There’s a variety of smart water valves available to consumers. Smart water valves are installed at key points in the home’s water pipe system and can remotely block the pipe to shut off the water supply if they detect a serious leak. Some smart valves can also provide you with detailed information about your home’s water pressure, flow, average water usage and other statistics.
The best overall smart water shutoff valve is the Flo by Moen. However, the YoLink leak detection starter kit and the Phyn Plus smart assistant are both great choices as well.
Whether you’re a homeowner looking for ways to save on your water bill, a smart home enthusiast, or a building manager who wants to monitor leaks, these smart water valves are worth looking into.
Best WiFi Water Shutoff Valve – Flo by Moen
The Flo smart water monitor and shutoff by Moen is one of the overall best inline WiFi water valves on the market. The Flo is an all-in-one leak sensor and smart shutoff device. Once it is installed, the water valve connects to the Flo app and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Flo’s MicroLeak technology uses water pressure readings to analyze the home’s water usage in detail and can detect very minor leaks, as small as one drop per minute.
What I like
- The Flo app provides clear and detailed feedback and advanced statistics like daily average use, changes in use patterns and water use history.
- The Flo collects data on a variety of metrics like possible leaks, pressure level, and potential for freezing.
- Push notifications can notify you about a leak from anywhere using the mobile app or a desktop computer.
- Flo can automatically shut off the water if it detects a severe leak, saving users time and money.
What I don’t like
- Although it promises 24/7 protection, Flo requires a standard AC/DC power outlet and needs WiFi to connect to the app, so it won’t work in a power outage unless you attach a backup power unit.
- Installing the unit on the main water line is challenging and it’s strongly recommended that customers use a professional. However, Flo customer support does provide lists of qualified plumbers to make this easier.
- Technically, the Flo water valve can be installed anywhere before the water line starts branching to different fixtures. Most professionals recommend installation on the main line near the shutoff valve and before the water heater. This can lead to technical issues if the main line is outdoors or underground, far away from the home’s WiFi signal.
Verdict
Flo is expensive, but stays within the same price range as other high-end smart water valves.
And it has a dynamic, user-friendly app for monitoring water usage in the home. If you don’t mind using professional plumbers to get the best possible monitoring and shutoff capabilities, the Flo by Moen is a great choice for integrating water monitoring and shutoff into your smart home.
Best Mid-Range Budget Water Shutoff Valve – Phyn Plus
The Phyn Plus smart water assistant and shutoff valve is another great inline smart valve. Like Flo, Phyn Plus is an all-in-one leak sensor and remote shutoff valve. It closely monitors the water pressure in the home for changes or leaks, checking up to 240 times per second. Phyn Plus updates users through the free Phyn Plus app, and can be connected to Amazon Alexa.
What I like
- The Phyn Plus app is clear and easy to use and gives feedback on various water use metrics
- Phyn Plus can automatically shut off the home’s water if it detects a serious leak.
- The sturdy Phyn Plus unit can be installed indoors or outside.
What I don’t like
- Like other inline smart water valves, the Phyn Plus requires a professional plumber to install.
- Phyn Plus requires a WiFi signal and a standard AC/DC power outlet within 15 feet of the installation site. This might limit installation locations, and more importantly means it will not function in a power outage.
Verdict
Like the Flo, Phyn Plus is a sturdy smart inline valve with plenty of data collection tools and smart home integration. It can monitor water usage in detail and if needed shut the water supply off automatically. On top of this, Phyn Plus is less expensive than the Flo, and performs more reliably when placed outside.
Best Add-On Water Shutoff Valve – YoLink Starter Kit
The YoLink automatic water leak detection and shutoff starter kit is a great budget option for remote leak control. Rather than a single all-in-one device, this kit by YoLink comes with one smart water shutoff valve controller, three leak sensors, and one YoLink smart hub. Once the leak sensors and valve controller are connected through the smart hub, you can control the system with the YoLink mobile app.
The YoLink app and leak detection system can be integrated with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT. The Yolink hub also has a microphone for voice commands.
What I like
- The YoLink smart hub is compatible with other YoLink smart products like locks, security systems and lights, giving you the ability to centrally control many smart home functions with a single hub or app.
- The YoLink smart hub advertises a quarter-mile open air range, making it easy to connect leak sensors and shutoff valves in different areas of the home.
- The YoLink system has direct device-to-device pairing and uses AA batteries. This means that it can still detect leaks and shut off water in a power outage or without WiFi.
- Since it is an add-on water monitor, you can easily install the YoLink device yourself without help from a plumber. However, the water line in your home needs to have a quarter turn ball valve in order to install this.
What I don’t like
- The kit only comes with a single add-on water shutoff device which needs to be attached to a quarter turn ball valve.
- Since it uses an add-on valve controller and not inline monitoring, the system cannot collect other data about water usage, pressure changes and micro-leaks. It can only detect serious leaks which occur near one of the remote leak sensors and, if necessary, shut the water off automatically.
Verdict
The YoLink starter kit is a great package deal that offers remote smart home control, leak detection and automatic shutoff. What it lacks in data collection, it arguably makes up for in functionality and reduced cost. If you don’t mind losing the more advanced water usage metrics, the YoLink is a good choice for smart water valve control.
Best Smart Water Monitor – Flume 2
The Flume 2 smart home water monitor is one of the best devices for tracking your home’s water use remotely. The Flume 2 is attached to the home’s water meter and once calibrated, it sends detailed information about water use to the Flume mobile app.
However, Flume is only a monitor. It cannot automatically turn off the water if it detects a leak.
