From overflowing air conditioners in summer to frozen, cracked valves in winter, I’ve seen my share of leak problems. The worst leaks always go unnoticed to cause serious problems like warping, rot or mildew. But now I’ve found the most effective tool to catch leaks anywhere: The humble leak detector.
Leak detectors use a clever circuit placed against the floor that’s only closed when water runs between two points, showing you’ve leak problems. From clogged drains to toilet problems, you can put them nearly anywhere.
Leak sensors can work with home security systems or operate as a standalone device. They’re affordable, easy to use and many can detect freezing conditions or dripping water too. Here are some of my favorite models.
Read more: 7 Types of Houses You Should Never Buy, According to a Real Estate Pro
Why moisture matters so much in your home
While house disasters like fires grab the headlines, moisture damage is a much more insidious home enemy. And if you have a home, you need to know why.
First, moisture damage is often hidden near plumbing, so it can be a while before you notice that it started, giving leaks plenty of time to soak in and spread around. That’s bad news for materials that can rot or disintegrate over time. That includes not only drywall, carpet and cabinets but even structural materials like beams and studs.
Second, when moisture leads to rot and softened materials — especially wood — it attracts nasty pests like subterranean termites or gnawing ants. That requires an expensive series of pest control visits in addition to replacing damaging materials.
Third, leaks in dark, protected places have a way of encouraging mold growth. Mold is incredibly damaging to a house: Its spores can travel many places, it can spread undetected for months and it can infest any porous materials easily. Some types of mold can also create serious health problems. It’s so difficult to remove, there’s a special process called mold remediation that’s pricey, time-consuming, and often requires getting rid of any affected surfaces.
To heap insult onto injury, water damage like this is often not covered by home insurance. Most water damage is considered “preventative” with the proper maintenance, so insurers won’t dish out any cash. And mold remediation can be so expensive, insurance companies won’t cover it at all in certain areas, even under expanded policies.
Where you can put a leak detector
Leak detectors offer great versatility. Some designs require a nearby plug-in hub, but the sensors themselves are typically battery-powered and can last for many months on their own. You can put them in all kinds of places. Popular setups include:
- Under kitchen and bathroom sinks to catch leaky pipes
- Under pipes in crawlspaces that might freeze
- Behind the washing machine or somewhere nearby in the laundry room
- Behind toilets that could overflow
- Beside water heaters
- Behind the dishwasher and refrigerator (depending on your installation)
- Beside a sump pump that could overflow
- Beside fountains and other indoor water features
- Behind fish tanks
- Beside AC or dehumidifiers that could overflow
Read more: Keep Your Home Dry and Safe: Flood and Water Damage Prevention Guide
Our favorite home leak detectors
If you aren’t using a leak detector, it’s worth taking a look some of my favorite models. If you already have a home security system, start by seeing if your brand sells a leak detector. Most do.
Here’s a water leak detector for Abode, one for Vivint systems and a version for SimpliSafe. If you use an Arlo home security system, its all-purpose sensors can also detect leaks. But if you don’t have a system at all, these options are the best standalone choices we’ve found.
SwitchBot Wi-Fi leak detector
SwitchBot’s water sensor is very affordable and extra-easy to set up with no hub required and very little app work necessary. Once in place, it can detect both surface leaks and drips from above. You can choose what kind of alerts to get, or if you want the sensor to emit a piercing siren instead.
SwitchBot rates the battery life at two years, and with AAA battery support you’ll have no problem replacing them on your own when you get battery life warnings. The sensor also works with Alexa, Google and Siri. The mix of performance and affordability makes this one of the easiest leak detectors to recommend.
Eufy water and freeze sensor
Eufy’s is an excellent solo option for people who don’t have security systems but are willing to purchase a Euy HomeBase hub for an app connection. It sports a two-year battery life and can send alerts right to your phone no matter where you are, making it the best option for vacations, rentals or time away from a house. The ability to detect freezing conditions can also help you monitor your crawlspaces or under-sink areas during winter.
D-Link water sensor and starter kit
D-Link bundles its small plug-in hub (which includes its own extra leak detector dongle) and water sensor device into a package that’s one of the best all-purpose leak detectors we’ve found. It can send app alerts, sound alarms and flash a warning light to make sure leaks are noticed. The AAA batteries in the sensor model are rated up to five years.
Govee water leak detector 5-pack
If you don’t really care about app alerts and simply want a basic detector that sounds an alarm when water starts to pool, this Govee pack can take care of all the locations in your house at an affordable price. You can adjust the 100-decibel alarm to the volume that works best for you in each location. These sensors also sense water dripping from above, so don’t hesitate to put them directly under suspect pipes.
If you want to explore more than leak detectors, visit our smart home 101 guide, take a look at our recommendations for the best refrigerator and see what smart locks are best for simple, effective front door security.
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