Fire might be a homeowner’s greatest fear, but any insurance company will tell you that water is the far more common cause of property damage, even if you don’t live in an area subject to flooding. And it can come from many sources: A failing water heater, a burst pipe, a broken supply line under your sink, a clogged toilet, or even a split hose connected to your washing machine.
Just as it’s essential to have a smoke detector in each of your home’s bedrooms and common areas, you’d be wise to install leak detectors in places where water damage could start: The laundry room, water heater closet, the bathroom, under your kitchen sink, and so on. Leak alerts are arguably less important for renters, but it’s something landlords might want to consider—although that raises the issue of how the sensors would connect to the internet. More on that later.
If you think a leak sensor is something your home should have, here are our top picks. If you want more information on this topic and want to read more reviews, scroll down a bit.
[ Further reading: A smart home guide for beginners ]Best smart water leak detector Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector Read TechHive's reviewSee itThe 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.
The Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector monitors for the presence water in locations it shouldn’t be (from a leaky supply line, appliance, or drain pipe), tracks ambient temperatures and can warn you of freezing conditions that could lead to a burst water pipe, and reports ambient humidity and raises an alarm if the air becomes so moist that it could lead to to the growth of mold. You’ll get the most benefit from the device if you also own the Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff, which can automatically turn off your water supply in an emergency, but it’s a great smart home device even if you don’t.
Runner-up Waxman LeakSmart Wireless & Waterproof Leak Detector Sensor Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $69.00See itIt's pricey, but the LeakSmart's ability to integrate into broader smart-home systems and its relatively inexpensive optional water shutoff valve help this leak detector stand out.
What sets the Waxman LeakSmart’s hub-based sensor apart from others is that the company also manufactures a smart water shut-off valve ($135 at Amazon), which we did not test (most people would want to have that component professionally installed). Still, it’s a huge draw over other sensors that either require more elaborate valve setups or don’t offer those controls at all.
Best whole-home water leak detection system Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant + Shutoff (with professional installation) Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $699.00See itThe Phyn Plus smart water valve is expensive, even after its recent $200 price cut, but this class of device can prevent costly water damage to your home and help you use a precious resource more wisely. That there is no ongoing subscription cost is a major plus.
This type of product takes a more holistic approach to water leak prevention. Rather than placing sensors near appliances, faucets, and fixtures that might leak, the products in this category analyze your water system at the main supply coming into your home to look for anomalies. If they detect a leak, they can shut off the water supply to prevent catastrophic damage.
This is currently a very small category, with just two players in the consumer market that we’re aware of: Phyn and its Phyn Plus device ($699), and Flo Technologies and its Flo by Moen product ($499). Both products are expensive, but Flo has an optional subscription plan that adds $60 per year to the price of the product. That’s one of the reasons we prefer the Phyn Plus.
Runner up Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $499.00See itFlo protects your home from water damage caused by both slow leaks and catastrophic failures, and it will also alert you to water waste. But it’s expensive and it won’t warn you about water collecting in places where it shouldn’t be.
There are some features of Flo Technologies’ Flo by Moen smart valve that we actually prefer over the Phyn Plus—namely, its ability to make robo calls warning you of potential problems with your water-supply system before it shuts it off—but we found the Phyn Plus to be a little more sophisticated. Yes, the Phyn Plus is more expensive, but Phyn doesn’t charge a subscription fee to get the most value out of its product.
Best DIY whole-home leak detection system Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $199.00See itFlume 2 is a great way to understand your home’s water usage, and new improvements to its wireless infrastructure enhance its stability.
This second-generation Flume still can’t turn off your water supply if it detects a leak, but it costs hundreds less than the systems that can, and you won’t need to cut into your water pipe—or hire a plumber—to install it. The Flume 2 is even better than the first-generation product and is a fantastic value for $199.
How we testedTo measure each sensor’s effectiveness, we placed it on a bathroom tile, and then poured enough water to cover the surface of that tile. Most sensors responded immediately, though the Honeywell Lyric routinely delayed its alarm by around 30 seconds, which we noted in our full review.
We measured alarm volume using the Decibel 10th app on an iPhone 6 Plus, with the microphone pointed toward the sensor from six inches away. Empirical testing aside, the Honeywell Lyric’s volume was subjectively much louder than the other sensors.
We didn’t directly test integrations with other smart home devices, but inspected each companion app and the online service IFTTT for available features. We consulted manuals and product listings for battery life estimates and device dimensions.
Editors’ note: This testing methodology does not apply to leak detection systems that monitor your water supply line, such as the Flo by Moen, Sinopé Sedna, and Phyn Plus.
What to look for when shoppingYou might be surprised by the diverse approaches to what seems like a simple task: detecting the presence of water where it shouldn’t be. Some operate on Wi-Fi, others require a hub to communicate. Some plug into an AC outlet, others require a battery. Some come with external sensor cables and mount to the wall, others lay on the floor. Most, but not all, have onboard sirens.
If the recommendations above don’t work for you, here are the specs and features you’ll want to consider when shopping for a smart home water leak detector.
Hub requirements: Honeywell’s Lyric and D-Link’s sensor both operate on Wi-Fi, so you don’t need additional products to make them work. Other products, such as the Fibaro Flood Sensor and Insteon Water Leak Sensor, require a hub to connect to the internet and the apps on your phone.
Jared Newman Hub-based sensors, such as this Fibaro Flood Sensor, can be integrated into broader smart-home systems.
Connection protocols: If you own a hub already, you must make sure the sensor uses a compatible connection protocol. Fibaro, for instance, uses Z-Wave, which works with SmartThings and Wink hubs. Insteon sensors only work with Insteon hubs (one of which is compatible with Apple’s HomeKit technology). If you own a well-known hub such as Wink, SmartThings, or Iris by Lowe’s, you’ll likely see those names on the sensor’s box.
Integrations: Some hubs, such as Wink, SmartThings, and Insteon, allow you automate actions on other devices when a leak occurs. That way, you can trigger lights, turn on cameras, or sound an alarm. (Iris by Lowe’s supports this as well, but only with a $10-per-month subscription.) Wink, SmartThings, and D-Link also support IFTTT, a service that lets you automate tasks between connected devices and services. Sensors that communicate with water valves can turn off your main water supply to stop a leak.
Size and extendability: Where do you plan to put your leak sensor? If it’s a tight space, make sure the sensor is either small enough to fit, or that it offers a sensor cable to extend its reach.
Built-in siren: Unless you plan to put the sensor far from where you might normally hear it, it’s helpful to have a siren onboard. That way, you’ll still get alerted at home even when the internet is down.
Additional onboard sensors: Some leak sensors can also measure other environmental conditions that can lead to problems at their extremes, such as temperature (a frozen pipe can burst and cause catastrophic water damage) and humidity (excess moisture in the air can allow mold to grow).
Power source: Most leak sensors are battery powered, but some, such as D-Link’s Wi-Fi Water Sensor, depend on AC power. An outlet-powered sensor with battery backup in the event of a blackout would be ideal; unfortunately, they are rare.
Editor’s note: Mel Nussbaum, the owner of Water Works Plumbing in Overland Park, Kansas, emailed this useful tip for preventing water damage due to frozen pipes bursting: “If you shut off your main water service valve [you’ll] never have the issue, and two minutes of your time [will] cost you nothing. By the time you’re alerted and get someone to take action you still will incur huge damages.”
Updated July 15, 2020 to report that Jared Newman is no longer actively contributing to our coverage of water leak sensors. If you’d like to provide feedback on this story, please send an email to Letters@techhive.com.
Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
