Prevent floods with our water leak detector.

As a homeowner or renter, you care a lot about your space. You care about keeping your belongings safe and damage-free. A small leak in your home that goes unfixed can quickly compound into thousands of dollars worth of damage to your property, so have you ever considered using a water leak detector?

A water leak detector is a smart device that specializes in exactly what you'd think: leak detection. But how do these devices work, and how can they be useful to you and your home? You might not have ever thought about installing a device dedicated specifically to detecting leaks, but trust us when we say that water damage is not something you want to take any chances with. We know that a water leak detector is an invaluable addition to your home, so let's dive in and talk about how these revolutionary devices can help keep your space safe and water damage-free.

Answer: A water leak detector is a small device that emits an alarm whenever it comes in contact with water. It also has a freeze sensor, which notifies you of dangerously low temperatures that could lead to potential floods.

As we just explained, a water leak detector is a device that is designed to send out an alarm whenever it comes in contact with water. Whether your faucet is dripping or your washing machine has a burst pipe, the water leak sensor on a water detector will alert you once it comes in contact with as little as 1/16th of an inch of misplaced water. Such a proactive response ensures that you can reach your home's shut off valve before a flood has the chance to get any worse. Enabling this fast action reduces the potential for water damage and costly repairs.

Water damage aside, a strategically placed leak detector can help minimize your water usage by identifying areas where appliances are leaking. If your water heater has a small enough leak, you might not notice it on your own. That leak could even be so small that any water dries without a trace before you get the chance to try and spot it with your eyes. You can also place a water leak detector near your appliances that are not currently leaking so that you’ll know the second that they start having problems. Leaky appliances lead to higher water bills, so using a water detector can be a smart way for you to save money on utilities if you suspect you might have a leaky appliance.

Water leak detectors frequently come with a built-in freeze detector. Freeze detectors monitor your home’s temperature and alert you when it falls dangerously low. Cove’s water leak detectors will alert you when your home’s temperature reaches 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Freezing water can cause pipes to burst, and burst pipes lead to floods and water damage. This added feature on a water leak detector means that your home is protected in even more ways.

These water detectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have the same purpose: to increase your peace of mind and make your life easier by minimizing the possibility of flood damage. They are a wise investment for anyone—or at least for anyone whose house has plumbing and running water.

Answer: Water leak detectors have small sensors that detect water. Whenever these sensors come in contact with moisture, the device issues an audible alarm or sends a notification to your alarm panel and phone.

The way that a leak detector works is relatively simple. At the base of each detector are many small water leak sensors designed to detect moisture. When a water leak sensor gets covered with as little as 1/16th of an inch of water, the device triggers an audible alarm emitted from the panel. This alarm can be sounded in a number of ways, including a noisy warning alarm that is intended to get your attention no matter where you are in your house, an alert sent to your security touchscreen panel, or an alert sent to your smartphone via text message or mobile app notification. If you are frequently away from your house, (if you work during the day, for example) having a water leak detector that can send you a push notification is ideal. This way you will not have to be home to know if your leak detector is sounding its alarm.

Once your device's alarm has sounded, you'll know immediately that you need to get to your home's shut off valve so you can turn off the water supply. This fast system of alerting leads to fast action and that fast action leads to minimized water damage. Bonus tip, know where your water shut off valve is, so you can take action quickly if alerted.

Place your water leak detectors on the floor. While they can be installed anywhere in your home, strategic placement near appliances that might leak or burst will make the devices the most effective.

Water leak detectors are typically placed directly on the floor near water appliances so that their sensors can immediately identify water flow. It's smart to position your leak detection devices wherever a plumbing leak or flood could start. Think of places like next to the toilet, on sump pumps, or under a bathroom faucet. Your laundry room and boiler room, near your water heater, under your kitchen sink, and under any exposed pipes in your basement are also excellent places to install a leak detection system.

The number of water leak detectors will depend on your home and the appliances that you have inside of it.

There is no number that is widely referred to as the "best" amount of water leak detectors to have in your home. It is wise, however, to position a water sensor in the places we mentioned above—near any appliance that could cause a leak. The number of at-risk places will differ from home to home, so the decision of how many to use is entirely up to you.

