We also timed how fast each sensor was in alerting us, both through an audible alarm (when available) and via push notification, text, or email. However, in our testing it took about 24 hours to send an alert regarding power and connectivity issues, which may be problematic. We like that the Flo also measures temperature and humidity and has an onboard audible alarm (although it isnt very loud). Flo by Moen makes our second-favorite smart water shut-off valve. One of the things we loved about the D-Link hub in our tests was how quickly it alerted us when it lost power. 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. However, the device will still make an audible alarm when a leak is detected.Proteus Aquo Wi-Fi Water Sensor: The sensor can still be used as a local audible alarm without the cloud. If you want to power up your smart home, then you need to install smart sensorstiny detectors that tell other smart devices what to do automatically. second-favorite smart water shut-off valve, more likely to be damaged by the presence of water, Honeywell Home Water Leak and Freeze Detector, [ Further reading: The best smart home systems ], Best smart speakers and displays: We pick the brightest and best-sounding models, Thermacell LIV review: Fabulously effective mosquito repellent, New Eve Motion sensor supports HomeKit, Thread, and Matter. After we completed our original testing, we gave the Flo by Moen sensor a fresh set of batteries and placed it next to a toilet. But less than five seconds passed before I received a text message warning of potential leak and an alert appeared in the mobile app. In our tests, the Proteus Aquo provided an excellent response to connectivity issuesthat is, when it lost either power or the Wi-Fi signalwith alerts that we could customize to trigger in as little as 10 minutes after it detected a problem. It also offers a clear battery reading (versus those that tell you its all good), as well as a Device Settings section where you can set custom alerts for humidity, room temperature, and battery levels. According to the Insurance Information Institute, water damage was the second most common cause of claims from 2015 to 2019, and the second most expensive. In addition, the device needs to be plugged into the wall, and its more expensive than our other picks. 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. We also dont love that it uses the SmartThings app, which is basic and doesnt provide a shut-off option for the alarm. Should that cable not be long enough to reach the spot where you want to monitor for leaks, Flo sells a six-foot extension cable that you can plug the sensor disk into. Water from even a pin-hole leak can cause devastating damage. And the aftermath of a leak can be expensive: As Home Advisor indicates, cleanup costs can be anywhere from $3.75 to $7 per square foot, depending on the type and volume of damage, as well as your location. The battery-powered D-Link Water Sensor Pods can keep tabs on remote spots around a home. We had one incident where a shower triggered it, too, but we discovered that we had set our humidity alerts too low. The D-Link DCH-S1621KT Whole Home Smart Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor Kit is the best all-around leak detector we tested. Also, we found its support for Amazon Alexa and IFTTT to be complicated. With the exception of a few models, most smart water-leak sensors cannot be completely submergedalthough its possible for some to dry out and be fine, we did have one model that completely died on us. Video: Rachel Cericola. That alone can help reduce waste and help you save money. Unfortunately, those same superpowers dont extend to the Sensor Pods. None of our picks offer recycling, although both D-Link and Proteus say they offer incentives to previous and long-time customers. The Flo by Moen Smart Leak Detector responded consistently both to leaks and to connectivity or power issues, and it did so faster than most of the devices we tested. The Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector is supremely effective at alerting you to water leaks, so you can take steps to prevent potentially catastrophic damage to your home. D-Links alarm is reassuringly loud, and you can silence it directly on the hub itself or through the app. Be sure to place them in areas where leaking water would pool. This is a nice perk over our top pick. Ive also written tech articles for The New York Times, Wired, and Mens Health, among others. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. This device did respond quickly to our tests, sending smartphone notifications when water was present within 11 seconds and issuing disconnection notices within 24 hours. Like every other leak sensor, it has a few quirks, but its still the best choice for monitoring more than one spot in a home. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The cost of smart water-leak sensors is all over the place, ranging between $20 and $100, and dependent on features, accessories, and manufacturer. The mounting bracket can be secured to the wall using this adhesive patch, but Id recommend using the provided screws for a more secure install. Our other two picks currently dont offer 2FA, a situation that we hope will change. Rachel Cericola is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter who has been covering smart-home technology since the days of X10. