If you have ever discovered a slow leak in your kitchen sink or toilet or returned home to a moist basement, you know how costly it can be to replace or repair water-damaged walls, carpets, and flooring. Smart Water Monitor home devices that notify your phone when they detect wetness have made it easier to find leaks before they cause significant harm. From straightforward puck-shaped sensors you set on the floor to in-line devices that keep an eye on your water flow rate for anomalies that could point to leaks, they vary in complexity.
We have been evaluating smart water monitors at Bestsmartproduct for almost ten years. Moen’s $50 Flo is our Editors’ Choice because of its affordable pricing, responsive performance, and ease of installation. However, we do recommend other models as well, so continue reading to see all of our best choices.
1. Flo by Moen Smart Water Leak Detector
If you do not notice leaky faucets, burst pipes, and other water-related damage in time, the cost of repairs can be very high. When even the smallest amount of water is detected, the Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector ($49.99) will send you an email, text message, or push alert. Unlike other sensors, however, it will cut off the water flow to stop additional damage when used in conjunction with its more costly sibling, the $500 Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff valve. Additionally, it will notify you when the humidity and room temperature have risen to a predetermined point. Because of all of this, it is our Editors’ Choice for intelligent water detectors.
Design and Features
The Smart Water Detector is 3.2 by 2.6 by 1.0 inches (HWD) and has a white finish. It is shaped like a droplet of water. On its face is a tiny LED indicator that illuminates purple when Bluetooth is established, flashes blue during setup, and flashes red when water is detected. An 80 dB siren, water, temperature, and humidity sensors, and Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radios are all included. The humidity sensor alerts you to severely moist conditions, and the temperature sensor will notify you if your pipes are at risk of freezing. One CR123A (3V) battery, which is provided, powers the sensor.
When the gadget is put directly on the floor, three metal probes on its base will cause the sensor to activate when water is detected. Additionally, you can use the provided disc extension wire to monitor a specific area of the floor and place the sensor on a wall or cabinet surface. You can purchase a 6-foot sensor wire ($19.99) that functions as a leak sensor the full length to cover a wider area. Up to 18 feet of coverage can be achieved by daisy-chaining up to three of these wires. The sensor, the aforementioned disc extension cable, and a wall mount and screws are all included in the package.
Moen Flo Smart Water Leak Detector, Water Sensor Alarm for Home, 1-Pack, White, 920-004
When water is detected and temperature and humidity thresholds are reached, the Flo Water Detector can be used as a stand-alone device that will send emails and push alerts to your phone. However, unlike the D-Link DCH-S161 sensor, it will not activate other devices like smart plugs and lights. But it does something that no other smart water detector can when combined with the Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff: Until you choose to turn the water supply back on, it causes the Flo valve to automatically shut off your house. Once the issue has been fixed, all you need to do is tap a button on the app to get the water flowing again. This allows you time to fix the problem while minimizing harm.
Conclusions
For those seeking an early warning when toilets, washing machines, and other plumbing fixtures leak, the Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector is a good option. When it detects water and extremely high or low room temperatures or humidity levels, it will send push and email notifications. It is very easy to install. If you combine it with a Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff, it will activate the valve to cut off your water supply when it senses a leak, but it does not accept IFTTT applets that enable it to activate other smart devices. As a result, it received an Editors’ Choice award and is the most successful smart water detection we have tested.
2. Flo by Moen Smart Water Control
Even little plumbing system leaks can have disastrous consequences because they are often overlooked until the damage is evident and you have to spend a significant amount of money fixing damaged walls, floors, or ceilings. You can use your phone to manually turn off your water supply, check for leaks regularly, and read daily and weekly water usage records with the Flo by Moen ($499.99). Along with working with other smart devices through IFTTT apps, it also features an automatic shutoff mechanism that activates when it detects an unusually high flow rate or spike in water pressure. The Flo is our Editors’ Choice because, although it is not inexpensive, the price is negligible when compared to what you could spend on water damage repairs and excessive water bills.
Design and Features
Flo has a dark blue enclosure and is 5.9 by 5.7 by 2.6 inches (HWD). You can order it for water pipes that are 3/4 inch or 1-1/4 inch in diameter. One end of the meter features a threaded input connector, while the other end has a threaded output connector. There are two status LEDs (system and valve), a power jack, and a green manual shutoff valve on top that needs a hex key (provided) to turn the water on or off if you have lost contact with the app. while the Flo is linked to your network, the system status LED turns green. The valve LED turns green while the water is flowing, red when it is closed (shutoff mode), and white when it is transitioning.