If you’re just getting started with water leak detectors, consider buying a few and installing them around your home in some of the potential leak hotspots such as behind your toilets and under your kitchen sink. You can also call into our office and speak with someone about where the best place to install your leak detectors may be. To start off, we recommend installing water leak detectors near your washing machine, near your water heater, and in your basement, if you have one.

Answer: Buying water leak detectors for your home will minimize potential water damage and save you money.

Perhaps the most obvious reason to invest in a water leak detector is that it can save you money. It will cost you a little to purchase some water leak detectors to put in your home, but the cost of a few small devices is significantly less than what it costs to recover from a flood or a burst pipe. And did you know that standing water can pose just as much of a threat as running water? For this reason, fast-rushing water flows aren't the only type of damage that water leak detectors aim to manage. Worn, leaky pipes pose a different but equally powerful threat to your home. Leaky pipes cause slab leaks, and slab leaks lead to high water bills, flooring damage, and cracks in your home's foundation. These problems quickly compound into a buildup of expensive damage, but with a water leak detector installed, you will know about the problem before it becomes anything serious.

You wouldn't think twice about installing a security alarm system to safeguard your home against intruders, so think of water leak detectors as a security system for your plumbing. Home security is installed as a proactive, preventative measure. It was invented to stop problems like theft from happening, but also to help you in the event that something does happen. You should use technology to detect leaks for the same reason. The best way to protect your home is to take care of or eliminate problems before they even start. Being proactive about protecting your home will save you time and money in the long run.

Answer: Some of the amazing benefits and features that water leak detectors offer are smart technology integration, battery operation, text message and push alerts, flood prevention, easy installation, and minimal required maintenance.

Now that we've gone over what water leak detectors are, how they can help your home, and some of the general reasons that installing leak detectors in your home is recommended, let's dive into some of the specific benefits and features of water leak detectors that make them an invaluable appliance to have in your home. Performing a quick Google search for water leak detectors will show you that there are many styles of water leak detectors from just as many companies. Knowing the features that are important for you to have in a water leak detector will make it easier for you to pick one to purchase. Below are the unique benefits of a Cove water leak detector.

Smart Technology Integration. Smart home technology is an industry that has exploded over the past couple of years. Virtually every device you can purchase to keep your home safe now integrates with smart technology, and water sensors are no different. A smart water sensor can hook up to your home's security hub and if you have one, your home security mobile app. This means that as long as you have your phone with you, it doesn't matter where you are because you'll always be kept in the loop about the status of your home's safety.

Battery Operated. Since our leak detection system is not hard-wired, you can rest assured that it will still function reliably during a power outage. While a good set of batteries will typically last two or more years, chances are that you won't remember to replace them when the time comes unless you are reminded. Since leak detectors are compatible with smart devices, your security touchscreen panel will alert you when it is time for your batteries to be replaced. You can also use rechargeable batteries to power your water leak detector. Reusable batteries save money and help the environment.

Text Message Alerts. This means that you can be in touch with your home no matter where you are. Many people agonize over the state of their homes when they are not there. Did they remember to shut the garage door? Did they unplug their hair straightener before leaving for work? With text message alerts from your water leak detector, you never have to worry about the state of your home because you'll be alerted the second something goes wrong. This feature ensures that you know about a leak the second your leak sensor does— before it has the chance to turn into a serious problem.

A water leak detector that connects to your cell phone is beneficial for anyone, but it is especially beneficial for those who spend a lot of time away from home. Whether you are gone because you work during the day or because you travel a lot, having a device that only emits an audible alarm on your property might not be enough to prevent water damage. If you are away and you don’t hear the alarm, by the time you realize that something is wrong, there is already extensive damage.

Now imagine a situation where your smart water detector can send you a text message or push notification alert when it notices something is wrong. Instead of coming home at lunch and finding a disaster, you can hurry home. You can call your neighbor and ask them to go investigate and turn your water off if things looked bad enough. You would not be caught off guard and left with expensive, preventable water damage.

Flood Prevention

Water damage can mean thousands of dollars you have to spend on repairs and replacements throughout your whole home. Wood floors can become warped and furniture can be completely destroyed by water exposure, not to mention carpets and anything made out of paper will need to be replaced. This damage can take place under your home, too, (like a slab leak) where you can't even see it happening and might not think to investigate. While it is smart to have an emergency fund for events like this, nobody ever wants to spend their hard-earned money on expensive preventable home repairs.

