Best Smart Water Leak Detectors of 2023

Overview

If you’ve returned home to find your basement wet or discovered too late that your kitchen sink or toilet is slowly leaking, you’ll know how costly it can be to repair or replace carpets, flooring, and walls damaged by water. Finding leaks before they cause significant damage has never been easier thanks to smart home devices that detect moisture and send alerts to your phone when they detect it. These devices vary in complexity from simple disc-shaped sensors placed on the ground to inline monitoring systems that track water flow rates to detect irregularities that may indicate leaks.

Top Picks

Here are our top picks, followed by details on the types of leak detectors available, how they work, and their costs.

D-Link mydlink Wi-Fi Water Sensor DCH-S161

The D-Link mydlink Wi-Fi Water Sensor DCH-S161 lets you know if your sink, water heater, or washing machine is leaking, and it can activate other smart devices to help prevent floods and further damage.

Pros:

• Works directly with other D-Link devices
• Works with third-party devices via IFTTT
• Supports voice commands from Google Assistant
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Does not work with voice commands from Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit
• Does not have a temperature and humidity detector

Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector

The Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector will alert you when a leak occurs in your home, and when used with the Flo Smart Water Shutoff valve, it will prevent further damage by shutting off the water flow.

Pros:

• Very fast response
• Humidity and temperature alerts
• Works with Flo Smart Water Shutoff valve
• Includes an extension cable
• Easy to install

Cons:

• No integration with third-party devices or standalone voice control

Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff

The Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff is a smart water meter that monitors water usage in your home, tests your system for leaks, and protects against water damage with an automatic water shutoff feature.

Pros:

• Reports water usage for the entire home
• Leak detection
• Automatic water shutoff and remote shutoff
• Supports IFTTT and voice control

Cons:

• Expensive
• Requires professional installation
• Long learning curve
• Does not have user-defined high usage limits

Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor

The Flume 2 is a smart home water monitoring device that connects to your phone and Amazon Alexa to detect leaks and inform you of your water usage.

Pros:

• Leak detection and water usage monitoring
• Does not require plumbing work or electrical connections
• Supports voice commands from Amazon Alexa

Cons:

• Limited smart integration
• Does not support Google Assistant, HomeKit, or IFTTT
• Does not have a water shutoff feature

Phyn Smart Water Sensor

The Phyn Smart Water Sensor is easy to install anywhere in your home and will alert you when a leak occurs and when temperature or humidity exceeds defined thresholds.

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Fast response
• Temperature and humidity alerts
• Works with Phyn Plus valve for automatic water shutoff

Cons:

• Sensor cable is available at an additional cost
• Does not work with third-party devices or support voice control

Orbit B-Hyve Smart Flood Sensor

The Orbit B-Hyve Smart Flood Sensor will notify you when a leak occurs or when your pipes are at risk of freezing, but it does not work with third-party smart devices.

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Affordable
• Leak and temperature alerts

Cons:

• Does not work with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, or IFTTT
• Requires a hub

Eve Water Guard

The Eve Water Guard will inform you when a leak occurs and has the ability to activate other HomeKit devices, but it offers limited support for third-party devices.

Pros:

• Fast response
• Fast
• Interact with other HomeKit devices
• Loud siren
• Easy installation

Cons:

• No Wi-Fi
• Works only with HomeKit
• Requires Apple TV or HomePod for integrations

Kangaroo Water + Climate Sensor

The Kangaroo Water + Climate Sensor is a Wi-Fi supported sensor that will send a push notification upon detecting a water leak and will also monitor temperature and humidity conditions.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Fast response to the device
• Does not require a hub
• Easy installation

Cons:

• No audible alert
• Does not support IFTTT or HomeKit
• No integration with third-party devices
• No extension sensor cable
• No event log records

What is a water leak detector?