It has sensors that assess the temperature, flow rate, and water pressure in your house as well as a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio. Two brass threaded connectors, two O-rings, a power adapter, a manual shutoff hex key, and an installation spacer are included with the meter. A welcome and installation guide is also included. The firm advises hiring a professional plumber to install this device, even though it provides an installation instruction.
This is how it operates: The Flo meter is mounted on the portion of your main water line that follows the pressure-decreasing valve and water meter. It measures the flow rate in gallons per minute, the water temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, and the water pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). The Flo meter, which tracks your household’s water usage and generates a water footprint, requires a 7–10 day learning time, just like the Pani Water Meter. You must sign up for Flo Protect, a $5 monthly service that includes an additional two years of warranty (you get one year without the plan), up to $2,500 in water damage protection, access to the Water Concierge live support system, and a verification letter that could help you save money on your homeowner’s insurance policy, if you want to track usage at the fixture level (showers, toilets, etc.).
If you have Flo Protect, the device will require an additional 7-14 days after the initial learning period for it to collect enough data to identify usage by each fixture, which means you can wait up to 21 days or more from the initial installation before you can realize the full benefits of the device. However, once Flo has identified each fixture, it provides up-to-the-minute usage reports and lets you create goals to help conserve water.
Moen 900-001 Flo Smart Water Monitor and Automatic Shutoff Sensor, Wi-Fi Water Leak Detector for 3/4-Inch Diameter Pipe
The Flo’s capacity to immediately turn off the water to your entire house if it notices abnormally high water usage—from leaks or damaged pipes to abnormally high water pressure—is one of its most crucial features. Before the gadget turns off your water, you will receive an automated phone call and an app alert. You are unable to define your thresholds that will cause a shutdown, though, due to the lack of user settings. It would be convenient to be able to adjust the pressure and use settings to prevent unintentional shutoffs, however, if you will be using a lot of water for tasks like filling a pool, you may temporarily stop auto-shutoff and notifications by placing the device into Sleep mode.
Conclusions
When compared to the expenses of fixing damage from long-term leaks and broken pipes, as well as the cost of wasting water over a lengthy period, the Flo by Moen water monitor is well worth the $500 price and installation fees. To help you control and save water, this smart water meter will check the health of your system every day, notify you of any leaks, and show you how much water your home’s fixtures are consuming. Most significantly, it will monitor the water pressure, temperature, and flow rate in your house and will instantly turn off the water if it detects that any of these parameters have increased to the point where significant harm could be caused. The Flo received an Editors’ Choice award despite my desire for greater control over the excessive usage and high-pressure thresholds that cause an immediate shutoff.
3. D-Link DCH-S161 Wi-Fi Water Sensor
You are aware of how expensive repairs maybe if your house has ever experienced water damage from a broken washing machine, a malfunctioning water heater, or even a leaking sink. When it detects moisture, the $49.99 D-Link DCH-S161 Wi-Fi-enabled sensor can stop major damage to your walls, floors, and cabinets by sending a push alert to your phone and sounding a siren. It can activate other smart devices like cameras and smart plugs and supports voice commands from Google Assistant. However, it lacks humidity and temperature sensors and is not compatible with Apple’s HomeKit framework or Amazon Alexa speech commands. The DCH-S161 is a good substitute if you are on a tight budget, but the $500 Flo by Moen is still our Editors’ Choice.
Design and Features
A 5.9-foot sensor probe cable and a 2.6-by-2.6-by-1.1-inch (HWD) primary water sensor unit make up the DCH-S161. In addition to a push notification on your phone, the main unit has a 90dB siren that sounds when water is detected and a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio for connecting to your home network. A Reset button and an Action button with an LED that glows orange during setup, red when the sensor loses connection, and solid green when it connects are located on the top of the device. The siren can be turned off by pressing the button.
The siren speaker is located on the front of the device, and a jack for the sensor cable is located on the bottom edge. A panel around the back may be removed to reveal the two AA batteries that power the sensor. The sensor cable has a probe at one end that detects water and transmits data to the main unit via the cable, and a jack at the other end that connects to the main sensor unit. The main unit must be placed above the area where water will accumulate because it is not intended to come into contact with water. It includes two mounting screws, two AA batteries, a quick start instruction, and two mounting holes on the back.
The DCH-S161 cannot guard against freezing pipes and high humidity since it lacks the temperature and humidity sensors included with the Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector. Additionally, it does not support Apple HomeKit or voice instructions from Amazon Alexa. It does, however, accept IFTTT applets, which enable it to trigger other smart devices, and it will notify you if water has been detected. It also supports the Google Assistant speech service. Additionally, you can use the app to establish automation that will activate additional D-Link devices, such as cameras and smart plugs. For instance, if water is detected, you can instruct it to activate a pump that is connected to a smart socket.