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Mens Health, USA Today, and others. Although we dont 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. Although you can mute the hubs siren in the app and at the device, it will start up again after 30 seconds so long as water is still present, and it will continue until the problem is cleared up. Smart-home sensors can detect leaks, frozen pipes, and open doors so that small problems dont turn into big expenses. Many of these devices, including our runner-up, the Flo by Moen detector, also allow you to monitor for drastic temperature changes, which are other symptoms of a potentially impending incident that might create preventable damage and waste. 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. With and without the add-ons, this sensor reacts to water quickly. But that customization can be complicated, and Proteus offers no dedicated smartphone app (you use a web browser to handle administration tasks). All three of our picks also have a limited warranty of one year. The Resideo Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector (previously known as a Honeywell model) was a little slower to respond to water and connectivity issues than our picks. You can partner this Flo detector with the Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff, a $500 whole-house setup that supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Control4 systems. D-Link DCH-S1621KT: No.Flo by Moen Smart Leak Detector: No.Proteus Aquo Wi-Fi Water Sensor: No. The base unit will float, but the company says users should avoid allowing water to get inside the vents on top (these are needed to monitor temperature and humidity). Admittedly, the D-Link DCH-S1621KT has a few shortcomings, but its still the best smart leak detector currently out there. The Flo device has two ways of detecting water. You do need to place them thoughtfully, so that they are in the path of where water might flow. Thats a substantial up-front investment for a system that doesnt offer any smart-home integration and has an onboard alarm that measured a measly 46 dBsomewhere between a library and a quiet suburb, according to IAC Acoustics. FloProtect costs $5 per month, and is most valuable if you also own the companys smart valve (you can see whats included at this link). This doesn't affect our editorial independence. Wirecutter takes that seriously, too, which is why weve asked the manufacturers of all our picks to answer some basic questions about the materials they use, the life cycle of their products, and related questions about their products overall sustainability. 4 Small Smart Devices That Can Prevent Major Home Damage, The Best Smart Home Sensors for Alexa, HomeKit, and SmartThings, The Best Smart Home Devices to Help Seniors Age in Place. Unlike with some of the other devices on our list, you cant use both sets of sensors simultaneously; the cable plugs into a wall mount, which can keep the main detector from being submerged but prevents it from detecting water. He built his own smart home in 2007 and used it as a real-world test lab for product reviews. Instead, we found setup to be a lengthy procedure (PDF) involving Webhooks. When possible, we integrated water-leak sensors with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, and we set up triggers using IFTTT, which allows you to add an extra alert option. However, it has no dedicated app, it needs to be plugged in, and its more expensive than our other picks. You can also configure the sensor to send two other classes of alerts: warning alerts (device offline, high humidity, high temperature, low battery, low humidity, or low temperature) and informational alerts (device back online). In addition, the kit comes with a matchbox-sized remote battery-operated sensor that connects wirelessly to the hub from up to 300 feet away. In the meantime, this water leak detector earns our strong recommendation. You can assign each sensor a nickname when you add it to the app (water heater, kitchen sink, etc.). At least the Merkury has a loud, 85 dB alarm (in contrast to the Stitchs 67 dB) and delivers on its promise of offline notificationsalthough the alert took about 36 hours to come through in our tests. Its battery powered, so you can easily place it without having to worry about access to an electrical outlet. After the 14-day free trial, you need to enter a credit card, but you are charged only for services such as on-demand voice alerts (9 per call) and extended alarm and data logging (5 per hour). I would like to see Flo by Moen add IFTTT support, so that the sensors alerts could trigger other devices outside the Flo ecosystem. It wont permanently mute, however, if the system continues to detect water; instead the hub sends out a quick blast every 30 seconds until you clear the water. As you would expect, the two products can work in concert with each other, with the sensor triggering the valve to shut off your water supply if it detects a leak. The new Eve Water Guard has a lot of the same problems as the old Eve Water Guard: It doesnt provide disconnect notices, it can protect only the 6.5 feet around the outlet you plug it into, and it has an oversize base that blocks the second plug of an electrical outlet. Within 10 seconds, I received a robocall warning me of the same. