TP-Link Tapo T300 Water Leak Detector
Price: $20. One of the standout features of the Tapo T300 is its four metal probes underneath and two on top, allowing for quick water detection whether it’s dripping down or pooling beneath. Alerts arrive swiftly on my phone, usually within one to two seconds. The alarm is pretty loud at 90 decibels, but you can lower the volume or mute it via the app. Keep in mind that the T300 requires a Tapo Smart Hub to operate. A single hub can connect to up to 64 Tapo motion sensors, door or window sensors, switches, and other devices. The hub is a simple rectangular device that plugs into an outlet and connects to your Wi-Fi. While it doesn’t sound an alarm by itself, you can get the sensor’s alerts mirrored in the Tapo app. Another nice touch is a button on the sensor that allows you to check the hub’s range. Each T300 sensor runs on two AAA batteries (included), which TP-Link claims can last up to three years. The app features a battery icon to indicate power levels and send warnings when the batteries are running low. Additionally, you can configure the water leak alarm to trigger your hub to sound an alarm or shut off connected devices through Tapo smart plugs, which I tested successfully. The T300 has a larger footprint, so it may not fit in all spaces, and I noticed it still showed as functioning in the app hours after I removed the batteries.
Eve Water Guard
Price: $110. This leak detector is a solid choice for iPhone users with a home hub like an Apple TV or HomePod. With HomeKit support, it ensures that no data is shared with third parties, making it a great option if privacy is a concern. While there’s an Eve app, it’s also manageable through the Apple Home app. The device plugs directly into an outlet and comes with a 6.5-foot cable that detects water, alerting you on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch as long as your home hub is up and running. The Eve Water Guard flashes red and sounds a 100-decibel siren. You can check alarm history, test or mute alarms and update firmware through the Eve app. It’s solely a water detector, but the cable is effective at triggering quick alerts over a wide area. However, it does need an outlet, which limits placement options, and the Android support is absent, along with the fact that you need a home hub for remote alerts and management. You can add 6.5-foot cable extensions for $20 each, extending the total length up to 500 feet.
Govee Wi-Fi Water Sensor (3-Pack)
Price: $55. Easy to install, Govee’s water sensors send both push notifications and email alerts. They also have a loud siren—one of the loudest I tested at 100 decibels. Thankfully, you can turn off the sound through the app. These small sensors have drip detection on top and metal feet to sense leaks below; however, there are no options for additional discs or cables. While the Govee Wi-Fi Water Sensors are efficient at detecting water, I found alerts came in within a few seconds. The app is straightforward and keeps a history of alerts. One drawback is that these sensors require a Govee Wi-Fi hub (included), which occupies an outlet and might block adjacent ones. Each sensor runs on two AA batteries (also included). I did experience issues where alerts didn’t come through when my phone was on mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, although email alerts did arrive. Integration with smart home systems is absent. You can buy additional sensors for $13 each or five for $50.
First Alert L1 Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector
Price: $75. This larger flood sensor from First Alert connects with their app or the Resideo app and can send you push notifications and emails to notify you of any leaks. It has a 100-decibel alarm that can be silenced with a button on the side. However, in my tests, it was quite slow to send alerts, and notifications only came through when my phone was on Wi-Fi. The 5-foot water-sensing cable offers coverage over a larger area and provided faster alerts. As it connects directly to Wi-Fi, a strong signal is necessary; it also monitors temperature and humidity, but its accuracy is lacking—it often overestimates temperature and underestimates humidity. The two AA batteries included are expected to last up to two years.
Eufy Security Water and Freeze Sensor
Price: $35. If you’re using Eufy’s security system, this leak detector may be your best bet. It connects to either HomeBase 2 or HomeBase 3 ($150) and proved to be quick and reliable in alerting me. It offers long-range connectivity (up to 200 meters) and can notify you if temperatures drop below freezing. Alerts arrive on your phone through the Eufy Security app, and you can set the HomeBase to sound an alarm, but the detector itself doesn’t make noise. Battery life is trackable in the app, lasting up to two years. However, it doesn’t provide a temperature reading; it only alerts when temperatures dip below freezing.
