5 Best Water Leak Detectors for Homes

With groundwater levels depleting globally, it’s crucial to conserve water in every possible way. Detecting and stopping water leakages at home is a great way to start. Besides saving water, detecting a leak in time can be crucial to avoid flooding or electrical hazards at home. If you’re wondering how you can do this — check out our list of the best water leak detectors for homes you can buy.

These water leak alarms can be placed in areas with water flow — restrooms, kitchen, etc.– and can detect when water overflows and falls to the ground. You can even use them in areas where there are water pipes, and you want to ensure the pipe itself isn’t leaking. You can pick a suitable product with multiple sensors depending on how big your house is or how many regions you want to cover. But before that –

• If you live in a rented place, consider installing some rental-friendly smart home gadgets that make your life easier.
• Make your home smarter with the help of smart devices for Google Home for under $50.
• Get help when cooking using a smart display for your kitchen.

How Do Water Leak Detectors Work

Water leak detector alarms are tiny gadgets that must be installed on the floor or any surface where you don’t want water to be. These gadgets have probes at the bottom and the top that get triggered as soon as they come in contact with water.

Let’s say you’ve placed a liquid detector on the floor in your kitchen. Now, if the sink overflows and the water reaches the ground at all, the probe will get activated as soon as the water comes in contact with it, thus triggering the alarm. It’s a simple yet effective mechanism.

1. Metak Water Leak Detector Sensor Alarm

The Metak water leak-detecting system has probes on the underside and on top of the device. It’s relatively small in size, so it can be placed on kitchen countertops or places with limited space and not a lot of free area.

Most users have placed the Metak sensor near washing machines, water dispensers, or other such appliances where there is a high chance of a small leakage. You can even place the alarm below some pipes since it can detect dripping water. With an average rating of 4.5, the Metak leak detector is completely worth the price, as per reviews. However, some users mention the built-in loudspeaker could’ve been louder since you may not hear it if you’re on a different floor.

2. Geevon 4-Pack Water Leak Detector

If you want a pack of multiple sensors, the Geevon water leak detector is more economical than buying multiple units of the Metak sensor. While the overall size of the device is bigger than Metak, it’s primarily because the Geevon sensor uses a single 9V battery instead of two AA cells on the Metak.

As per reviews, the 9V battery lasts over two years. So, if you can fit a slightly larger sensor in the desired area, we recommend getting the Geevon leak detector. Reviews also suggest the speaker on these sensors is louder due to the larger physical size. So, if you have them installed in the basement, you can hear them upstairs too.

3. The Basement Watchdog Battery Operated Water Alarm

Let’s say you want to install a leak detector behind your washing machine or dishwasher. Or perhaps, under your refrigerator. A standard sensor like the ones from Metak or Geevon wouldn’t be able to fit into such tiny spaces. That’s where the Basement Watchdog water alarm comes into play. The thin probes can even be installed behind pipes or water outlets in the basement to prevent even the smallest of leakages.

As mentioned earlier, the probes are attached to the main speaker unit via a cable. The cable is six feet long and can even be extended up to 100 feet if required. So, you can have the probe installed in your basement while the speaker unit can sit in the living room to ensure you don’t miss the alert in case of a leakage. The Basement Watchdog water alarm is one of the best-rated products on Amazon in this category, with hundreds of reviews praising it for its reliability.

4. Govee Wi-Fi Water Sensor

Although the built-in speaker alarm is useful, it may not be effective if you’re far away from the sensor or not at home. That’s where a smart Wi-Fi water leak detector like this one from Govee can be a lifesaver. As soon as a leak is detected, not only does the onboard speaker sound an alarm, but it also sends a notification to your smartphone via your network.

So, if you’re at work and you get a notification, you can always call for help and attend to the leakage. In fact, the sensor is even smart enough to send specific notifications that mention whether there’s a leak or water is dripping from a source above the sensor like a pipe. There are three sensors in the box, but Govee also gives you the option to purchase more units in the future to connect to the hub so all of them can be synced to one device.

5. YoLink LoRa Smart Water Leak Protection System

Not only does the YoLink LoRa system detect leakages, but it also provides a motorized valve in the package that can stop the leakage. The valve must be installed at the master water outlet pipe at home. Then, you can place the leakage sensors in the desired spots.

In case of a leakage, the sensors will sound an alarm and also notify you via the smartphone app, thanks to a Wi-Fi hub provided in the box. It doesn’t stop there, though. The app also allows you to shut off the motorized valve to prevent any more leakage. Now that’s a smart feature! This way, you can completely stop the flow of water to a leaking pipe and, hence, prevent flooding or other such mishaps.

Of course, the LoRa smart leak protection system is much more expensive than standalone sensors. But, you can’t put a price on peace of mind, can you?

Save Water and Your Home

All the water leak detectors mentioned above will not only help you save excess water from being wasted but also ensure your house stays safe if excess water overflows from pipes or appliances. Depending on whether there’s someone at home at all times or you have a busy schedule and want to be notified of leaks on your phone, you can pick up the right product for you.