Basic sensors are battery-operated discs or small boxes that are simply placed on the ground where leaks may occur, such as under the refrigerator, sink, toilet, or washing machine. They typically have metal sensing probes (feet) that are in contact with the ground, along with a built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio to connect to your phone. The sensing is triggered when the probes touch water; usually, just a few drops are enough to activate it. The device then sends a push notification or email (or both) and produces an alarm sound. Be sure to look for a device that has a loud siren you can hear from anywhere in your home.

Of course, there is always the possibility that the leaking water may start to pool in an area adjacent to the sensing location. To ensure you get alerted before a substantial amount of water accumulates, buy a pack that includes multiple sensors that allow you to expand your water detection coverage. Alternatively, purchase a sensor that comes with an extension cable. In most cases, the entire cable acts as a long, flexible sensor. You can mount this type of water sensor on the wall (with the cable lying on the ground) or place it directly on the ground with the cable for complete coverage.

What makes a leak detector smart?

A smart water sensor can communicate with your phone in several ways. Some sensors work only with Bluetooth, which means you need to be within range of the device (usually about 40 feet) to receive alerts and silence alarms. If you want to receive alerts and control the sensing while you’re away from home, make sure the device has a Wi-Fi radio or is part of a connected home automation system.

For anyone living in a climate where pipes freeze or where temperatures and humidity levels are high, look for a water sensor that also monitors environmental conditions. If you have a sensor with built-in temperature and humidity sensors, it can send alerts when conditions reach a certain threshold. For example, if you live in a cold climate, you can set the sensor to alert you if the temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a level that can lead to frozen pipes. Similarly, if you live in a hot climate with high humidity, you can configure the sensor to notify you when humidity levels reach 55% or higher to avoid mold growth. Abnormally high humidity levels can also indicate water leaks.

If you want your water sensor to perform more tasks than just notifying you of a leak, look for a device that works with other smart devices. Compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri allows you to do things like silence alarms or check temperature and humidity simply by asking. In fact, you want the sensor to trigger another device that can help mitigate damage from a leak like a fan or dehumidifier.

Some

Water sensors are part of a family of smart devices from a single manufacturer that all work with the same app. If you choose a standalone sensor, make sure it supports IFTTT or is compatible with a home automation platform like HomeKit or SmartThings. With IFTTT, you can create apps that allow the device to trigger other compatible devices like smart plugs and thermostats. Most home automation systems let you create automations or scenes to configure connected devices to work together.

How much does a water leak detector cost?

Smart water sensor prices range from $50 to over $500. Affordable models are typically just leak detectors that usually lack Wi-Fi radio and communicate over Bluetooth or function as part of a home automation system. You pay more for features like environmental monitoring, extension cables, sirens, LED indicators, as well as various integration options like voice control and IFTTT support. At the high end, there are inline systems that monitor your entire home and shut off the water flow if a serious issue is detected. Remember that inline systems require professional installation in addition to their high price, which can increase the total cost by $200 or more.

Buying Guide: Best Smart Water Leak Detectors of 2023

What is a water leak detector?

Basic sensors are battery-operated discs or small boxes that are simply placed on the floor where leaks may occur, such as under the refrigerator, sink, toilet, or washing machine. They usually feature metal sensing probes (feet) that make contact with the ground, along with built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio to communicate with your phone. Sensing is triggered when the feet come into contact with water; usually, just a few drops are enough to activate it. The device then sends an alert via push notification or email (or both) and emits a loud alarm. Be sure to look for a device that offers a loud siren that you can hear from anywhere in your home.

Of course, there is always the possibility that leaking water will accumulate in an area adjacent to the sensor’s location. To ensure you receive an alert before a significant amount of water builds up, purchase a package that includes multiple sensors, allowing you to extend the detection range. Alternatively, buy a sensor that comes with an extension cable. In most cases, the entire cable acts as a long and flexible sensor. You can hang this type of water sensor on the wall (with the cable lying flat on the floor) or place it directly on the ground with the cable for complete coverage.