What I like
- The Flume 2 uses sensors to detect water flow and usage from outside the pipe. To install it, all you have to do is strap it to the exterior of the meter on the main water line. No cutting or fitting onto pipes is required.
- The device runs exclusively on battery so you don’t need to worry about it shutting off if there’s a power outage.
- The information it collects is extremely granular and designed to save customers money on their monthly water bill. It breaks home water use down by week, day, hour and minute. It can show gallons of water used per minute. And it shows water used by each individual appliance like sinks, toilets and showers.
What I don’t like
- Flume 2 is only a water use monitor not a valve, so it can’t automatically shut your home’s water off if there’s a leak.
- The Flume 2 is only compatible with certain water meters. The list of compatible water meters can be found here: https://help.flumewater.com/en/articles/1618594-is-the-flume-device-compatible-with-all-water-meters?_ga=2.55843235.903941857.1669667006-557238453.1669667006
Verdict
The Flume 2 is a great option if you want to cut down on excessive water usage or check for minor leaks that are costing you money on your monthly bill like dripping faucets and running toilets. The Flume app can give you great in-depth information about specific appliances, irregular use patterns or other issues. However, the device can only provide data. It can’t shut the water off automatically.
Best Wholesale Option – LeakSmart Leak Detection Starter Kit
The LeakSmart leak detection starter kit is a great option for wholesale smart water valves. The starter kit comes with one inline shutoff valve, one leak sensor, and one smart hub. Once the devices are connected, they can be controlled through the smart hub, the LeakSmart mobile app, or integrated with other smart home systems Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, and Wink.
What I like
- The LeakSmart system uses direct pairing through the smart hub instead of Wifi and all devices have battery backups. This means it can still function in the event of a power outage.
- The LeakSmart app lets you turn the home’s water supply on or off remotely.
- One LeakSmart hub can receive information from up to 32 leak sensors.
What I don’t like
- The LeakSmart water valve is an inline valve so it’s strongly recommended that you use a professional plumber to install it.
- Despite being inline, the device doesn’t collect data on water usage, flow or pressure. It only shuts off automatically if one of the smart leak sensors detects a leak.
- Reviews mention unhelpful customer service and difficulties with the LeakSmart software accidentally shutting off water or failing to notice leaks.
Verdict
The LeakSmart system is expensive, and doesn’t have the advanced data metrics of other inline water valves like Flo. Perhaps the main selling points of the LeakSmart system are that its simplicity, the power backups and wholesale discount makes it great for large homes or property managers who want to monitor leaks in a multi-story building.
Buying Guide
Smart Home Integration
Of course one of the key factors when comparing leak monitoring and remote shutoff systems is smart integration. All of the systems on this list include some remote function and monitoring through their own unique mobile apps.
The YoLink valve can be connected with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT and also boasts its own network of smart devices like lights and motion detection cameras. LeakSmart works with Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, and Wink. The Flo valve can be connected to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant while Phyn Plus only works with Alexa.
It’s not clear what smart home systems or shutoff valves Flume 2 works with. This is unfortunate, since Flume 2 has some of the best overall data collection.
Data Collection
The Flo and Phyn Plus have great data collection tools and easily digestible displays on their apps. The Flume 2 has perhaps the most detailed water usage information, since the device was designed for saving customers money on their water bill.
YoLink is an add-on valve and therefore can’t tap into information about drops in pressure or possible leaks. LeakSmart also doesn’t gather any data about home water usage. Since it is an expensive inline water valve, this feels like a missed opportunity for extra value.
Installation
The Flo and Phyn Plus are both all-in-one smart water valves. However, as inline valves they require a professional plumber and are expensive to install. The LeakSmart water shutoff is also an inline valve. It comes with remote leak sensors that are installed around the home.
The YoLink water valve is an add-on that sits on top of the water shutoff valve. You can easily install it yourself with a screwdriver. The YoLink system also comes with three remote leak sensors that you can install around the home for more leak protection.
The Flume 2 has the easiest installation of any product on this list. Since it can gather water usage data remotely, all you need to do is attach it to the exterior water meter using the provided adjustable strap.
WiFi and Power Usage
Another critical feature for smart water valves is whether they can continue to operate in the event of a power outage. The Flo and Phyn both need a continuous WiFi signal and power outlet to function, so neither will work in an outage.
The YoLink system uses batteries and a smart hub with its own separate signal instead of WiFi, meaning it can still work during a power outage. The LeakSmart system uses outlet power but has battery backups and connects without WiFi, so it will also continue working in a power outage. The Flume 2 is exclusively powered by a lithium battery that claims to last several years. However, the Flume 2 has no shutoff valve on its own, so its up to you to connect it with a water shutoff unit that can survive an outage.
Final Thoughts
The YoLink system is a great starter kit for smart home water control. It’s relatively cheap, can easily be installed without a plumber, and works in the event of a power outage.
If you’re willing to pay a bit more, the Phyn Plus is a great mid-range smart water valve. It’s an inline valve that needs an expensive professional installation, but in exchange it has plenty of options for remote water monitoring and shutoff.
The Flo by Moen is the best choice for high-end smart water monitoring and shutoff. The Flo is expensive, and this is without factoring in the cost of professional installation. But the initial cost should be balanced against features like reliable leak monitoring, water usage tracking and extensive smart home integration.
The Flume 2 is a fantastic and affordable tool for monitoring your home’s water usage. Sadly it’s only a monitor not a valve controller and can’t automatically shut the water supply off to prevent flooding or water damage. The main purpose of the Flume system is saving customers money by identifying minor leaks and wasteful water habits.
The LeakSmart system is only really recommended if you’re interested in wholesale purchase. LeakSmart is expensive, requires inline installation and the only function it can perform is automatic shutoff.
