Other leak detectors that we love
First alert L1 Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Eadte and Greeze Detector for $ 62:: This large flood sensor, of FIRST Alert brand, works with the applications and accessories First Alert or Resido. It sends push notifications and emails to alert you to any leak and has an alarm at 100-Caher that you can stop with the side button. The sensor was relatively slow to alert in all my tests, and the push notifications did not come when my phone was connected to Wi-Fi. The 5-foot water detection cable allows you to cover a much larger area , and I found it alerted more quickly. The detector connects directly to Wi-Fi, so you need a decent signal. This sensor can also follow temperature and humidity, but not very precisely (it systematically overestimated the temperature and an underestimated humidity). The two AA provided batteries should last up to two years.
Switchbot water leak detector for $ 18: This rectangular detector has triggered rapid alerts in all my tests with an alarm at 100-Caher. With teeth on top and below, this device quickly detected the water. It connects directly to Wi-Fi, so you don’t need a hub, and it can send push notifications and emails, although you have to configure them in the application. Unfortunately, the push notifications did not pass when I was out of the house, connected to a cellular network instead of Wi-Fi. Intelligent domestic connectivity is good (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT), and you can configure Automation in the Switchbot application, making it a versatile option, especially if you have other Switchbot devices. Switchbot says that the two AAA batteries provided are good up to two years.
Wines S1 Plus Aidot Water Leak Decor (3) for $ 60: Connect the HUB plug-in to your Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, place the three circular detectors in likely and you are ready. You can associate up to 10 detectors with the HUB and configure it to send emails and SMS messages in addition to application notifications when there is a leak. The probes on the underside of each detector are quite distant, and it takes 2 millimeters of water before the alarm triggered. He failed to go out with a regular drop on the top, but the alarm sounded as soon as the water has accumulated below. The alarm goes to 100 decibels, but I like that you can modify the volume and duration of the alarms. You can cancel the alarms via the application or by pressing the concentrator buttons. These detectors take CR2 batteries which are good up to a year, and there is an indication in the application when they died. When I removed a battery from one of them, it took the application a few hours to update it and show it offline. A last drawback is that the hub is circular, so it can block the adjacent outings. The management of the IFTTT is a potentially practical supplement which could trigger a water stop or a light for red flash when a leak is detected.
Aqara water leak sensor for $ 19: This zigbee sensor is better used with Apple Homekit, and you need an Aqara hub (Sold separately). The company makes a good security camera that serves as a center and offers a full range of smart house sensors. These small circular water leak sensors are very low on the ground, so only 0.5 mm of water below is enough to trigger an alarm. The song on the top will not trigger them, but an iPhone notification is triggered as soon as the water pools under the place where the probes are. You can also ask your connected hub to play an alarm and trigger automation via Homekit. The sensors take CR2 batteries and can last up to two years.
Monoprice water leak sensor for $ 25:: This affordable water leak detector has a design similar to our first choice. The main body is round, with metallic feet to detect the grouping of water, and it slips into a support for wall mounting. It is delivered with a plug-in extension of room size which extends up to 3.8 feet. The main detector and the extension quickly sounded to ring the alarm and send notifications to my phone when wet (although the alarm on the devices is not very noisy). You need only one CR2 battery, displays the remaining power of the application and alerts you when it is time to change your battery. Unfortunately, the application is basic and poorly translated, you must dry the detector to stop the alarm, and it took too long for having warned me when it is offline (strangely, the offline detector is tilted by defect in the application settings, so I had to turn it on). You can get this a little cheaper by buying directly from Monopper.
Leak detectors to avoid
We did not have a great experience with each water leak detector that we tested.
Swann leak alert sensor for $ 12:: Although this water detector powered by battery (two AAA) is affordable, I had a terrible time by placing it. Your phone must be on Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, but even then, I needed several attempts to connect. In a frustrating way, you must remove the screw panel to reset it because there is no option in the application. The alerts came to my phone around a minute after dipping the sensor, but the Swann application is slow and clumsy.
