Smart water sensors can also record water temperatures, to help prevent freezing pipes or pick up on mold within your pipes. The sensors should be placed in a location where water damage could occur, such as in bathrooms, under the kitchen sink, or in the laundry room. With smart water sensors, you can enjoy peace of mind, even when you’re out of town. If you’re in the market for a smart water sensor, we’ve compared some of the best models from brands including Honeywell, Zircon, and iHome. Here are the best smart water sensors on the market, for every budget and preference. We love that the Honeywell can detect not only water leaks but also tracks humidity and temperature, which helps prevent property damage and frozen pipes. If you’re at home when water is detected, you’ll hear an alarm. Otherwise, you’ll receive alerts on your smartphone, allowing you to take urgent action to protect your home. The Honeywell is intuitive, effective, and long-lasting, with all the features you need from a smart water sensor. While it’s a bit more costly than some of its competitors, we think it’s worth the price. Although the valve bumps up the cost, it’s worth it when compared to the thousands of dollars of flood damage that can happen in minutes. The LeakSmart connects to your water main and shuts off all the flow automatically within five seconds of detecting a leak. LeakSmart integrates with smart home hubs, such as Google Nest, and installation is straightforward. If water is detected, you’ll hear a loud alarm that should be heard from anywhere in the home. In addition to leaks, it can also measure temperature. It’s worth noting that water needs to come into direct contact with the sensor itself, so it’ll need to be placed in the right location to activate. However, if you’ve been dealing with a leaky basement or bathroom, or have experienced flooding previously, you’ll love the assurance the LeakSmart brings. We like the design of the Fibaro as well, which is contoured to resemble a water droplet and won’t stand out within your home. It’s not only stylish, but it also makes it easier for your sensor to detect leaks. The Fibaro is also built tough, as it’s waterproof and has the ability to float, an essential feature in the case of flooding. While Apple fans will love the convenience and ease of the Fibaro, it’s not the best choice for others, as it’s not compatible with Android. It’s also worth noting that the leakage alarm isn’t as loud as some of the other sensors. If you’re not home at the time of the leak, the Zircon will send an email to notify you, but these can also be configured to show as text alerts. However, it’s important to note that this sensor works on Wi-Fi, so if your connection is lost, the email alerts won’t send (although the alarm will still sound, which may be heard by a neighbor). It’s also a good choice for those who don’t have a smart home hub set up, as the sensor works independently. If you do set up multiple sensors, you can customize them with names, making it easy to know which alert is coming from which part of the house. The system also runs plumbing checks daily and alerts you of any abnormalities, which allows you to prevent problems and leaks before they even occur. If something does go wrong, you can automatically switch off the water from anywhere, via the app. The Phyn Plus is not only handy in emergencies, as it also helps with water usage and conservation. Through your app, you can track water use from the showers, washing machine, and kitchen, helping you use less over time. In addition to the main sensor, the system also comes with three small sensors that can be placed around the house, allowing for additional water detection. They have a range of up to 1,000 feet line of sight, which should be enough for most households. Additional sensors are sold separately. Guardian can work as a standalone system, with apps available for both Android and Apple. It’s not the cheapest product, but the price is worth it for the peace of mind it provides.
What to Look For in a Smart Water Sensor
Plug-in Sensors
Basic smart water sensors can only tell you if the sensor itself has gotten wet. You can buy an additional smart water sensor for each location you want to monitor, or look for a smart water sensor that has the ability to plug in additional sensors to cover more ground for less cost.
Smart Home Compatibility
If you have any other smart home sensors or devices already, look for a smart water sensor that’s compatible with your existing hub. This will save you the added cost of buying an additional hub just for your water sensors.
Long-life Batteries
Some smart water sensors are designed to be plugged into a wall outlet and include a battery backup for when the power goes out. If you want to be able to set your water sensors in place and not have to worry about them for up to ten years, look for one with exceptional battery life.
