REVIEW – My neighbor’s washing machine hose burst while he was sleeping, causing thousands of dollars in damage to his home and a crazy amount of inconvenience and frustration. A low-cost SwitchBot Water Leak Detector could have saved the day.
What is it?
The SwitchBot Water Detector is a battery-operated, app-connected device that senses water and provides alerts via push notifications and email.
What’s included?
- Water leak detector
- 2xAAA batteries
- Triangular opener
- User manual
- Warranty card
Tech specs
- Construction: ABS plastic
- Size: 78 x 29 x 32 mm (3.1 x 11 x 1.3in)
- Weight: 69g (2.4oz)
- Water resistance: IP68
- Alarm level: 100dB
- Power: 2xAAA batteries
- Operating life: approximately two years
- Operating temperature: 0 to 40°C (32 to 140°F)
- Operating humidity: 0 to 99% relative
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Bluetooth low energy 4.2 or above
Design and features
A few months ago, I asked a friend, “How are you doing?” He told a remarkable and heartbreaking story about an upstairs bathroom water leak that caused large-scale damage to his home. In the following weeks, drywall, electrical wiring, kitchen cabinets, and many others needed replacement. Mold remediation followed, requiring his family to vacate their house. They are home now but are still undergoing repairs and renovations.
Eric, my friend, I’m so sorry you’re going through all this.
A decade or so ago, my basement sump pump motor failed. I discovered it quickly, but not before thousands of dollars in ruined carpet, days of cleanup, and lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth. Now I’m paranoid, and I have a backup sump pump, Phyn Water Monitor and Shutoff (reviewed here, and I’m still a big fan!), and a locally audible water sensor. Still, it would be great to know something is amiss even when I can’t be home, so I jumped to look at SwitchBot’s Water Leak Detectors.
It arrived wearing SwitchBot’s red-and-white packaging.
It’s very sturdy, so it doesn’t need too much packaging.
It’s relatively compact and feels solid.
SwitchBot includes a triangular pry tool to help in removing the battery cover.
The cover is equipped with a seal for IP68 water protection and attaches with a satisfying “pop.” Two AAA batteries should keep the leak detector running for about two years.
To pair with the app, press the “+” on the app’s main page, then “Add Device” and “Water Leak Detector” from the list.
As always, SwitchBot’s instructions are top-notch.
Once discovered, the leak detector can be assigned a name and room, which will appear in the app.
In my case, I put the first one near a SwitchBot S10 Floor Cleaner Refilling Station.
The app displays a log of the last few alerts and buttons for “Mode,” “Alert Settings,” and “Automation.”
“Mode” determines how the Leak Detector will function. “Leak Alert” uses electrodes on the top and bottom to detect if water is present.
With the button facing up, the pins rest on the floor (or other surface), and even tiny quantities of water will trigger an alarm. Sensitivity is remarkable, working even if only a few drops of water bridge the connections.
When placed with the button down, there is about a 2mm gap between the sensor pins and the surface.
“Dry Alert” uses an optional cable ($2 more) to monitor if water levels fall below the sensor pins, which is outstanding for fish tanks, pet watering, garden fountains, and plants! Using two Leak Detectors, one for low and the other for full, a SwitchBot Mini Plug (reviewed here can activate and deactivate a pump (or valve) for automatic level control. Excellent!
“Alert Settings” configures the duration, interval, and volume of the Leak Detector’s built-in alarm. The warbling klaxon is loud enough to attract attention and can be silent if desired.
When the alarm sounds, the LED flashes red.
“Automation” sets parameters for when the app will send alerts based on location, time, the status of another device, weather conditions, or the presence of a Near Field Communications (NFC) tag. I’m impressed!
The settings menu allows you to adjust additional parameters, including Wi-Fi, Cloud services (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, and Siri Shortcuts), NFC tags, FAQs, Firmware and Battery, and Device Info.
What I like about the SwitchBot Water Leak Detector
- Inexpensive
- Very sensitive
- Monitors dry conditions/water level drops with optional cable
What needs to be improved?
- Nothing
Final thoughts
Like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, SwitchBot’s Water Leak Detectors are gadgets that no home should be without. A leaking hose isn’t likely to kill you, but it’ll surely ruin your day, week, or month. At $18, it’s a massive bargain for such immense peace of mind. I will get more to put under each sink, next to my sump pump, the dishwasher, and the washing machine! Bravo, SwitchBot!!! Thank you!
Price: $17.99 ($19.99 with sensor cable)
Where to buy: SwitchBot, Amazon (With sensor cable: Amazon)
Source: SwitchBot provided a free sample for this review but did not provide input, guidance, or editing before it was published.
Gadgeteer Comment Policy - Please read before commenting
These things are essential. In 2003 I had a dishwasher seal fail in my recently bought, but 25 year old, house. It soaked the basement causing almost $20K in damage. A few years later I saw on here some water detectors that looked like green frogs. I bought some and then similar ones over the years. About ten years later my wife woke me up about some incessant beeping. Got down to the basement and found that a water line had burst. I got a good soaking, but no substantial damage. I’ve got one of them under every sink, around the washing machine, and all over the utility room for the furnace and water heater (why do people persist in calling it a “hot water heater”?).
Going to have to try this.
Not clear from here or Amazon how I would be notified if a leak happened. One Amazon review says email. If this is correct it would be useless to me as I check email only intermittently. Or is the notofication via their app? One review seems to say this but also says it doesn’t work. Can you explain how rhe notifications actually work?
Thanks.
Hello, David. The app will send a push notification, e-mail, or both. Email configuration is under the Automation tab/Water Leak Alert/Add Action/Notification/Send To. You can specify the text that the app sends.
Thanks. I’ll order one today.