Best Water Leak Sensors of 2024

We evaluated 17 brands on the way to choosing our top five picks for the best water leak sensors.
Best overall
Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector
Flo by Moen
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    Sensor cable
  • pro
    Temperature sensor
  • pro
    3-year battery
Best budget
Kangaroo Water + Climate Sensor
Kangaroo
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
  • con
    No sensor cable
  • pro
    Temperature sensor
  • con
    1-year battery
Best support resources
D-Link Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor and Alarm Starter Kit
D-Link
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
  • pro
    Sensor cable
  • con
    No temp sensor
  • pro
    5-year battery
Best shutoff kit
YoLink DIY Automatic Water Leak Detection and Shut-Off Starter Kit
YoLink Starter Kit
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
  • pro
    Sensor cable
  • con
    No temp sensor
  • pro
    5-year battery
pro

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A leaky pipe flooding your home is enough to ruin your day, your furniture, and your home maintenance budget. That's why we chose the Moen Flo Smart Water Leak Detector as our top pick — it's a smart water sensor with the best early warning system.

It senses changes in water, humidity, and temperature to protect against mold and frozen ipes. Like some competitors, it also has a companion shutoff valve, so you don't need to turn off the water supply manually during a flood.

Each of our picks effectively guards your home against water damage and cuts your water bill with clever alert systems and long battery lives. Read on to see how they compare and find the best for you.

See also:



Compare the best water leak detectors

Product
Price
Detects
Notification
Smart home compatibility
Learn more
Best sensors Water, humidity, temperatureMobile app, beeping alarmAmazon, Google *
Best budget Water, humidity, temperatureMobile appAmazon, Google *
Best support resources WaterMobile app, sirenGoogle, IFTTT
Best shutoff kit WaterMobile app, beeping alarmAmazon, Google, IFTTT, YoLink

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
*Smart home compatibility requires an additional purchase on Flo by Moen or subscription on Kangaroo.

Water leak detector reviews

1. Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector: Best overall

Best sensors
Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector is easily one of the best options for early leak warnings in your home. It sports water, humidity, and temperature sensors that react faster than others. We're fans of the slick mobile app that tracks temperature and humidity over time so you can spot problems before the pipes leak a drop.

pro
Pros
pro Super-sensitive sensors
pro 6-foot sensor cable included
pro Humidity and temperature detection
con
Cons
con Weak audible alarm
con Expensive shutoff valve add-on

Sensors

This detector includes a generous six-foot sensor cable that squeezes into narrow gaps behind your appliances. Although you can rest the leak detector on the floor without a sensor cable, it's less secure than wall-mounting the sensor and using the cable. Wall-mounting is great for homes where children might move the sensor from the laundry room to a toy bin.

When a water sensor alarm goes off, you'll get a notification on your smartphone, and the smart device will start beeping. The quiet beeps are no match for a proper siren—you may as well rely on the mobile app to tell you when there's a leak.

Smart home compatibility

Flo doesn't offer any smart home compatibility—at least if you don't want to buy the Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff (about $435), which costs more than 10 times as much as the water alarm sensor (yikes). With the valve, you accessGoogle Assistant and Amazon Alexa and link it to your Ring Alarm system, but there are cheaper options for smart home and shutoff valves.

Overall, we like Flo by Moen's fast sensor speed and optional shutoff valve as an alternative. But its weak alarm sound and expensive smart home upgrade requirements may make you skip to our next choice.

2. Kangaroo Water + Climate Sensor: Best budget

The Kangaroo Water + Climate Sensor shaves a few bucks off other Wi-Fi leak detectors to claim the budget pick in our lineup. This bare-bones sensor is handy for mobile-device leak notifications but isn't as flexible to install as competitors.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable price
pro Mobile app controls
pro Humidity and temperature detection
con
Cons
con No sensor cable
con Short battery life
con Smart home perks require a subscription

Sensors

Despite its low price, Kangaroo manages to cram humidity and temperature sensors alongside the water-detection capabilities. Considering that the pricier D-Link and LeakSmart models don't have as many sensors, this is a win for Kangaroo. Beyond that, Kangaroo's lack of a sensor cable hampers its water leak detection abilities in cramped spaces.