About the app, the DCH-S161 and the Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug DSP-W118 both utilize the same mydlink mobile app (available for iOS and Android). On the dashboard page, you can add shortcuts to installed devices and automation. Tap any shortcut to open a device or start an automation. The Devices, One-Tap, Events & Video, and Settings buttons are located at the bottom of the screen.
D-Link DCH-S1621KT Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor and Alarm Starter Kit, Whole Home System with App Notification, AC Powered, No Hub Required (DCH-S1621KT), White
A screen with bubble icons for every installed mydlink device category—cameras, plugs, sensors, etc.—is displayed when you tap the Device button. To view the DCH-S161 water sensor screen, tap the Sensor bubble. To view the sensor’s settings, tap the gear symbol. In addition to updating the firmware and changing the sensor’s name and position, you can also modify the Wi-Fi settings and set up rich notifications, which allow you to specify a specific contact who you can call at the push of a button whenever the sensor is triggered.
To build scenes that allow you to control numerous devices with a single tap, use the One-Tap button. Any installed D-Link cameras‘ video can be seen by selecting the Events & Video option. You may add additional devices, modify account details, and create automation on the screen that appears when you click the Settings button.
Conclusions
Consider utilizing a D-Link mydlink Wi-Fi Water Sensor DCH-S161 if your refrigerator, washing machine, or toilet leaks, or if you just want to ensure that your basement remains dry during periods of intense precipitation or snowmelt. You can use Mydlink automation and IFTTT applets to have it activate other devices, and it is easy to install and test well. It does not, however, allow Alexa voice commands or provide temperature detection, which may assist prevent damage from frozen pipes. The Flo by Moen Water Shutoff system is the best option if you need to safeguard your entire house from frozen pipes and leaking fixtures, but it is not inexpensive and needs to be installed by an expert. But also shows you how much water each fixture uses and does daily health testing on the water system. Most significantly, if it detects unusual water pressure or flow rates, it automatically shuts off the water.
4. Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor
If not discovered in time, undiscovered water leaks can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your house in addition to higher utility costs. The Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor ($199) provides daily, weekly, monthly, and annual water usage reports, while spot water detectors, such as the $59.99 D-Link mydlink Wi-Fi Water Sensor DCH-S161, will sound an alarm if water is accumulating in a particular area but cannot identify system-wide leaks.
Neither plumbing nor a power supply are necessary for the Flume 2. To find out how much water you are using and whether there are any leaks, just strap it to your water meter and download the app. Although it is far less expensive and much simpler to install, it will not automatically turn off the water like our Editor’s Choice, the $499.99 Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff, and it does not work with as many smart home appliances.
Design and Features
A Wi-Fi bridge and a strap-on water sensor make up the Flume 2 system. Attaching the sensor to the exterior of your water meter is made possible by a strong rubber strap and a curved back panel. The sensor is a rectangular, two-tone gray box that measures 3.4 by 5.7 by 2.4 inches (HWD). Depending on where your meter is placed, the four preinstalled AA lithium metal batteries that power the enclosure have an IP67 grade for water submersion and should survive for a year or more (outdoor placement may limit battery life). To change the batteries, just open the front panel.
The bridge is 4.3 by 1.8 by 2.3 inches and has the same color as the sensor. Together with a pair of rubber gloves for installation on outdoor water meters, a tool for lifting the lid off outdoor meter enclosures, and an extra rubber mounting strap, it comes with a mini USB AC power adapter, a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio, and an RF (Radio Frequency) radio.
This is how it operates: Like electric meters, the majority of household water meters have a rotating magnetic disk whose speed is proportional to the volume of water consumed. Using RF wireless technology, the Flume 2 sensor transmits data to the bridge about the magnetic field produced by the disc. After that, the bridge sends the data to the cloud over Wi-Fi, where you may use a mobile app to access it from any location.
The Flume 2 is accurate to within one percent of the reading you will receive from your home water meter and is compatible with 95 percent of water meters in the United States, according to the firm. On 5/8-inch meters, it can detect flow rates as low as 0.01 gallons per minute (GPM); on 3/4-inch meters, it can detect flow rates as low as 0.03 GPM; and on larger (up to 1-1/2 inch) meters, it can detect flow rates ranging from 0.02 GPM to 0.07 GPM. The Flume 2 can identify minor system leaks that you might not otherwise be aware of thanks to these low flow rates.
