IoT Worlds
Smart DeviceSmart HomeSmart Hospitality

The Best Smart Water Leak Detector Systems of 2023

Have you ever had issues with water dripping in your basemen or toilet from faulty plumbing and old water heaters? This has caused havoc days for many people, and according to HomeAdvisor, it runs up to $375 to more than $600 to fix the main water shutoff valve. Further, you wouldn’t even notice water build-up from leaks, which might even soak into the carpet and lead to mold issues that are pricey to repair. A smart water leak detector can prevent potential catastrophic water leaks by alerting you the seconds they’re detected—no matter where you are.

We recommend the Flo leak detector because it’s quick to notice and alert you about a water leak. It offers easy setup, intelligent sensor, and cordless and Wi-fi design makes it easy to place anywhere. It can sense temperature changes and humidity to help you find frozen pipes and moisture before mold begins to grow.

Here are the best smart water leak detectors to prevents potential catastrophic leaks

1. The best smart water-leak sensor: Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector

The Flo by Moen system is the best smart water leak detector we review that promptly detects and alerts you about a water leak. It also the fastest to respond to both leaks and connectivity or power problems, and it does so consistently. But if you pair it with $400 Flo’s water shutoff smart valve—, it will prevent further potential catastrophic leaks by turning off your home’s water supply. The Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff System is a whole house setup which supports Alexa, IFTTT, Google Assistant, and also Control4 systems.

The device is a solid choice for anyone looking for an early warning. It’s easy to install, cordless, and Wi-Fi connectivity, so it’s easy to place it anywhere, including under refrigerators or washing machines. We also like that the detector sends push and email alerts when it detects water and high or low room temperatures and humidity levels. Sadly, it doesn’t integrate with other popular smart-home platforms. But it’s still the most effective smart water detector we’ve review

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Option to silence alarms in the app
  • Automatic shutoff
  • Temperature and humidity alerts
  • Batteries and extension cable included

Cons:

  • No smart home capabilities
  • The onboard alarm isn’t very loud.

2. Runner up Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Leak & Freeze Detector:

This smart leak and freeze detector by Honeywell is also a brilliant piece of smart-home tech. It alerts you when moisture, freezing temperatures, and humidity as reach a certain threshold-and you’ll know as soon as it does. It connects to Wi-Fi, and send push notification directly to you, (friend or trusted neighbors) whenever it detects an issue. By providing an early warning, the device can help you prevent significant damage and unnecessary expensive repairs.

The onboard alarm is a bit louder than that of Moen Smart Water Detector, so you can hear the siren if something is wrong while you’re at home. Just like our top pick, it’s also easy to install, and the mobile app displays readings of temperature and humidity as well as unresolved alerts. However, Moen delivered quick and consistent responses than any detector we reviewed. But the Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Leak & Freeze Detector is also a reliable choice-its cable range extender makes it much more flexible. Nevertheless, it doesn’t interact with other connected devices.

Pros:

  • Easy installation
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • App, email, and push alerts
  • Extra sensor cable included
  • Humidity and temperature detection

Cons:

  • It’s expensive than our top pick.
  • A bit tricky to set up multiple units
  • Does not work with other smart home automation.

If you already have a smart home and want an intelligent leak detector that is loud (up to 80 dB) and supports Google Assistant and IFTTT. In that case, the D-Link Water Leak Sensor is an excellent choice. It alerts you if your heater, sink, or washing machine has sprung a leak and trigger other smart home appliances to prevent flooding and further damage.

Just like Flo by Moen, its cordless, Wi-Fi connectivity, and has the main unit as well as extender cable for hard-to-reach spots. But it does not have built-in sensors on the central unit, so it detects by the probes at the end of the cable. We like that you can silence the leak detector both on the device and on the apps via Android and iOS. The D-Link is smartly designed and park with tons of features like alerting you if there are any connectivity issues. It takes just a second to trigger the audible alarm and 12 seconds for a push alert. Although it’s not as fast as our other two picks, it’s a great choice if you already have a smart home.

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Doesn’t require a hub
  • Works with other D-Link devices
  • Respond quickly to water and connectivity issues
  • Supports IFTTT and Google Assistant voice commands

Cons:

  • Not very user-friendly
  • It relies on being plugged in
  • No temperature and humidity detection

4. Best for SmartThings users: Samsung SmartThings Water Leak Sensor

The SmartThings Water Leak Sensor is arguably the best, especially if you already have the SmartThings home system set up. It alerts you via mobile push notification when it detects excess moisture and water and tracks high or low room temperature. When pair with the Z-wave Water Shut-off Valve, you can set up automated scenes to shut off your home’s water supply.