There's also no audible alarm on this unit, so you need a mobile app to find out when your toilet leaks. You might consider pairing Kangaroo with a cheap water leak alarm like The Basement Watchdog for a piercing siren. Kangaroo also has the shortest battery life on our list, with a meager one-year compared to Moen's three-year battery life.

Smart home compatibility

Kangaroo outsmarts Flo by Moen's smart home skills for a much lower price, but you need to pay for a subscription ($99 per year) to unlock Alexa and Google compatibility.

Overall, Kangaroo is a great option for folks who need basic sensing and mobile app controls. 

3. D-Link DCH-S1621KT: Best support resources

Best support resources
D-Link Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor and Alarm Starter Kit
D-Link DCH-S1621KT
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
$79.99

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The D-Link DCH-S1621KT stands out for its customer support options more than its sensors. D-Link's the only brand on our list that has everything we want out of customer service. It offers standard support fare like phone and email support, but the added online forums and live chat are more effective when you need help troubleshooting a problem.

pro
Pros
pro Excellent customer support
pro 5-foot sensor cable included
pro Loud siren
con
Cons
con No humidity sensor
con No temperature sensor
con No Alexa support

Smart home compatibility

You'll find Google Assistant and IFTTT compatibility on this D-Link spot leak detector. But there's no support for Amazon Alexa. Still, we like that D-Link doesn't charge extra for smart home compatibilities like Kangaroo and Flo by Moen do, making it more accessible overall.

Sensors

D-Link uses only a single water sensor instead of the extra humidity and temperature sensors included on other leak detectors. Still, the water leakage sensor is lightning fast, and the five-foot sensor cable's flexible installation keeps D-Link in the running against cheaper detectors like Kangaroo. The sensor also has a loud 100 dB siren that backs up the D-Link's mobile device alerts.

Overall, we like D-Link for its robust customer support and simple, effective water leak sensor. It's a great alternative, especially if you're looking to expand your Google smart home.

4. YoLink: Best shutoff kit

Best shutoff kit

The price tag for the YoLink Starter Kit is high (around $300) but for a good reason. You get three leak sensors, a shutoff valve, and a smart hub to tie everything together. If you own rentals, vacation homes, or travel often, YoLink's automatic shutoff feature can stop the problem before it begins so you don't come home to puddles on the floor or under the sink.

pro
Pros
pro Automatic shutoff valve
pro Includes 3 sensors
pro DIY installation
con
Cons
con High price tag
con No humidity sensor

Affordable shutoff valve

Shutoff valves are hardly a unique feature, but YoLink is one of the more affordable options for this kind of setup. It sells for about $300 on Amazon, so the price is pretty reasonable—Flo by Moen charges over $500 for its shutoff valves. (We use list prices on SafeWise because they're more stable, but they often don't reflect actual retail pricing.)

Installation

This smart valve connects to the Wi-Fi-enabled smart hub, allowing it to communicate with the leak detection system around your house. The wireless range extends up to a quarter mile—just over 1,300 feet—with no obstructions. You can set these sensors to tell the valve to shut off the water flow or alert you to a problem through a text, email, or push notification.

Overall, we're fans of YoLink's connectivity, sensitivity, and long wireless range.

Checklist
Automatic shutoff valve reliability

A common complaint we see about smart shutoff valves is that they have connection issues. A big reason for this is that a metal water pipe can affect wireless signals. It's not always easy to put your hub or router closer to shutoffs that aren't in a central location in your home. Consider getting a range extender to improve your signal.

More water leak detectors we considered

Fibaro Flood Sensor

The Fibaro Flood Sensor is one of few leak detectors that support Apple HomeKit, so it's worth considering if you're deep in the Apple smart home ecosystem. Unfortunately, it doesn't connect to Wi-Fi without a HomeKit hub, so there's no remote access when you're out of Bluetooth range. It doesn't have a sensor cable, though you can attach up to 10 feet of wire for similar functionality. On the plus side, it's also compatible with Abode home security.