An online portal or a mobile app (for iOS or Android) can be used to control the Flume 2 and keep an eye on water usage. A gauge indicating the amount of water consumed (in gallons) for the current day and the percentage of your 10-day average is displayed in the Today panel on the Dashboard screen. Your usage is over normal if the gauge is red, and below average if it is green. A Water Status panel to the right of this one indicates whether or not your water is flowing. It indicates the flow rate in gallons per minute if it is operating.
Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor & Water Leak Detector: Detect Water Leaks Before They Cause Damage.
A bar chart showing the total water usage over the last 24 hours as well as hourly usage is located beneath the two panels. To see the daily, weekly, and monthly budget utilization gauges, scroll down. Here, you can set up budget thresholds according to the number of gallons you wish to keep within and set up the app to notify you when you reach a particular percentage of your threshold. An Away Mode button is located beneath the budget gauges. When a leak is discovered, an email will be sent to an emergency contact of your choosing if you have enabled Away Mode.
Conclusions
You can prevent potentially costly water damage repairs by monitoring your home’s water usage with the Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor. It requires no plumbing or wiring and can be installed in a matter of minutes. Its mobile app will notify you in real-time of how much water is being used, whether water is running, and whether you have gone over your budgeted water usage limit. The Flume 2 will not cut off your water when it senses excessive use, though, and it does not tell you how much water each fixture is using. The Flo By Moen Smart Water Shutoff, our Editors’ Choice, is what you will want for that, but be ready to shell out $500 for the gadget and another couple of hundred dollars for a plumber to install it.
5. Orbit B-Hyve Smart Flood Sensor
The B-Hyve Smart Flood Sensor from Orbit Irrigation ($99.99 for three) is a do-it-yourself leak detection system that includes three small water sensors and a plug-in hub that links them to your phone and home Wi-Fi. The B-Hyve is perfect for placing beneath sinks, washing machines, refrigerators, and water heaters. It detects even the slightest quantity of water and alerts you to freezing conditions that could cause pipes to break. However, unlike the $50 D-Link DCH-S161 Water Sensor, it does not accept voice commands or integrate with other smart home appliances.
Design and Features
Three water sensors, a user manual, a rapid setup guide, and a plug-in hub are all included with the B-Hyve Smart Flood Sensor. You can save money by purchasing a five-sensor set without a hub for $99.99 instead of purchasing additional sensors, which cost $34.99 each. Or, for $189.99, you can get an eight-pack with a hub. A set of 20 sensors with two hubs would set you back $469.99 for larger homes. The hub and the Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer have the same appearance. It looks like a big thumb drive and is 4.7 by 1.5 by 1.0 inches (HWD). It connects to a wall outlet and contains Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) radios.
The 0.5 by 1.7-inch (HW) hexagon-shaped water sensors are connected to a 6-inch tether line for convenient retrieval from behind cupboards and beneath appliances. They are all equipped with an integrated temperature sensor and run on a single CR2032 button battery, which is accessible by prying off the sensor’s top. Each device features two small water sensor terminals a pairing reset button on the base, and an LED indicator on the top that blinks red when water is detected or a temperature threshold is crossed and lights white during setup.
The B-Hyve 12-Station Smart WiFi Sprinkler Timer and the previously mentioned Faucet Timer both use the same mobile app (available for iOS and Android) as Flood Sensors. The home screen that appears when it opens shows the locations of all installed sensors. A red exclamation point denotes moist conditions or temperature readings that are below the threshold, while a green check mark next to the sensor indicates that everything is fine. To find out what kind of warnings have been set off and when, tap the sensor. Additionally, you can check the temperature and battery level here. The green check mark will reappear as soon as the device detects dry circumstances or a temperature that is appropriate again. An email and a push notification are generated for every event.
Orbit 71005 B-Hyve Smart Flood Sensor – WiFi Water Leak Detector
Three buttons are located at the bottom of the home screen. When you click the Alerts button, a screen with the current alerts and a history of alerts and their resolutions appears. You may manage your B-Hyve account, examine device information like MAC address and online status, add a new device, and set up notifications by clicking the Settings button. The Home button returns you to the home screen. A Help option with often-asked questions is also available.
The Flood Sensor does not work with other gadgets like smart fans, thermostats, or smart plugs, but it may be connected to an Orbit sprinkler controller to turn off your sprinklers. Additionally, it does not support Apple HomeKit, IFTTT applets, or voice commands from Google Assistant and Alexa.