To top off the emotional stress of your belongings getting damaged, flood damage needs to be reported to your insurance company. An employee of the insurance company will want to visit your home so that the cause of the water damage can be determined and you can potentially be reimbursed for some of the damage. That process is hardly ever a quick or an easy one. Installing a water leak detection system will minimize the repercussions of flood damage.

Easy Installation

Leak detectors are self-sufficient tools, and all you'll need to install one is a place to put it and a couple of batteries to power it. You can find information on how to integrate our water leak detectors with your home security panel on this webpage under “How-to add to panel.” This step-by-step guide will walk you through exactly which buttons you need to push to add a water leak detector to your security hub. There is also a video that details all of the information that you will need. If you have any concerns, you can also always chat with a representative on our website or call and ask for help if you need it.

Because installation is so easy, relocation is also easy. If you ever have the need to move your sensor from one place to another, all you have to do is pick it up and move it to its new location.

Low Maintenance

Once you have your leak detectors set up and turned on, you can all but forget about them. They take care of themselves and only require your attention (1) when a sensor comes in contact with water, or (2) once every few years when the leak detector needs new batteries. Life is so busy, and the last thing anyone needs is one more device to worry about. Rather than being one more thing to check up on, these leak detectors take something off of your list of worries. The sensor on each device assumes responsibility for leaks in your home, relieving you of the responsibility of worrying about water leak detection around your house

Flood Sensors are a Preventative Security Measure.

Everyone knows that the best time to prepare for a disaster is before anything goes wrong. One of the best benefits of using a water leak detector is that it acts as a preventative measure against plumbing destruction in your home. This means that these small devices save you money and protect your property without requiring intensive maintenance or attention.

Detects Slab Leaks

A slab leak is a specific type of leak that happens when the pipes within a home’s walls or under a home’s foundation start to leak. Water collects beneath the slab of the home, which leads to damage to your house and belongings over time. While water leak detectors are great for picking up on potential flood risks within your home, slab leaks often require more intense water detection technology. If the slab leak has progressed to the point that it is causing damage inside of your home, a water leak detector will be able to detect the pooling water. If you want to catch a slab leak before it reaches that point, though, you may need a professional to come in and inspect your home since the pipes are underground.

There are a number of steps you can take to perform a sort of self-assessment to check if you may have a slab leak before calling a professional to come take a look.

One of the telltale signs of a slab leak is a sudden spike in your water bill. You may also have a slab leak if your water heater is always (or almost always) on and if your water appliances (like your sink or shower) start to feel less pressurized. Look around your home for leaky appliances or pools of water in your carpet or wood floors and see if you can smell any mildew in those areas.

For a more concrete diagnostic of whether your home has a slab leak, you can do the following: first, shut off all water appliances in your home. Next, find the main water shut off valve and use it to cut off the water supply to your home. Once you have done this, locate your home’s water meter. Since you shut the water to your house off, it should have no reading when you pull the cap off to take a look. If there is activity on your water meter, you have a slab leak and will need to call a plumber for assistance.

The cost of each device and the features that the devices offer are some of the most important things to look at when considering which water leak detector to buy. You want your water leak detector to be affordable, reliable, and discrete. Cove’s water leak detector effectively addresses all these needs.

Price is always a critical consideration when it comes to purchasing new appliances or devices for your home. Whatever you need to buy, you want to make sure you are getting something of good quality without paying an arm and a leg for it. You especially want to make sure that the money you are spending is buying you something of appropriate quality. This principle is no different when it comes to choosing a water leak detector, and it is a deciding factor for many people when it comes to choosing which water leak detector to buy. So how much should one of these devices cost you?

The price range for water leak detectors varies wildly, meaning that it is possible to find a device that fits in just about any budget. On the lower price end, leak detectors can cost you between $20 and $30. On the upper end of the price range devices are sold for as much as $800. These more expensive detectors won’t detect a leak any more effectively than ours. The additional features offered such as water temperature measurement and pressure regulation are neat but unnecessary. Our water leak detectors fall on the lower end of the price scale, without sacrificing quality. We offer you 24/7 flood monitoring at $20 per device, and we have the customer reviews to show that our services are reliable.

With these considerations in mind, deciding on the best water leak detector depends on what features you need and the cost involved.

