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I Found the Perfect Device to Stop Water Damage from Leaks

Home leaks are always bad news. They're sneaky, frustrating and often expensive to fix, especially if you don't catch them in time. That's where one cheap, severely underrated smart home device comes to the rescue. When I asked SwitchBot about their app-connected leak detector I was testing, their spokesperson mentioned, "Leak detectors offer peace of mind, ensuring you are alerted to leaks even when you are away from home or on vacation, preventing potential damage to your property and neighboring properties. They also provide notifications during the night for leaks in unseen areas, reducing the risk of electrical short circuits and the associated dangers." From overflowing air conditioners in summer to frozen, cracked valves in winter, I've seen my share of leak problems. Here's how leak detectors are fixing those issues before they start. Read more: 7 Types of Houses You Should Never Buy, According to a Real Estate Pro Where can you put a leak detector? Leak detectors, especially battery models, can go nearly anywhere. Eufy Leak detectors offer great versatility. Some designs require a nearby plug-in hub, but the sensors themselves are typically battery-powered and can last for years on their own. You can put them in all kinds of places, including: Under kitchen and bathroom sinks to catch leaky pipes In crawlspaces under pipes that might freeze Behind the washing machine or somewhere nearby in the laundry room Behind toilets that could overflow Beside water heaters Behind the dishwasher and refrigerator (depending on your installation) Beside a sump pump that could overflow Beside fountains and other indoor water features Behind fish tanks Beside AC or dehumidifiers that could overflow Remember, many leak detectors have additional sensors you attach with a cable, so they can reach into tighter spaces for extra detection, like around toilets or below-water tanks. Also, quite a few connect to home security systems, so you can manage your security and get leak, smoke and access alerts all from the same app. Read more: Keep Your Home Dry and Safe: Flood and Water Damage Prevention Guide Our favorite home leak detectors If you aren't using a leak detector, it's worth looking at some of my favorite models. If you already have a home security system, start by seeing if your brand sells one. Most do. Here's a water leak detector for Abode, one for Vivint systems and a version for SimpliSafe. If you use an Arlo home security system, its all-purpose sensors can also detect leaks. But if you don't have a system at all, these options are the best standalone choices we've found. SwitchBot Wi-Fi leak detector SwitchBot's leak detector is affordable and very easy to manage. SwitchBot SwitchBot's water sensor is very affordable and extra-easy to set up with no hub required and very little app work necessary. I still have mine set up under the kitchen sink, in fact. Once in place, it can detect both surface leaks and drips from above. You can choose what kind of alerts to get, or if you want the sensor to emit a piercing siren instead. SwitchBot rates the battery life at two years, and with AAA battery support you'll have no problem replacing them on your own when you get battery life warnings. The sensor also works with Alexa, Google and Siri. The mix of performance and affordability makes this one of the easiest leak detectors to recommend. It's a little bulky compared to some sensors, but that isn't usually an issue for leak detectors. Eufy water and freeze sensor Eufy's leak detector pairs with its HomeBase for easy placement around the home. Eufy Eufy is an excellent solo option for people who don't have security systems but are willing to purchase a Eufy HomeBase hub for an app connection. It sports a two-year battery life and can send alerts right to your phone no matter where you are, making it the best option for vacations, rentals or time away from a house. The ability to detect freezing conditions can also help you monitor your crawlspaces or under-sink areas during winter. D-Link water sensor and starter kit D-Link's kit is an easy, versatile option for installation. D-Link D-Link bundles its small plug-in hub (which includes its own extra leak detector dongle) and water sensor device into a package that's one of the best all-purpose leak detectors we've found. It can send app alerts, sound alarms and flash a warning light to make sure leaks are noticed. The AAA batteries in the sensor model are rated up to five years. Govee water leak detector 5-pack Govee's alarm-based detectors are cheap and avoid app settings. If you don't really care about app alerts and simply want a basic detector that sounds an alarm when water starts to pool, this Govee pack can take care of all the locations in your house at an affordable price. You can adjust the 100-decibel alarm to the volume that works best for you in each location. These sensors also sense water dripping from above, so don't hesitate to put them directly under suspect pipes. If you want to explore more than leak detectors, visit our smart home 101 guide, take a look at our recommendations for the best refrigerator and see what smart locks are best for simple, effective front door security.