The 3 Best Smart Water-Leak Detectors of 2022 Reviews by Wirecutter
Table of Content
There are plenty of reasonably priced devices (including high-tech models) out there to keep you and your home protected. Sometimes water leak detector installation requires a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. A plumber may need to help if you have a more advanced system with automatic shut-off features. Since all leaks create soundwaves, a detector can gauge the severity of a leak by the frequency it produces.
You can get a leak sensor that sets off an eardrum-piercing tone for as little as $10, but if you want smartphone alerts and the ability to check in on your sensors remotely via an app, be prepared to pay a bit more. The cost of smart water-leak sensors is all over the place, ranging between $20 and $100, and dependent on features, accessories, and manufacturer. Though some people may question the value of such devices, the cost to replace furniture, rugs, and memories is much higher, so we’ve concluded they’re a worthwhile investment for most people. You do need to place them thoughtfully, so that they are in the path of where water might flow. Some models come with cords that allow you to better reach leaky places, while others let you combine multiple devices that communicate with a hub. Ideally, you should place multiple sensors throughout your home to cover a variety of spots where water leaks might happen.
Basement Watchdog WiFi Module
It does have a loud audible alarm and dual sensors (one on the device and one at the end of the included 4-foot cable). Smart water-leak sensors allow you to keep tabs on water that’s being wasted. The water sensor itself is on the end of a 6-foot cable, which you can leave on its own or mount to the floor or wall via the screw holes on either side of the metal contacts. Proteus also sells a splitter ($6), so you can connect up to five sensors at once, including a sensor to monitor a sump pump. Curiously, however, the system can’t distinguish between sensors, so it sends just one general alert if it detects water.
If you notice your utility bills are rising but can't find a leak in your home, you may have an underground water leak caused by shifting soil, damage from pests or normal wear and tear. To install a water detection system, you typically place a sensor near any system or appliance that uses water. Integrating a smart water sensor with your devices is often as easy as downloading an app.Some advanced systems require a plumber to sync the sensors and shut-off valve with your water main.
How we tested
It works with the YoLink Hub , which uses LoRa technology and can support up to 200 devices. You can silence it in the app, which also gives you the option to block alerts for the next five minutes or 30 minutes after the initial alarm. After all, having a basement filled with water is enough of a headache—having to walk through it to silence beeping is a whole other level of nightmare. Put The Basement Watchdog High Water Alarm (Model BWD-HWA) next to a water heater, under a laundry tub, a sink, or anywhere water damage is likely. The alarm includes 6' of wire, which you can extend up to 100', allowing the sensor to be used in hard-to-reach places. Look for LED lights that blink or flash when the device detects a leak, has a low battery or loses connection.
The Fibaro HomeKit sensor immediately alerts your device if it detects a leak or freeze. You can remotely access and control the device from your phone and check the status of leaks and temperature issues with voice commands. You can install the Resideo Wi-Fi Water Leak Detector around water heaters and sump pumps, and the 4-foot cable sensor can extend the device’s capabilities, which is ideal for large areas like basements.
Extended battery life
It also has an audible alarm and the option to connect to the larger Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff system. Water-related emergencies and leaks often happen when the power goes off, so it’s a good idea to invest in a smart water leak detector with extended battery life. We ran tests using the probes on the actual detector as well as those on the tip of the extender cable. On average, the device’s audible alarm and tiny red LED triggered within one second, with smartphone alerts clocking in regularly at the six-second mark. We also repeatedly removed the battery and found that the app would consistently send a disconnection alert within an hour. Although the Flo device has an audible alarm, the volume is just 60 dB, according to our measurements, substantially quieter than the alarms of our other two picks .
Smart water-leak sensors are pretty low risk when it comes to concerns about being hacked, but we always prefer to use the highest form of security available. (And it’s not required.) Our other two picks currently don’t offer 2FA, a situation that we hope will change. If you know your home has plumbing issues, it’s worth it to buy a leak detector so you’re alerted immediately to any flooding problems.
The best smart water-leak sensor
The system supports Google Assistant for announcing activity on smart speakers, as well as the web service and app IFTTT for triggering other smart devices when it finds a leak. Like every other leak sensor, it has a few quirks, but it’s still the best choice for monitoring more than one spot in a home. The best water leak detectors trigger a high-decibel alarm, send notifications to your smart devices and automatically shut off water to prevent damage.
We had mixed results, though, in receiving notifications that a Sensor Pod was offline. When the hub loses power, the app sends a smartphone notification; that worked reliably in our tests, taking about three and a half minutes, faster than on any other device we tested. However, when we cut power to a Sensor Pod, our results didn’t come in as fast .
The device’s sensor wires extend up to 6 feet to protect hard-to-reach areas. Finally, D-Link does not offer two-factor authentication, a mainstream security measure that lets the app confirm your identity when you attempt to use it. Although we don’t think that omission is a dealbreaker for this type of device, we would expect a company like D-Link to offer this type of security, and we hope that it adds the feature soon.
Throughout our testing, the Proteus Aquo sensor gave us some of the best response times, firing off audible alerts within two seconds and text messages within four seconds. Since the device doesn’t have a dedicated app , it doesn’t send smartphone notifications. But you can designate as many phone numbers and email addresses as can fit into 400 characters. Cool water can be refreshing—except when it’s in the form of a puddle that seeps from a toilet. A smart water-leak sensor can lessen the impact of plumbing problems by alerting you the moment they’re detected, whether you’re at home or away.
These smart devices will alert you to leaks before they get bad—and can even prevent damage from occurring. Aside from the complicated integration, unlike every other leak sensor we’ve tested, the Aquo doesn’t have a dedicated smartphone app. Proteus provides a way to fake an app by bookmarking the web page to your phone’s desktop, but the result is not a fluid experience. Detectors are only an alarm system—on their own they don’t protect your home from damage.
Wirecutter long-term tests all of its picks, and that includes keeping track of hardware and software incidents. Should we find any privacy or security concerns affecting any of our selected models, we’ll report them here and, if necessary, update or alter our recommendations. We set up each device according to its instructions, downloaded the necessary apps, and connected them to a Wi-Fi network or a smart-home hub when needed.
The Proteus Aquo is more customizable than any other water-leak sensor we tested. However, it has no dedicated app, it needs to be plugged in, and it’s more expensive than our other picks. Both the Monoprice Stitch Smart Water Leak/Flood Sensor and the Merkury Smart Wi-Fi Water & Leak Sensor lack enough features for us to recommend either one.
To pick our favorite water leak detectors available at the time of publishing, we considered essential water detection technology, alert types, price and customer reviews. Smart water-leak sensors are for anyone who is worried about small leaks turning into big ones, as well as anyone who doesn’t want to wait until they step into a flooded room to find out. Plenty of non-smart water-leak sensors trigger a siren when they detect water, but they may go unheard if you’ve situated them in a bathroom or deep in the basement, or if you’re not home. A “smart” water-leak sensor, however, sends alerts right to your smartphone no matter where you are. Most water-leak sensors are tiny pucks or sensor points that you can place near or underneath a water source.
Comments
Post a Comment