While small battery-operated sensors are great for detecting leaks in obvious areas, they won’t notify you if there’s a leak in the pipes behind walls or in the ceiling. Of course, if water is leaking from a ceiling pipe, you’ll eventually notice it. But by then, you are likely dealing with damaged ceiling and wall panels, along with potential wood damage. To protect against damage to your entire home, look for a leak detection system that monitors the entire water supply system.

These systems usually need to work inline, in an area close to your water meter. They also typically require professional installation as they become part of your plumbing system. When water flows through the device, it gathers information about your supply system, such as flow rate, pressure, and temperature. Once it learns the details of your home’s water system over time (usually a week or two), it sends an alert if the water usage spikes or if the water pressure changes, both of which can indicate a broken pipe or a faucet left running. These devices can also inform you if you have a slow leak anywhere in your system and if the water temperature is too cold, a condition that can lead to frozen pipes.

Some smart monitoring devices on the line do more than just warn you of potential problems: they generate daily, weekly, and monthly reports on water usage, in addition to informing you of how much water each device (like the shower, sink, or garden hose) uses. Additionally, they periodically conduct health checks of the system to look for abnormal pressure or flow rates. If a problem is detected, they automatically shut off the water flow to your entire home. These systems are ideal if you are frequently away from home or if you have a second home that remains unoccupied for long periods.

What makes a leak detector smart?

A smart water sensor can communicate with your phone in several ways. Some sensors work only with Bluetooth technology, meaning you need to be within range of the device (usually about 40 feet) to receive alerts and silence alarms. If you want to receive alerts and control the sensor while you are away from home, make sure the device has Wi-Fi radio or is part of a connected home automation system.

For anyone living in a climate where freezing pipes occur or where temperatures and humidity levels are high, look for a water sensor that also monitors environmental conditions. If you have a sensor with built-in temperature and humidity sensors, it can send alerts when conditions reach a certain threshold. For example, if you live in a cold climate, you can set the sensor to notify you if the temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a level that can lead to frozen pipes. Similarly, if you live in a hot climate with high humidity conditions, you can configure the sensor to notify you when humidity levels reach 55% or higher to avoid mold growth. Abnormally high humidity levels can also indicate water leaks.

If you want a water sensor to perform more tasks than just alerting you to a leak, look for a device that works with other smart devices. Compatibility with voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri allows you to do things like silence alarms or check the temperature and humidity simply by asking. In fact, you want the sensor to trigger another device that can help minimize damage from the leak, such as a fan or dehumidifier.

Some water sensors are part of a family of smart devices from a single manufacturer that all work with the same app. If you choose a standalone sensor, make sure it supports IFTTT or is compatible with a home automation platform like HomeKit or SmartThings. With IFTTT, you can create applications that allow the device to operate other compatible devices like smart plugs and thermostats. Most home automation systems allow you to create automations or scenes to configure connected devices to work together.

How much does a water leak detector cost?

The cost of smart water sensors ranges from $50 to over $500. The more affordable models are typically just leak detectors that lack Wi-Fi radio and communicate via Bluetooth or function as part of a home automation system. You pay more for features like environmental monitoring, extension cables, sirens, LED indicators, as well as numerous integration options like voice control and IFTTT support. At the upper end, there are inline systems that monitor your entire home and shut off the water flow if a serious problem is detected. Remember, inline systems not only have a higher price point, but they also require professional installation, which can add an additional $200 or more to the total cost.

Conclusion

Thanks to

Smart water leak detection technology has made it easier to locate leaks before they cause significant damage at home. These devices range from simple sensors that are placed on the ground to in-line monitoring systems that oversee the entire water delivery system. When selecting the right water sensor device, make sure it aligns with your needs and budget and includes features you desire, such as voice control and integration with other smart devices. Review the reviews and ratings to get a better understanding of the performance of different devices and choose the best one for you.

Source: https://me.pcmag.com/en/smart-home-2/15818/the-best-smart-water-leak-detectors-for-2023