I'd like to put a water leak detector in a few locations at home. I looked at the Moen Flo sensors and while they might be okay, they rely on batteries (CR123 at that) and I'd prefer perhaps AC power if possible. Failing that, I might consider but there seems to considerable user experience issues (connectivity? false alarms?).

There are similar systems (D Link, a couple of other chicom products which are no-go for me) but they all seem to have similar issues.

Anybody using something that is easy to install / connect, decent power source (battery may be okay but since for at least one of them, I'll need to move the fridge to change the battery each time, not ideal; so battery change at most once a year?), no chicom company (for the usual reasons), reliable service?

We had a Water Cop system in the last house. Some of the sensors were hardwired during construction, others were AA battery. This system cuts off the water supply when water is detected.

I learned a few lessons when we had a major failure of the whole house filter. One is that you need to be very careful to place the sensor in a low spot. If water flows away from the sensor, the sensor does you no good. We had sensors in two bathrooms on that level that never got triggered because the concrete floor was ever so slightly higher than the path from the utility room to the front door, passing through the family room first.

Another lesson is you need to assume any drains like in the laundry room could get covered up somehow. Put detectors anywhere a leak might happen despite a nearby drain.

Third, a wet mop will trigger the detector. Behind your fridge won't be a problem, but the detector in a bathroom could be. When the water shuts off for no apparent reason, maybe it was the wet mop.

The fourth lesson is that when a battery dies, nothing happens. That detector just stops detecting. Change batteries often.

Good points!

For me, I have the benefit of knowing exactly where the water will flow behind the fridge if there is a leak . The problem is batteries for the sensor - I need to move the fridge each time so frequent battery changes will be cumbersome. But would like something that works reliably at least. I don't need it to shut off water; to do so it would have to integrate with my Flo valve. But at least an alarm would be nice as long as I have a way to shut it off easily; unlike these dang smoke detectors where I need a ladder at 2am.

I'll look up water cop.

Following


We have a two story ranch with 2.5 baths, total of six sinks, laundry room, dishwasher and fridge all upstairs

Would like some sort of notification of water leaks

If I try the Flo sensors, anybody have any recommendations for CR123 rechargeable batteries (brand) and charger? Would prefer first world or anything other than chicom. I could probably use for surefire/streamlight as well.

You can also buy AC adapters with dummy batteries that will allow them to be plugged in.

I use a Watts IntelliFlow by my washer.

https://www.amazon.com/Watts-I...ps%2C127&sr=8-1&th=1

I tagged a couple of water sensors onto a Simplisafe system a while back. They were inexpensive, easy to place and use, easy to test, and easy to add to the system. Of course, if you’re not already using a Simplisafe system, that doesn’t help much.

I have been using Phyn for a couple years. It does the job.
Their sensors use batteries but they have sensor cables that can be run back behind the fridge or whatever so you don't need to move furniture or appliances to get to them.

https://phyn.com/products/smar...deshow-with-carousel

I guess I could try the Flo sensors but the reviews are mixed / not great.

I don’t know what one costs as it came with the house, but if you are really worried about potential water leaks, the Moen automatic shutoff valve is really cool. https://www.homedepot.com/p/MO...gs-900-001/309096191

For example, we had a new dock built at the house in Florida while we were up in Michigan. The dock guys ran PVC for water to the end of the dock, but the joint failed where they connected it to the original lome from the house. The Moen valve caught that and shut itself off saving us a ton of money on just the water bill alone. Of course there’s an app on my phone so I got a notification that the valve shut itself off.

It also keeps a record of your water pressure and checks for micro leaks, like a bad toilet flapper or dripping faucet.

Now we have the SimpliSafe water detectors as well. One at each water heater and one by the dishwasher. The SimpliSafe app will notify us if a leak is detected and we can then use the Moen app to shut the water off. While the valve will eventually shut the water off, it lets a lot through before it does.

I’ve been happy with SimpliSafe water sensors. They seem pretty sensitive and with the required system, I get texts and phone calls if one alarms. Which has only happened when they get picked up to clean around.

