Water is one of our most precious resources, yet many of us take it for granted. With climate change and population growth putting more strain on water supplies, using water wisely has become crucial. Implementing smart water monitoring systems and water-saving devices at home is one of the best ways to conserve water and lower your utility bills.
How Smart Water Monitors Help Save Water
Smart water monitors give you real-time visibility into your home’s water usage. They track how much water is flowing through your pipes and pinpoint leaks, high usage, and other anomalies. This allows you to identify problems early and take corrective action before extensive water damage or losses occur.
Smart water monitors connect to your home’s internet so you can view water usage data and receive alerts on your smartphone or other devices. Many monitors provide a detailed breakdown showing the amount of water used by each fixture or appliance. This makes it easy to spot high usage and identify opportunities to conserve water.
For example, if you notice your shower is using 30 liters of water per minute, you may opt to replace it with a more efficient model that uses only 9 liters per minute. Or you could install a smart showerhead that allows you to set a maximum run time or flow rate.
Some smart monitors can even automatically shut off your water if a serious leak is detected. This prevents thousands of liters of water from being wasted while you’re away from home.
How Do Smart Water Monitors Work?
Smart whole-home water monitors work by tracking water usage throughout your property in real time. There are two main types:
Flow Monitoring
Flow monitoring systems attach to the main water supply line and measure the rate of flow into your home. They can tell how much water is being used at any moment, and log this data over days, weeks, or months.
Abnormal flow rates can indicate leaks or other unseen plumbing issues. Usage will spike if you have a pipe burst somewhere allowing water to spray freely. But flow monitors can also detect smaller leaks that waste water more slowly.
By analyzing your normal usage patterns, the monitor knows approximately how much flow to expect at various times of day. If consumption is unusually high, it sends an alert to your phone and can even shut off water automatically.
Pressure Monitoring
Pressure monitoring systems also attach to your main water line. But instead of directly measuring flow, they monitor water pressure. Opening faucets and flushing toilets causes pressure drops that can be analyzed. Leaks and odd usage patterns affect your home’s water pressure.
Sudden pressure drops or spikes could signify a burst pipe or failing toilet fill valve. Smaller leaks cause more subtle pressure changes. Smart algorithms study your typical pressure range and notify you of variations that may denote trouble.
Both flow and pressure monitoring can achieve excellent results. Flow systems provide more granular, fixture-by-fixture data. But pressure monitoring is easier for DIY installation as it doesn’t require cutting your water line.
Leading Smart Water Monitor Brands
Here are some top brands offering smart water monitoring systems and supporting technologies:
- Phyn – Phyn makes a popular smart water monitor that straps onto your main water line and measures both flow rate and pressure. Their system detects leaks in under a minute and can automatically shut off your water if needed. Phyn monitors tie into an app showing real-time and historical usage data. Optional add-ons include smart water shutoff valves and freeze detection sensors.
- Flume – Flume takes a simpler approach with a wireless smart sensor that straps onto your water meter outside. It transmits usage data to a WiFi-connected bridge inside your home. Their system detects leaks, analyzes usage, integrates with Amazon Alexa, and more.
- Moen – Moen’s Flo system monitors whole home water usage. It can shut off water automatically after detecting a leak or flood. Moen also makes smart faucets, showerheads, and other water-saving fixtures.
- Belkin – Belkin’s Phyn Plus leak detector attaches next to your water meter and monitors flow rate and pressure. It integrates with Belkin’s smart water valve that can shut off water in emergencies.
- Nevi Home – Nevi Home by Emerson offers the Smart Water Monitor which measures flow and pressure to detect leaks and track usage. It connects to Nevi’s hub and app for whole home control.
- D-Link – D-Link’s DCH-S161 is a battery-powered WiFi water leak sensor. It can be placed anywhere and syncs with other D-Link devices to trigger actions when water is detected.
Installing Smart Water Monitors
Complex whole-home monitors like Phyn and Flo require professional installation. The system attaches to your main water supply line, which involves shutting off water and cutting into the pipe. The installer will also ensure proper placement of the monitor and optimize detection accuracy for your home’s plumbing.
Most battery-powered wireless sensors also just stick onto surfaces with adhesive or simply sit on the floor. Install them anywhere that leaks are likely, such as under major appliances and plumbing fixtures.
Smart water appliances, faucets, and irrigation controllers involve traditional installation like you would for any similar device. Consult the included directions or installation videos available online.
Cost of Smart Water Monitoring Systems
The cost for smart water leak detection ranges widely depending on the type and capabilities. The more complex whole-home monitors and professional installation carry higher upfront prices. But they also deliver far greater benefits by giving you visibility into all water usage across your property. Their advanced sensing can detect incredibly small leaks and usage anomalies that basic sensors would miss.
Consider your budget, needs, and capabilities when deciding which smart water monitoring solutions make sense for your home. The investment can pay off many times over through substantial water savings and reduced water damage.
Choosing the Best Smart Water Monitor
With many options on the market, use these criteria to select the right smart water monitoring system:
- Detection accuracy – The best systems detect even tiny leaks in under a minute and have few false alarms. Look for advanced flow and pressure monitoring technology.
- Alerts – The system should send mobile alerts and sound a siren whenever it detects a leak or other event. This allows you to respond immediately to prevent damage.
- Usage tracking – Detailed data on water usage by fixture or appliance helps identify wasteful habits. Advanced systems provide better visibility than basic detectors.
- Automatic shutoff – This key feature stops the flow of water after a major leak is detected, preventing thousands of liters of damage.
- DIY installation – If you want to install the system yourself, look for wireless sensors or a monitor that doesn’t require cutting pipes.
- Remote access & control – Check and adjust settings from your smartphone, no matter where you are. Voice control is also convenient.
- Scalability – Ability to add sensors and extend monitoring to more areas of your home.
Consider a professionally installed, whole-home smart water monitor for comprehensive leak protection and usage insights. Add stand-alone sensors for problem areas like near major appliances. This layered approach provides complete coverage.
Using Smart Water Monitors
The exact capabilities and settings vary by system, but in general smart water monitors are used as follows:
- App setup – Download the system’s app on your smartphone and complete any installation and configuration steps. Connect it to your WiFi network.
- Learning period – The system will monitor normal usage for 1-2 weeks to establish a baseline. Don’t make major plumbing changes during this time.
- Leak monitoring – The system now continuously tracks water usage throughout your home to pinpoint deviations that indicate leaks.
- Usage tracking – View charts and data showing your water consumption by fixture, over time. Identify waste and high-use areas.
- Alerts – Check the app for leak alerts, high usage alerts, freezing temperature warnings, and other notifications. Customize alert thresholds.
- Shut off water – If a major leak is detected, the system can automatically shut off your water supply or allow you to do so remotely via the app.
- Voice control – Use Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri with supported devices to check system status, silence alerts, and more using voice commands.
Implementing a smart home water monitoring system, combined with conscious water saving habits and devices, can significantly reduce your water usage. Conserving water also helps the environment by reducing energy demands, groundwater depletion, waterway pollution, and more. Be proactive about using this precious resource wisely.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general guidance and informational purposes only. Be sure to seek professional advice before purchasing or installing any smart home water system or device.