Our water leak detectors offer many wonderful features, including being pre-programmed, coming at a low cost, being potentially discounted, having a lifetime warranty, having simple installation, offering instant leak detection, offering customizable alerts, being easy to relocate, self-testing, a built-in freeze detector, and it works in a wide range of temperatures.

With so many water leak detectors on the market, what makes ours stand out above the rest? We of course think that our water leak detectors are a great fit for everyone. Let us tell you why:

They Come Ready to be Used

When you purchase a water leak sensor from Cove, it is pre-programmed and ready to be installed when it reaches your home. Our leak sensors monitor your home 24/7 so that you can rest easy knowing that the small devices you installed in your home are keeping watch over appliances that could cause a leak.

They are Inexpensive

Home security can get expensive, and you can spend a lot of money on a water leak detector if you want to. We believe in offering top-notch home security protection without breaking the bank. That is why our water leak detectors are $20 per device. We offer them at this low price so that you can purchase as many as needed.

Discounted Insurance Premium

There are some home insurers that offer premium discounts to you if you have our water leak detectors! If you are interested in learning more about this, contact us or your home insurance provider.

Lifetime Warranty

There is a lifetime warranty available for our water leak detectors. Be sure to ask us about this warranty when you are purchasing your water leak detectors. You can also chat with us on our website or call in with any questions that you might have.

Simple Installation

With our water leak detector, there are no complicated installation requirements. All you have to do to install your device is to find a good location and place it on the ground. Make sure all four gold contacts are facing down, and you are good to go. If you live in a house with children or curious pets, we do recommend trying to find a secluded, out-of-the-way location to place your sensor so that it is not tampered with.

We also made sure to keep the process of adding your water leak detector to your home security panel easy. You can find step-by-step instructions written up on our website along with a short video that will show you everything that you need to know and do to add a leak detector to your system. You can also call us or chat with us on our website if you need additional assistance.

They offer instant leak detection. The moment that one of our water leak detectors comes into contact with water, you will hear about it.

They have customizable alerts. Not only will our water leak detectors let you know the moment they notice pooling water, but you can also decide how you would like to be notified. Your home security devices should work with your lifestyle, so it only makes sense that you should be able to customize your system to your needs. If push notifications work best for you, you can enable that alert method, for example:

They are easy to relocate. If you ever need to relocate your water leak sensor, all you have to do is pick it up and then put it back down wherever you want it to be moved to. Our devices are small (2 1/4 "x 2 1/4" x 1/2"), lightweight (1.0 ounce with the battery in), and inconspicuous.

They self-test every hour. Every 60 minutes, our water leak detectors perform a smart self-test.

They have a freeze sensor. When coupled with freeze sensors, water leak detectors can better detect early warning signs of potential leaks. Our water leak detectors have thermometers that allow each device to monitor the temperature within the room where they are placed. If the temperature drops dangerously low, in this case below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, your device will warn you that your pipes are in danger.

The simple companionship of a water leak detector with a freeze sensor is a beneficial one because if the temperature inside of your home gets too cold, your pipes are in danger of freezing. And since water expands when it freezes, your pipes can crack and break, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to your belongings. Once the water inside warms up and starts flowing again, it will seep through the holes in your compromised pipes.

You can purchase an entirely separate freeze sensor device, or you can couple up your leak detector and your freeze sensor. Either way, having a freeze sensor in your home will provide you with an early warning of the potential for freezing temperatures, minimizing damages.

They work in a wide temperature range. Our water leak detectors operate under the wide temperature range of 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that our devices are prepared to monitor for pooled water in your home within and beyond any reasonable temperature that your home might be in.

Water leak detectors are devices designed to detect leaks as they happen in your home. The water leak sensors located on the bottom of leak detectors will alert you whenever they come in contact with as little as 1/16th of an inch of water. This swift alerting minimizes water damage in your home by ensuring that you know about a potential leak (like a plumbing leak) before it has the chance to become something big and expensive.

Water leak detectors should be placed directly on the ground in areas of your home where there is potential for a pipe to burst or leak. This increases the effectiveness of your device. The amount you spend on a leak detector will depend on the complexity of the device, so while it is possible to spend hundreds of dollars on a leak detector we suggest Cove’s Water Leak Detector which performs exceptionally for $20.