I’ll be having a Moen Flowtrol valve installed before too long.

At the recommendation of our home inspector, we're putting FloodStop setups in the laundry rooms of both the homes we bought recently. Doesn't just sense a leak, it has an electronically-actuated valve that closes the hot and cold water supplies instantly.

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
I’ve been happy with SimpliSafe water sensors. They seem pretty sensitive and with the required system, I get texts and phone calls if one alarms. Which has only happened when they get picked up to clean around.

I’ll be having a Moen Flowtrol valve installed before too long.

Same here, they have worked well and the batteries have a pretty good life. The alarm system will tell you when they need changed.

I have had Flo installed for several years; it’s been working well for me but public opinion is mixed.

It handles sustained leaks / flows. But didn’t handle the fridge leak because the line only leaked when I used the I door water dispenser. For that, I need to detect actual water. Hence something like the Flo sensor but it has mixed reviews. And doesn’t allow for AC. Looking into all suggestions above. Doesn’t seem like anything is perfect.

I've got the Flo detectors in two houses, have used in a prior one as well. Probably 15 sensors running right now; in floor of each bathroom, laundry room, under kitchen sink, water heater pan, drain pan under A/C, etc.

They have been perfect for my use and with the same high quality batteries I have in flashlights last a year or more on a battery, give alerts when they go off line or battery dies, and you can check the battery level visually in app.

You don't have to move fridge or washer, etc. to change battery. They come with a long line, just get the sensor back where you want it and put unit closer to front where you can reach it. Hint - water tends to run to a level so it won't be long before a leak triggers a sensor anywhere within 10' of the leak.

In 10 years I've had one sensor that I think went bad and threw a false positive. Replacing battery seemed to fix that, but it was in a remote location so for me it was easier to toss and replace rather than have to deal with possibility of that happening again.

AC power won't help if power drops and I've had some things that struggle to reconnect. Of course neither will battery if you don't have a UPS on your wifi router/modem or if that connection goes down as well. So, nothing is 100% but if the power goes off and I'm away, and it's 0 degrees, I already know I need to get there and tend to prevention or get someone nearby to.

I don't know what you are expecting to detect a leak without water triggering a sensor. Perhaps a roaming fellow named Bob to visually check everywhere in house every hour?

I'm pretty sure the whole house Flo sensor isn't going to detect the drip-an-hour you're chasing.

Ive been using Droplet for at least eight months. AC powered, requires WiFi, and the brand is Japanese owned. Installed on supply line and you teach it to recognize your water sources. The AP is easy to use. You can preset notifications based on water flow volume and flow time. It has measured close to my utility supplied water amounts in overall volume. I think its been a good value. Droplet

quote:

Originally posted by mke229:
Ive been using Droplet for at least eight months. AC powered, requires WiFi, and the brand is Japanese owned. Installed on supply line and you teach it to recognize your water sources. The AP is easy to use. You can preset notifications based on water flow volume and flow time. It has measured close to my utility supplied water amounts in overall volume. I think its been a good value. Droplet

How's the app? Does it work well? Does it require personal information not relevant to the detection and alerts (for example, it doesn't need my address to work)? I'm interested in something simple like this to monitor irrigation water consumption (not currently tied into my Flo system).

I went with the YoLink. It seems to be very intuitive in its set up. It already paid for itself when the washing machine decided to pee a few times off the corner. Weird.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
How's the app? Does it work well? Does it require personal information not relevant to the detection and alerts (for example, it doesn't need my address to work)? I'm interested in something simple like this to monitor irrigation water consumption (not currently tied into my Flo system).

App works well, they've improved it with every update in my opinion. Entering an address is required for setup. 30 day money back/2yr warranty.

"Can Droplet Track Outdoor Water Usage? Yes — but only if it’s installed before the pipe branches to outdoor fixtures.
Otherwise, outdoor usage (like irrigation or hose use) may not be detected."

Droplet sounds cool. Is it installed after pressure regulator?