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT. The DCH-S1621KT system provides two methods for detecting water: a Sensor Pod (a little battery-powered puck with metal probes on the bottom), which you place in a spot where leaking water may pool, and a 19-inch water-sensing cable, which you can spread out to cover a larger, less specific area (you can add a 38-inch extension cord between the hub and the sensing cable for harder-to-reach places). The few times it triggered during that period were due to splashes from cleaning or the bathtub, which assured us that the device was still working. You manage those contacts and alerts, as well as all other settings, using Proteus Sensor Cloud, a portal you access through a web browser. It now offers the $50 Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector, which can be used with that device or independently of it. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Theyre both cheap (under $20), they have the same design, they have identical-looking apps (because both were created by Smart Life), and they both dont provide a way for you to dismiss the alarm without physically drying the device off. It works with the YoLink Hub (sold separately), which uses LoRa technology and can support up to 200 devices. The response time was impressive. This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser. This sensor will alert you to the tiniest bit of water in just seconds. We would love to see a way to fully silence the alarm. We steer you to products you'll love and show you how to get the most out of them. Unfortunately, this model doesnt integrate with popular smart-home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, but it does work with Flos water-shutoff systema smart water valve that can turn off your homes water service if it detects a potentially catastrophic leak. The Proteus Aquo needs to be plugged into a wall outlet, which may be an issue in some homes, and it doesnt have a dedicated app, which is inconvenient. 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. Sencentric added a 3-foot sensing cable to the SimpleSENCE Capteur Water Leak Detector. Since 2016, Ive covered smart-home gear for Wirecutter, and Ive had my hands on everything from in-wall light switches, smart bulbs, and smart plugs to indoor security cameras, smart doorbell cameras, and security systems. For instance, you might configure smart speakers to play an audible announcement or smart bulbs to turn red if the system detects a leak. That siren was loud, registering at 85 dB on our decibel meter. The D-Link hub can link to Google Assistant speakers so that they make a voice announcement when it detects water (and also when the water is cleared). These Smart Gadgets Can Save Yours. Unlike the sensing disks cable, the entire length of the extension cable is sensitive to water (this is one of the features that we like most about the competing Honeywell Home Water Leak and Freeze Detector. The Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector uses the same mobile app as the Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff, so I already had the app on my phone because I reviewed that product in November, 2018 and forgot to uninstall it when I removed that device from my main supply line (more on the app in a bit). You can program alarm times, schedule power notifications, and integrate it with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. 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 (and comparable to the sound level of a normal conversation). Following a relocation to the Pacific Northwest, he is now converting his new home, an 1890 Victorian bungalow, into a modern smart home. We also repeatedly removed the battery and found that the app would consistently send a disconnection alert within an hour. The Proteus Aquo is more customizable than any other water-leak sensor we tested. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. 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. You can toggle the humidity, temperature, and battery-level warnings on and off within the app, and you can also set upper and lower tolerances for humidity and temperature levels. The Proteus Aquo Wi-Fi Water Sensor is unlike any other water-leak sensor weve ever reviewed. The Flos audible alarm beeps for 10 seconds every 13 seconds. Flo by Moens device operates on a single CR123A lithium battery, which the company says should last two years. That makes for a very easy deployment and a relatively low barrier to entry in terms of cost. It can be placed on the floor, where its water-sensing probes will detect even the smallest amount of water, and it will also monitor and report the ambient temperature and relative humidity level where its installed. Theres also a lengthy delay before the app even notifies youapproximately 48 hours, according to our testing. reviews of competing products, plus a buyers guide to the features you should consider when shopping. It responds to potential danger quickly, it has a loud onboard siren, and it integrates with other smart devices. Proteus also sells a splitter ($6), so you can connect up to five sensors at once, including a sensor to monitor a sump pump. But you can designate as many phone numbers (for texts) and email addresses as can fit into 400 characters. Curiously, however, the system cant distinguish between sensors, so it sends just one general alert if it detects water. Tapping on each one provides a record of events in the past 24 hours, and in the case of the Sensor Pods, a peek at the battery life. All of our picks require a password for the app or web interface, but only Proteus offers two-factor authentication, a common system that does a good job of ascertaining that you are indeed you by sending a verification code to your phone if you attempt to log in to the app. These alerts can be sent via push notification, text message, email, and even via a phone callif you subscribe to the companys FloProtect service. As weve reported many times, your home is much more likely to be damaged by the presence of water in locations where it shouldnt be than any other risk, including fire, earthquake, or even vandalism. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also warn that water leaks can cause conditions hazardous to your long-term health, by promoting mold growth. You can join three of Flos extension cables together to get 18 feet of sensor coverage, but each one costs an additional $20 (Honeywells extension cables cost the same). Although D-Link will continue to support software updates on the DCH-S161, the company just announced plans to discontinue the Mydlink Home app, as well as cloud services and software updates for the DCH-S160, on December 30, 2022. We realize that the Sensor Pods remain in a low-power mode to conserve battery life, but the response time should be faster, and the app ought to send a smartphone notification as soon as possible. In fact, when we disconnected them in our tests, the app showed both still connected, with the sensors continuing to indicate full battery life even after 48 hours. It also responds quickly to emergencies, sending smartphone notifications, emails, and texts. The D-Link DCH-S160 and DCH-S161, both previous picks, have been discontinued. A smart water-leak sensor can lessen the impact of plumbing problems by alerting you the moment theyre detected, whether youre at home or away. The damage it wreaks can be equally variedwater can warp floors, stain furniture, ruin old photos, and breed mold. Since the device doesnt have a dedicated app (more on that below), it doesnt send smartphone notifications. In deciding which models to test, we consider the following features: 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. 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. Should we find any privacy or security concerns affecting any of our selected models, well report them here and, if necessary, update or alter our recommendations. Proteus does offer step-by-step instructions for all of this, though, and eventually we were able to trigger Lutron and Wyze lights to turn on and off whenever the Aquo was triggered. Unwanted water can come from any number of sources, including old roofs, leaky water heaters, malfunctioning sump pumps, old toilet valves, decrepit fish tanks, and cranky washing machines. TechHive helps you find your tech sweet spot. Proteus also sells a splitter, so you can attach five sensor cables to simultaneously monitor multiple spots in the same immediate area. We ran tests using the probes on the actual detector as well as those on the tip of the extender cable. In addition, it provides the option to notify multiple phones and email addresses in an emergencyand it can send phone-call alerts (for a fee). A low-temperature alert can warn you of the danger of your pipes freezing (and potentially bursting), while high-humidity alerts can make you aware of conditions where mold can sprout. One in 50 homes suffers water damage every year. I first started testing smart-home devices more than 20 years ago, back when the only smart-home devices were X10. Proteus supports Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integration, but the situation is a bit more complicated than with most smart-home devices. For this review, I attached it to the wooden brace securing my water heater to the wall, and I placed the sensor disk in the water heaters drain pan, where water shouldnt collect unless the water heater leaks or its T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve opens. It also has an audible alarm and the option to connect to the larger Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff system. Smartphone notifications typically came within a second of the systems detection of water, whether we used the cable or the Sensor Pod. The tiniest leak from a water valve, supply line, drainpipe, appliance, or a damaged roof can cause devastating structural damage over time. Its also compatible with IFTTT, which we used to create an automation that would trigger a Wyze Plug to turn on a table lamp and prompt a Wyze Bulb Color to turn on whenever water was detecteda handy fail-safe option for ensuring that youre notified if you arent within reach of your phone, if you arent within earshot of a sensor, or if you have hearing loss. You can do that if you are handy with IFTTT, but the process is not your typical two or three clicks. Alexa integration is free but is available only through the Notify Me skill. This D-Link kit has a plug-in Wi-Fi hub with an optional sensor cable and can connect with up to 16 battery-powered remote sensors. 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. Also, if you want alerts when youre out of the house, you need to have a HomeKit gateway, such as an Apple TV, a HomePod Mini, or an iPad, at home. Flo Technologies recommends mounting the main unit on a wall, so that water doesnt fall on top of it and damage its ambient humidity and temperature sensors. D-Link DCH-S1621KT: Yes.Flo by Moen Smart Leak Detector: Yes.Proteus Aquo Wi-Fi Water Sensor: Yes.