Water Sensors -- Are Any of Them Reliable?

Devices & Integrations
1

I am looking for a water sensor to use near a washing machine and also near a water heater.

I started with the Fibaro, which I fitted with a home made external probe. Too many false positives.

I moved to an Aeon DS845. The device will not report reliably. I wet one a few weeks ago and, thankfully, got a prompt “wet” report. But the device never cleared the “wet” status even though it’s bone dry.

I’ve tried different handlers and fiddled with it to the point of total distraction.

I’ve had great luck with a nice array of Z-Wave sensors in my home including several Aeon Multisensor 6 devices, a pair of Z-Wave Smoke Alarms, a pair of zooZ Smart plugs, an Aeon Smart Switch etc. But for some reason, I can’t get a water sensor that works.

Are the Everspring Flood Sensors good? How about the Ecolink Flood and Freeze Sensor (I don’t need a freeze sensor though).

Due to space constraints, I probably need one with a probe.

Thanks,

– Rich

2

I’ve had three SmartThings Water Leak Sensors in use since last May. I’ve yet to have a false alert. I test one of them every week along with the Dome shutoff valve and they’ve worked perfectly. Unfortunately, they do not have probes.

5 Likes
3

What brand and model do you use? Even though I likely can’t use them since I need probes.

Thanks,

– Rich

1 Like
4

I’ll vouch for the Everspring. Very fast wet/dry response. The probe wire is about 8-9’ long and it comes with clips to keep it in place. Mine only check-in about once every 12 hours or so, so battery life has been fantastic. Nine months and the AAs are still showing 100%.It also has its own not-so-loud alarm which comes in handy if the automated notifications don’t work for some reason. Its also sold at Lowes under the Utilitech name.

1 Like
5

Thanks for the information @Shoot31. What device handler do you use with them?

1 Like
6

I was using the native Everspring Flood Sensor handler but it now resides with my Hubitat Hub.

1 Like
7

Samsung SmartThings Water Leak Sensors

2 Likes
8

I have had an ST sensor and a Fortrezz for a couple of years. The Fortrezz is now giving false positives every so often and I have to reset it. I have just added 4 Xiaomi sensors to every toilet and so far so good.

1 Like
9

I second the ST sensor. One huge benefit is the temp reading with the sensor. This is a nice way to know if the sensor did not drop off the network. I have 10+ of them around.
I have 2 Everspring sensors as well and the battery lasted forever really. 3 plus years and still 100%. Downside is the infrequent report which make me nervous.

2 Likes
10

The Smartthing Brand ones have saved me a couple of times in 2017. I swear by them

2 Likes
11

I started with some Aeon / Foxx water sensors, but like you Richard I found they’d stick on Wet, even when dry. Whereas the official Samsung branded water sensor (strangely), I’ve found to be 100% reliable. As I too needed a probe, I just cut off one from the Aeon/Foxx and added it to the SmartThings water sensor.

1 Like
12

I’ve been using two of the Aeons sand they’ve been working great for me! They’ve saved me from a number of basement disasters. Washer had the pump break off - I got notified. Sewer drain started backing up - I got notified. Sump pump float got stuck and didn’t run - I got notified. The sensor reset to dry every time as well once things actually dried.

It probably helps that the water sensor are in the same room as the hub…

1 Like
13

Also recommend the SmartThings sensors. I have 6 of them in total, never a false alarm and anytime I’ve tested them they work. Also they run locally in the hub which might be important to you.

1 Like
14

Smartthings water sensor just saved me this weekend. I got an alert while I was out of town. A neighbor checked for me and sure enough, the toilet was overflowing. Saved me a bundle because it would have been 2 days before I would have known.

2 Likes
15

I’m going to give the Dome DMWS1 a try.

16

Here I go again.

I just installed a Dome Water Detector in my Laundry Room.

It paired with my Smart Things Hub easily.

I touched the sensor with a most paper towel and it properly sent a signal that water was detected.

When I removed the paper towel the device light stopped blinking and the audible alarm stopped.

If I look at the recent activity tab associated with the device in the Smart Things app it shows a cluster of reports all at the same minute mark alternating between wet and dry signals, with the top entry showing dry.

However, the Smart Things Dashboard shows the sensor as “wet”.

Why the discrepancy?

17

OK – I just noticed that Dome offers a handler to use in lieu of the generic one. I hope that works for me.

18

Just installed one last night.

19

Is the leak detection (and triggering water valve closing) locally processed or cloud?

Still deciding which leak detector to get - looks like I would go with either Everspring and ST Leak Sensor.
Everspring has long lasting battery, but the infrequent reporting is a minus. My house has mostly Z-wave devices (except Hue), so maybe makes more sense with Everspring? ST Leak Sensor uses CR-2 batteries which are more expensive and probably needs more battery changing; but it is neater and smaller as I have no need for wired probes.

One concern about Everspring is that if I use a custom DTH like this one https://community.smartthings.com/t/updated-device-type-for-everspring-flood-utilitech-water-leak-sensor/3501
then I has to run in the cloud - am I correct?

I may even consider buying a Hubitat just for the leak sensor and water valve to make sure things can run locally (too much Smartthings cloud downtime for me to be comfortable for this purpose).

20

Fortrezz water valve, which is really expensive, runs locally. The generic “Z-Wave Water Valve” currently runs in the cloud…its one of the few default/generic DTH’s that still does and I’ve brought it up on the forums and in GitHub with no reply yet. Hopefully they get on it.