity which, unchecked, could cause mold.
- Battery life: Many of the sensors on the market can last at least a year, but some can last upwards of five years as claimed by the manufacturer. Some sensors send an alert if the battery needs replacing.
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1) Wi-Fi Water Leak & Freeze Detector
Honeywell
amazon.com
$58.69
Our engineers raved about how easy the WiFi-connected Honeywell was to set up, and that it doesn’t require a smart home hub. Not only does it detect water leaks but it will also alert you to freezing temps and humidity issues. The Honeywell integrates with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. The cable sensor detects water along its entire length (4 feet to start, but you can extend that with additional cables). A loud alarm, LED lights, and notifications through its Lyric app on your phone will let you know it has detected an issue before it becomes a problem.
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2) Water and Climate Sensor
Kangaroo
amazon.com
$25.00
The stand-alone Kangaroo sensor detects water leaks, low temperatures, and humidity. You can customize the temperature range, and the sensor will alert you if the temperature drops below that to help prevent pipes freezing and bursting. Additional sensors can be placed in any areas of your home where leaks might occur. The app sends alerts to your phone, and if you don’t respond to the initial alert, an alarm will sound. The app also lets you know if batteries are running low. The sensor integrates with Amazon’s Alexa.
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3) Plus Smart Water Assistant + Shutoff
Phyn
amazon.com
$699.00
The Phyn Plus doesn’t use sensors strategically placed in the path of a potential leak. Instead, the unit is installed on the main water line going into your home, near the shut-off valve (it’s recommended you hire a professional for the installation), and it works by measuring changes in water pressure hundreds of times a minute. It learns (with your help) where water is being used. From this, the Phyn Plus can alert you when a leak is detected – and if you’re not home, it can turn off the water supply. It also monitors the temperature of the water, and can alert you to the potential for freezing. No monthly subscription is needed and you can even keep an eye on your water usage so you can see how much water is used by your irrigation or washer.
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4) FGFS-101 ZW5 Flood Sensor Plus (Z-Wave)
FIBARO
amazon.com
$49.97
The Fibaro can fit in the palm of your hand and at just less than 1¼ inches tall, it can fit under appliances and in small spaces where leaks might occur. Three telescoping gold-plated feet help it retain contact even with an uneven floor (think grout between tiles) and set off an alarm and alerts if the feet get wet. A temperature sensor lets you know if there is a spike or drop in temperature in the event of overheating, fire, or freezing conditions. A motion sensor will let you know if the Fibaro is tampered with and if the area floods, the sensor floats and runs, continuing to set off alerts. Additional probes can be connected, which can be located in even tighter spaces. This model is Z-Wave compatible for your smart home ecosystem – if you use Apple HomeKit, this version is available for you.
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5) SimpleSENCE WiFi Leak and Freeze Detector
SimpleSENCE
amazon.com
$69.95
The SimpleSENCE detector can be placed where leaks tend to happen – for example, under a sink or by a leaky window. Its wrap-around sensor detects leaks and freezing temperatures, triggering an alarm. Easy to set up with the app, you can customize alerts on your phone, and set up alerts to go to numerous contacts you choose to help you manage a leak and/or turn off the water supply, e.g., if it's in your summer home, or you're away on vacation. Multiple units can be paired with the app with their location noted, making it easy for you to identify the source of the alarm.
The SimpleSENCE detector shows battery level and WiFi strength which is handy when you're choosing a location for the sensor. The unit doesn’t need a hub, and doesn't integrate with any smart home devices. One tester reported he was “super happy” with the unit, and that it gives him “peace of mind” after it alerted him to a minor leak he could quickly fix before it caused any damage. Be aware that it does not measure humidity levels.
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6) 900-001 Flo by Moen 3/4-Inch Smart Water Shutoff
Moen
amazon.com
$398.02
Flo by Moen monitors changes in your home’s water pressure to detect a leak. A single device is installed on the main water line near the shut-off valve. When a drop in pressure is detected, an alert is sent to your phone via WiFi. If you know the cause of the pressure change, you can quiet the alert before it turns off the water supply. It also monitors temperature so you can be alerted if there’s a potential for freezing. Once a day (usually in the middle of the night), this device will turn the water supply off temporarily to check for any change in pressure, indicating tiny leaks. It integrates with Smart Water Shutoff as well as other smart home ecosystems, and a monthly subscription is required if you want to monitor your water usage. A different model is available for larger water lines, and a more expensive model comes with a battery backup in case of power cuts.
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7) GP-U999SJVLCAA Smart Things Water Leak Sensor
Samsung
amazon.com
$18.96
This compact battery-powered sensor can be placed in any area where a leak might happen, and works off a SmartThings hub or any compatible device with SmartThings hub functionality. Alerts are sent to your phone if a water leak or a temperature drop or spike is detected. If a leak is detected from an integrated appliance, the SmartThings app can be configured to turn off the appliance, preventing further damage.
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8) Vivint Water Sensor
Vivint
vivint.com
$345.00
Vivint’s sensor detects freezing temperatures as well as water in places it shouldn’t be, and automatically sends mobile notifications via text or email to alert you. If the sensor is moved (think: curious child or pet), a tamper notification will be triggered too. The battery is projected to last a number of years. The sensor can be integrated with the Vivint home security system, and if you have a smart thermostat, you can remotely adjust your home’s temperature if a drop in temperature is detected. Multiple sensors can be placed in different areas of your home.
Smart water sensors can help you detect a leak before it causes damage.