Conclusions
Leak-prone areas of your house can be easily monitored with the Orbit B-Hyve Flood Sensor. To receive push and email notifications when water is detected, just place one of these little sensors under the toilet, next to a washing machine, or beneath a sink. Additionally, by warning you when the temperature falls below a predetermined point, an integrated temperature sensor can assist avoid damage from burst pipes. Although the sensors performed well in testing and installation was simple, they are incompatible with other smart devices like cameras, fans, thermostats, and sirens. The D-Link DCH-S161 Water Sensor is required for that. In addition to interacting with other D-Link devices and Google voice commands, it supports IFTTT applets, which enable it to function with third-party smart gadgets.
The Flo by Moen Automatic Water Shutoff is an Editors’ Choice winner and your best option if you want a more potent water monitoring system. It can identify leaks throughout the system and, if it notices unusually high flow rates or an increase in water pressure, can cut off the water supply to your house. It is compatible with IFTTT applets and voice commands from Google and Alexa. It is a far more expensive option, though, as it costs $500 and needs to be installed by an expert.
6. Eve Water Guard
When even the smallest amount of moisture is found in an area of your home that should not have it, Eve Water Guard ($79.95) will alert you on your iPhone or iPad so you can fix the problem before the expense of repairs skyrockets. Although the sensor is easy to install and compatible with other smart devices in the Apple HomeKit environment, it is not compatible with Android devices, nor does it enable voice commands from Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, nor does it support integrations through IFTTT applets. The $50 D-Link DCH-S161 Wi-Fi Water Sensor might be worth a look if you are an Android user, but if you want complete water leak protection, the Flo by Moen Water Shutoff system is your best option—albeit a pricey one.
Design and Features
A white, square sensor unit measuring 2.6 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches (HWD) makes up the Water Guard. It employs a 6.5-foot sensor line that fits into the sensor unit and features an LED ring that glows red when water is detected. If any portion of the cable comes into touch with water, it will activate a 100dB siren and send out a push alert because the entire cable functions as a water sensor. For an additional $19.95, you can get a 6.5-foot extension cable if you need to cover vast spaces like laundry rooms or basements. The sensor, cable, quick start guide, and four snap-on international power plug adapters are all included in the package.
The Water Guard is limited to the Apple HomeKit platform, just like other Eve smart devices. It connects to your Apple mobile device via a Bluetooth radio and requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS 13.3 or later. But since it lacks a Wi-Fi radio, it needs an Apple TV or a HomePod to function as a hub for remote access and to connect to other Eve and HomeKit devices. In contrast to the D-Link DCH-S161, the Water Guard lacks the temperature and humidity sensors that come with the Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector and does not accept IFTTT applets, which would enable it to communicate with other smart devices like fans, thermostats, and smart plugs.
The Water Guard is integrated into Apple’s Home app and uses the same mobile app as other Eve products. All of your installed HomeKit devices are represented by tiles on the At a Glance (home) screen that appears when the Eve app launches. The device’s name and status are shown on each tile. The tile will show the word “Safe” in green if the Water Guard is dry and “Alert” in red if water has been found.
Eve Water Guard – Smart Home Water Leak Detector, 6.5 ft Sensing Cable, 100 dB Siren, (Apple HomeKit), App Notifications, Bluetooth, Thread
Press the Water Guard tab to check its current state, test the alarm, and get a list of all events with dates and times. Alternatively, press the Rooms button at the bottom of the screen to see a list of devices by room or by kind. To build rules that let the Water Guard activate other HomeKit devices and to create scenes that will control many devices with a single tap, tap the Automation button. You can add new devices, change the names of your homes and rooms, and grant other users access to your HomeKit devices by selecting the Settings option.
Conclusions
The Eve Water Guard is a solid choice for anyone using Apple’s HomeKit to control their smart home. It’s easy to install and worked well in testing, sending quick push alerts when water was detected and sounding a relatively loud siren. It also had no trouble interacting with other HomeKit devices, but you’ll need an Apple TV or HomePod to make automation work and to control the sensor remotely. In addition, Android users need not apply: The Water Guard only works with HomeKit and as such doesn’t support IFTTT applets or the popular Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice services.
If you require a water sensor that will work with your Android phone and will interact with lots of other smart devices, consider the D-Link DCH-S161. It’s around half the price of the Eve Water Guard and it supports IFTTT and Google Assistant voice commands. For more advanced whole-home water control, our Editors’ Choice, the Flo by Moen Water Shutoff, detects leaks, offers daily, weekly, and monthly usage reports, and automatically turns off your water if it senses the type of abnormal usage associated with broken pipes and fixtures.
