Few things compare to the feeling of seeing standing water in your home, feeling water soak into your socks as you step on a soggy carpet or seeing a growing water stain on the ceiling. The bad news is every one of these signs means you will be spending a lot of money you probably hadn’t planned on spending. The good news is there is technology that can alert you to a leak in your home and shut off your water before any major damage is done. By investing in a leak detection system, you could be saving yourself thousands of dollars.
Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff System
Moen is a proven and trusted brand when it comes to plumbing so it is no surprise they have developed their own leak detection and shutoff system. Flo by Moen consists of a small box containing a monitor and a shutoff valve, that attaches to the main water supply line of your home. Because it is installed on the mainline this allows it to monitor all the water that goes into your home and protect you from leaks, burst pipes and more.
There are three sensors that monitor temperature, pressure and water flow. When the monitor detects a change in one of these it will send you an alert on your phone. In the case of a major change, you will receive an alert and the water to your house will be automatically shutoff. In addition to 24/7 monitoring, the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff system runs a check on your whole house at night to check for small leaks anywhere in the home. It can sense leaks as small as a drop per minute which normally would go unnoticed until the damage is done.
The basic free Flo app allows you to monitor your water usage, leak notices, and provides you with the ability to remotely shutoff your water for any reason. Moen does offer a subscription that allows you to access further information such as water usage by fixture type. While the Flo detection system offer’s a 24 hour window into your homes plumbing, when there is a problem, it is not able to pinpoint where the leak is coming from.
Phyn Plus Whole Home Leak Detection System
As a relatively new company, founded in 2016, Phyn has made a name for itself by focusing on water conservation and technology. Their leak detection system is on its second generation and garnering great reviews. Similar to the Moen system, the Phyn Plus system is installed on your homes main water line and measures water pressure changes and alerts you to those changes. The system automatically shuts off the water to your home in the event of a major change such as a burst pipe.
Phyn boasts their system measures microscopic changes in high definition, 240 times every second. This allows the system to know the unique signature of each fixture in your home. So when you run a faucet, it knows it’s a faucet. And if that faucet leaks, Phyn plus lets you know. For those cold winter months, Phyn Plus can sense the increasing pressure brought on as pipes begin to freeze. The app sends out an alert giving you time to warm up the pipes before they freeze and burst.
The app allows you a full view of your homes water usage, including the flow from each fixture. It also allows you to turn the water off remotely if needed. There are other system’s that Phyn offers such as the Phyn Smart Water Assistant. This system offers the benefits of the Pro but doesn’t have the option of remote or automatic shut off. It installs under the kitchen sink and continually monitors everything the Pro system does and sends out notifications to your phone through the app.
Both Moen and the Phyn make water sensors that can work in conjunction with their whole house systems. These sensors attach to a surface where leaks are likely and send an immediate notification to your phone if it detects moisture. Both sensors have optional cords that attach that can be run into tight spaces. The entire surface of the cord is able to detect water, extending the area you are able to monitor. These sensors can be used on their own but without the option of turning off your water remotely, a leak could cause damage by the time you are able to get home and turn off the main line to your home.
Installing Your Leak Detection System
While both systems state on their websites that they can be installed by the homeowner, there are several requirements and fittings needed to ensure a proper installation. Instead of making numerous trips to the hardware store and risking having your water shut off for hours or even days if something goes wrong, trust Leak Geeks to install your system for you. We will make the process easy by supplying the all the parts and fittings needed.
Our technicians have been trained on both Moen and Phyn and are able to help answer your questions if you are trying to choose the best option for you. Leak Geeks can install your system so that it is done right the first time. Call us with your questions or to schedule your leak detection system installation.