It’s among the smallest smart leak detector we’ve reviewed; you can plunk the device down as close to the source since it doesn’t include any extension cables. Aside from SmartThings, it works on Zigbee protocol both on Wi-Fi and data link and supports other smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. The detector is straightforward to install and a reliable choice if you already use the SmartThings hub and want a simple device to monitor your home for floods.

Pros:

  • Easy to set up
  • Versatile control app
  • Good battery-powered
  • Works with other smart platforms
  • Quick water detection and temperature sensing

Cons:

  • No build-in alarm
  • Doesn’t include a humidity detector
  • No cable to extend sensor into tight spots.

5. Best advanced detector: Proteus Aquo Wi-Fi Water Sensor

You’ll have a hard time beating the lightning-fast response times and customizable alert of the Proteus Aquo Wi-Fi Water Sensor. If conductivity surpasses a specific amount, it’ll send messages alerting various users on their email and phones and even send phone call alerts but for a fee. The free notification comes in real-time and can notify you, a family member, friend. And on occasion, even a maintenance technician so they can prevent any further damage.

Proteus is a simple, sturdy Wi-Fi water sensor with a buzzer and email and text alerts. However, it doesn’t make use of an app like our other picks, which is inconvenient. Instead, it’s managed using Proteus Cloud Sensor, a portal you can access with a Web browser. The unit is also the quickest to respond to connectivity problems, both losing power or Wi-Fi issues. It also compatible with Alexa and IFTTT, but it’s a bit lengthy procedure to set up.

Pros:

  • Loud siren
  • Highly user-friendly
  • Include a 6-foot cable
  • Fastest to response
  • More customizable

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No dedicated smartphone app
  • Work with Alexa and IFTTT, but it’s a bit more complicated.

6. Best budget smart flood detector: Wasserstein WiFi Water Leak Sensor

Wasserstein’s Wi-Fi Leak Sensor offers reliable performance but for a fraction of the price. Although it wasn’t the quickest and consistent water detector we reviewed. It still managed to notify you in about 20 seconds, using the mobile app and your home’s Wi-Fi and cellular data to receive instant alerts if the sensor detects leaks. It’s a reliable device, especially if you’re traveling or out of the house.

This smart flood detector requires little effort to set up and is very easy to use. You don’t need a hub – you literally just buy this sensor and slide it into anywhere you want. The sensor is sensitive enough, and when it comes into contact, it’ll sound a loud alarm. Under 20 seconds, a notification will come through alerting you which sensor was set off. Though Wasserstein’s leak detector doesn’t have all the fancy features of our other top picks, for the price, it does exactly what it supposed to.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Loud siren
  • Easy to set up and install
  • Low energy consumption

Cons:

  • Feels a little flimsy
  • No smart home capabilities
  • No humidity or water temperature detection

How we pick the best smart water-leak sensor

We looked at both professionally installed systems and DIY units that use wireless leak detectors for this guide. We went through numerous feedbacks, technical specs, and manufactural websites. In our search, we found several stand-alone and stand-out products.

We look at puck-sized, battery-powered devices with metal probes that detect the presence of water at the source of the leak and if it would react—and how quickly. We also consider each device according to its ease of use and installation. The necessary apps and connectivity-if it connects directly to a Wi-Fi network or a smart-home hub if needed.

Here are some other essential criteria we focus on in a water-leak sensor

Smart home integrations: Suppose you already started your smart-home setup. In that case, you’ll need to check if you can incorporate the smart leak detector with other smart home devices or with cloud-based platforms. Including Amazon Alexa, Google assistance (or with third-party products like IFTTT), which acts as a kind of “central control” to connect devices together – others work alone via an app.

Sensors: Consider how fast each sensor takes to alert, through an audible alarm or if available via text, email, or push notification. Our two top picks can cover a whole range of conditions, including temperature and humidity, to help you find frozen pipes. While some include humidity sensors to help you find moisture before mold begins to grow. Further, look for options that enable you to add several sensors so that you can keep tabs on everything together.

Power source: The power source is also something to consider because you may prefer a plugged-in smart leak detector. Almost all the detectors we review use batteries. They have a battery life of at least a year or two. While some can last up to 5 years, so changing the battery will not be a problem, especially since you get an alert about the battery life. But suppose you prefer options that run off electricity. In that case, the D-Link DCH-S161 is the only water leak sensor we review that relies on plugging in.

Hopefully, the guide has helped you understand a bit more about this device. Each pick effectively alerts your home against any water damage—a great way to protect your home.

Related Articles

WP Radio
WP Radio
OFFLINE LIVE