The Basement Watchdog

The Basement Watchdog is a low-tech moisture alarm that doesn't connect to smartphones but is an incredibly affordable way to hear a loud 110 dB siren at the first sign of a leak. It doesn't detect humidity or temperature but comes with an impressive five-year warranty. We like this alarm for its low price (around $12) and flexible sensor cable. If you want a no-fuss, classic sensor to keep your home safe for a modest price, The Basement Watchdog is a great option.

Zircon Leak Alert

For its size and simplicity, the Zircon Leak Alert is a powerful device. App-controlled devices are a nice bonus, but it's hard to beat Zircon's affordability and ease of use. Setup has two steps: add batteries and put the sensor under your sink, washing machine, or toilet. There's no sensor cable like The Basement Watchdog, but it comes in cheap multipacks to help cover every room in your home.

HydroCheck WaterWatcher

The HydroCheck WaterWatcher caught our attention for its unique ability to turn off water-using appliances when it detects a leak. Plug it into a standard outlet and connect the appliance you want to control, like a washing machine or dehumidifier. When there's a leak, the WaterWatcher cuts the power to the appliance to keep flooding to a minimum. It's a little pricey (about $80) for a simple sensor without a mobile app, but its controlled outlet fills a useful niche.

Final word

The Moen Flo Smart Water Leak Detector is one of the best water leak sensors because it's discreet until there's trouble. It also doesn't need a hub and can be connected to the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff.

If you're looking for more information on preventing home flooding, check out our home flooding resources, tips for what to do when your house floods, and our sump pump reviews if you need to get water out of your house.

FAQ

Water leak sensors use two metal contacts that form the positive and negative ends of an electrical circuit. Electricity can't travel between the two contacts in dry conditions, leaving the circuit incomplete until it touches a conductive fluid like water. When there's a leak, the water links the contacts together, completing the electrical circuit and triggering an alarm.

Chances are your home has multiple spots vulnerable to leaks and flooding. The number of leak detectors you have depends on the size and age of your home, but it's a good idea to have a sensor near each appliance or fixture involving water:

  • Water heater
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Kitchen sink
  • Bathroom sinks
  • Dehumidifier
  • Sump pump
  • Toilets 

Not every location requires a pricey Wi-Fi water leak detector. You can save money by adding cheap water alarms like The Basement Watchdog and Zircon Leak Alert into the mix.

There are two ways to install a water leak detector. The method depends on whether you use a sensor cable or not:

  • Without a cable: Install the batteries and set up the mobile app (if applicable). Place the sensor on the floor in your desired location (preferably out of walkways). Make sure the metal contacts on the bottom of the device touch the floor.
  • With a sensor cable: Install the batteries and set up the mobile app (if applicable). Mount the primary sensor on a wall and attach the sensor cable. String the end of the cable down to the floor in the place you want to monitor.

The price of a leak sensor depends on the type:

  • Simple water alarms with an audible alarm and no mobile app cost $10 to $15.
  • Smart water leak detectors with an app and smart home compatibility cost $30 to $100, with most popular models clocking in around $50.

Water and electricity don't mix, so most leak sensors use batteries—the type of battery typically depends on the brand. Some leak detectors plug into outlets like the Eve Water Guard and HydroCheck WaterWatcher, but these are expensive and uncommon.

Once your water leak alarm triggers, remove it from moisture and take out the batteries. Dry it overnight to prevent an immediate alarm when you replace the batteries. Many smart water sensors also have an option to silence the alarm using a mobile app.

A smart water sensor generally sends a low-battery notification to your phone or email, while simple water alarms chirp like a smoke detector to signal a low battery.

How we reviewed water leak detectors

Our quest for the best water sensors began by digging through professional and customer reviews. We focused on smart water sensors with mobile app controls and looked at some budget options without Wi-Fi. In our search, we considered 17 different brands and narrowed our list to 9 detectors.

After assembling our list of star players, we scoured resources like owners manuals, product specs, and unboxing videos. These were all instrumental in the decision of which water leak detector reigns supreme. Learn more about our methodology for this and other guides on our site.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

John Carlsen
Written by
John is a technology journalist specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. He has over a decade of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting countless DIY projects he has yet to complete.

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