Ikea Badring
Price: $9. This budget-friendly model has a simple design and alerted me reliably in tests. The Ikea Badring is a solid option if you already have an Ikea Dirigea hub ($109), which you’ll need to receive notifications on your phone. Without this hub, it can get a bit pricey and is incompatible with other hubs like the Ikea Tradfri. It does have a 90-decibel alert, but it only sounds when you’re nearby; so don’t rely on it exclusively. You’ll need to provide your own AAA battery, and as it’s only IP44 rated, there’s potential for failure if it gets submerged.
SwitchBot Water Leak Detector
Price: $18. This rectangular detector gives quick alerts in all my tests, with a 100-decibel alarm. Featuring prongs both on top and underneath, it was prompt in detecting water. It connects directly to Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a hub, and it can send push notifications and emails, although you have to set those up in the app. I did notice that alerts didn’t come through when I was out of the house on a cellular network instead of Wi-Fi. Smart home compatibility is good (with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT), and you can set up automation in the SwitchBot app, making it a versatile choice, especially if you have other SwitchBot devices. The two AAA batteries included are expected to be good for up to two years.
AiDot Winees Water Leak Detector S1 Plus (3 Pack)
Price: $60. You’ll need to connect a plug-in hub to your 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi and place the three circular detectors in potential leak areas. You can pair up to 10 detectors with the hub and configure it to send emails and SMS alerts in addition to app notifications for leaks. The probes on each detector are spaced apart, needing 2 millimeters of water to trigger the alarm. While it didn’t go off with a continuous drip, it did sound once water pooled underneath. The alarm can reach up to 100 decibels, and you can adjust the volume and duration of alarms. You can halt alarms through the app or by pressing buttons on the hub. These detectors take CR2 batteries, lasting about a year, with app notifications for low battery levels. However, it took the app several hours to register when one battery was removed. Another downside is that the hub’s circular design can block nearby outlets. IFTTT support is a useful bonus, potentially allowing you to trigger a water shut-off or have a light flash red when a leak is detected.
Aqara Water Leak Sensor
Price: $19. This Zigbee sensor is ideal for use with Apple’s HomeKit, requiring a separate Aqara hub. The sensors are compact and sit low to the ground, so just 0.5 mm of water underneath can set off an alarm. While they won’t pick up on drips from above, you’ll receive an iPhone alert right when water collects beneath the probes. You can configure your connected hub to sound an alarm and trigger automations through HomeKit. Each sensor uses CR2 batteries, lasting up to two years.
Stitch by Monoprice Water Leak Sensor
Price: $22. This affordable leak detector shares a similar design with our top picks. Its round main body features metal feet for detecting pooling water, and it comes with a 3.8-feet coin-sized plug-in extension for wall mounting. The main detector and extension were both fast to activate and notify me when wet (though the on-device alarm may not be very prominent). It requires a single CR2 battery, displays battery life in the app, and notifies you when it needs a replacement. Unfortunately, the app could use some improvement as it’s basic and poorly translated. To stop the alarm, you need to dry the detector, and it took too long for it to notify me when it went offline; perplexingly, the offline setting is toggled off by default in the app, which I had to turn on manually. You can sometimes find it cheaper if you buy directly from Monoprice.
Leak Detectors to Avoid
We encountered challenges with some water leak detectors during testing.
Shelly Flood Gen 4: This fourth-generation leak detector has promising specs boasting support for Matter and connectivity through Zigbee, Bluetooth, and dual-band Wi-Fi. Setting it up in the Google Home app was hassle-free with the Matter QR code. Each IP44-rated unit needs four AA batteries, and you can mount it to a wall while plugging in a 6.5-foot leak detection cable. Although the detector sounded an alarm when I dripped water on it, I never received alerts through the Home app, and it continued to display “No leak.” After multiple trials with different detectors, I couldn’t recommend it since it failed to alert through the Home app, and the Shelly app also wouldn’t load.
Swann Leak Alert Sensor: While this battery-operated water detector is affordable, I struggled intensely with the setup. It requires your phone to connect to 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi, and even then, it took several attempts to link up. Frustratingly, resetting the unit requires you to remove the screw panel, as there’s no option for it in the app. The alerts I received were delayed; about a minute after soaking the sensor, and the Swann app felt slow and cumbersome.
