What Is a Water Leak Sensor & How Does It Work?

What Is a Smart Home Leak Sensor?

Water leak damage can be a pricey thing to fix. Often, we don't know there's a problem until much of the damage is already done. According to Good Housekeeping, most damage happens because of broken seals, clogged lines, loose connections, excess water pressure, and more. That's where smart home leak detection comes in. With a few well-placed water leak sensors around the house, you can save yourself a ton of money in repairs as you'll be notified via an alert should a leak be detected. If they detect water or even excess humidity, sensors trigger an alert and send you a notification via your smart home app.

How Does It Work?

Whenever anyone hears about water leak sensors, the first question on their minds, inevitably, is how does leak detection work? It's simple. When you buy a smart WiFi water leak sensor, all you have to do is place it anywhere that water could accumulate or leak. Some good spots are near a washing machine, in the basement, or near a toilet. The water leak sensor is fitted with a sensitive probe that can detect water and thus alert you if and when a leak starts - potentially saving you thousands of dollars in damages.

Types of Leak Sensors

There are many different options when it comes to buying smart leak sensors. Most sensors will detect water or moisture and give you enough of a warning that you should be able to avoid significant damage. Other, more expensive water leak sensors are most sensitive and can even detect a change in acoustics. There's also a kind of leak detector called a "flow interrupter." This type of sensor is put directly on the pipes themselves and can turn off the water if a leak is detected. BAZZ sells such a kit fitted with a shutter valve to interrupt the flow of water, which you can activate with just the push of a button.

Potential Reasons for Water Leak

There are a lot of reasons one could suffer a water leak. Toilet leaks are a pretty common one. According to the EPA, the usual culprit, in this case, is worn-out "toilet flappers'' or valve seals. These rubber pieces are inexpensive to replace but can cause lots of damage. Leaky faucets are also pretty standard, thanks to worn-out washers and gaskets, as are showerhead leaks. Frozen water pipes also happen frequently in cold weather, as when water freezes in a pipe, it expands and causes a tremendous amount of pressure, destroying pipes.

How Much Does a Water Leak Sensor Cost?

Again, this depends on what kind of water leak sensor you buy. Suppose you're looking to buy a flow interrupter, which needs to be installed directly on the pipes themselves. In that case, you're looking at a few hundred bucks for the sensor and then another few hundred dollars to have it installed by a plumber, as it's too complicated to do on your own. However, the BAZZ Smart WiFi Water Leak Sensor and Valve Kit also interrupts the flow of leaky water and is surprisingly easy to install. You may not even need a plumber! The whole kit is only $79.99!

However, many water leak sensors detect water, alert you via your smart home app, and are pretty reasonable. For example, the BAZZ Water Leak Sensor is only $69.99 and connects via your existing WiFi connection, and can alert you in case of a leak.

Where Do I Install a Leak Detection System?

How effective a water leak sensor winds up depends on where they're placed. To get the most out of your water leak detection system, here are some of the best places we recommend putting them:

1) Basement

Did you know that 98% of basements are affected by water damage at some point? Not only that, but a flooded basement causes significant damage, so this is one of the critical places to install a smart water leak detector.

2) Bathroom

This is another prime location for flooding. As noted early, toilets and showerheads, not to mention sinks are often the key culprits for water leaks due to worn-out flappers, washers and gaskets. So, this is another excellent location to place a water leak detector.

3) Water Heaters

If you have an old water tank, this is another important place to install a water leak detector as they're prone to damage and springing leaks. Placing a water leak sensor here could save you a lot of money and a lot of hassle.

4) Sinks

Leaks from sinks are tricky. They tend to be more minor leaks that develop over time due to worn-out washers, and often the leak isn't detected until a lot of damage is done. A water leak sensor placed here avoids that considerable problem.

5) Laundry Room

This is another smart place to put a sensor, as washing machines often get clogged or leak, causing a lot of annoying and costly damage.