quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
Droplet sounds cool. Is it installed after pressure regulator?

Farther away from a regulator may be more important in reducing background noise, but they give the following:

".... avoid placing the Droplet after a branch or split, if you need to capture water usage from downstream lines, such as exterior faucets, to ensure accurate monitoring. Avoid installing Droplet in cramped or crowded sections of plumbing, as this can disrupt the ultrasonic sensors and lead to inaccurate measurements."

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

It won’t, but sensors alone will not shut the water off hence my suggestion for having both.

I had the expansion tank shoot off the top of my water heater on a Sunday afternoon. It didn’t take me long to shut the water off. Had it been that morning while I was at church it would have been a different story.

If you're into the whole smart home thing, I've been using the Ikea leak detectors for about 6 months. They're cheap ($12 each), take AAA batteries, and with the right integration can save the day. Note that these are only sensors and won't do anything to actually shut the water off. The do have an audible alarm. I have mine hooked up with my Home Assistant system, which is an open platform. Note that you'll need a Thread border router (radio) for the new generation of Ikea smart home widgets. You do not need to buy their Thread border router that costs 4 times as much. I've put sensors under every sink in the house, dishwasher, water heater, and fridge. The washing machine is right next to the water heater so I should be covered there too.

With my Home Assistant system and these sensors, I'll get a notification on my phone if a leak is detected telling me which sensor has tripped. This will work anywhere I have a data connection. I could also do things like pause Netflix and make various lights in my home flash on and off until the leak is addressed. If you can dream it up there's likely a way to do it.

My home came with an old wired leak sensor next to the water heater that turns off a valve for the water supply when that one sensor trips. My intent is to build a device that'll interface with that motorized valve and allow Home Assistant to turn off the water. Should be do-able for under $10, but I'm comfortable with electronics and have built stuff before. The system also logs just about everything.

I've been really impressed with Home Assistant, but it is not for the casual consumer. You have to be competent with technology. The advantage is low cost, no recurring fees, and you can build to suit.