Fibaro's HomeKit-Connected Flood Sensor Notifies You When Leaks Are Detected

[MacRumors]

Fibaro has been making smart home devices and HomeKit-compatible products for a few years now, and the company has several sensors that work with HomeKit, including the Flood Sensor.

The Flood Sensor, along with the Button that we reviewed last year, are the two Fibaro branded HomeKit accessories available for purchase from Apple.

Fibaro's Flood Sensor is designed to detect water, which sounds super basic, but it's something that has the potential to save you a lot of money because if you've ever had a flood or a water leak, you know the kind of damage that water can cause to your home.

Design

When I saw the Fibaro Flood Sensor online it looked like a rather sizable device, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's actually small, unobtrusive, and able to go anywhere.

The Flood Sensor, made from a white plastic material, fits in the palm of my hand. It's round in shape with three corrosion resistant gold feet at the bottom that are designed to detect liquid. The feet are retractable at the ends which makes sure the sensor's feet are in contact with the ground even if the surface is a bit uneven.

"Flood Sensor" is written on one side of the device, and there's a Fibaro logo at the top. Inside the Fibaro Flood Sensor, there's a CR123A battery, which can be accessed by twisting the top of the cover counter-clockwise. This is also where the serial number is located.

You can put the Flood Sensor just about anywhere it will fit. It's just about an inch thick at its widest point, so you can tuck it into some tight spots. I have it located underneath a shelf in my living room, a spot where rain water has come in during heavy rains when the gutters outside of my apartment get full.

The feet on the Flood Sensor are small enough that it can detect even a small amount of water right away, which is useful for catching a leak before it gets too bad. If there is a lot of water though, it does float.


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Article Link: Fibaro's HomeKit-Connected Flood Sensor Notifies You When Leaks Are Detected

 

[mrow]

Jesus Christ. $70 dollars?

I have one from Samsung connected to my SmartThings hub that cost $20 and it has sensors on the top and bottom of it so you can use it as a drip sensor as well. It’s also about half the size of this massive thing.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Jesus Christ. $70 dollars?

I have one from Samsung connected to my SmartThings hub that cost $20 and it has sensors on the top and bottom of it so you can use it as a drip sensor as well. It’s also about half the size of this massive thing.

$70 is a small price to pay when you consider this device will alert you to a flood or leak early enough that you can possibly avoid $7000 or $70,000 in repair/replacement costs.

 

[Kevin2055]

I need it under each faucet so $70 X 5

$70 is a small price to pay when you consider this device will alert you to a flood or leak early enough that you can possibly avoid $7000 or $70,000 in repair/replacement costs.

 

[dewalt]

$70 is a small price to pay when you consider this device will alert you to a flood or leak early enough that you can possibly avoid $7000 or $70,000 in repair/replacement costs.

No, it's a large price to pay if you want to scale this. Besides, a leak sensor on its own only does so much. Use the savings by going with Smartthings and combining with a water valve actuator to actually shut your water off when a leak occurs.

 

[QuarterSwede]

$70 is insane for what this does. Everything HomeKit seems to be 2x as expensive as non-HomeKit compatible devices. How much is Apple charging for HomeKit licensing?

 

[Peepo]

I have zwave and Insteon leak sensors controlled by isy994i. When they detect a leak, a program shuts off the water main which is done by a watercop z. I paid around $100 CAD for the watercop z and installed myself on the main after the physical shutoff inside house.

The critical leak sensor is my septic lift pump in basement - is that fails it is not nice. Shutting off the water main prevents damage and I think it should be a part of any leak detection system. Usually leaks happen when you are not around and it is important to shut off water to prevent further damage.

 

[dewalt]

I have zwave and Insteon leak sensors controlled by isy994i. When they detect a leak, a program shuts off the water main which is done by a watercop z. I paid around $100 CAD for the watercop z and installed myself on the main after the physical shutoff inside house.

The critical leak sensor is my septic lift pump in basement - is that fails it is not nice. Shutting off the water main prevents damage and I think it should be a part of any leak detection system. Usually leaks happen when you are not around and it is important to shut off water to prevent further damage.

THIS

If you only have a leak detection system, it's akin to having a security system that doesnt call the cops but just makes noise.

 

[err404]

$70 is a small price to pay when you consider this device will alert you to a flood or leak early enough that you can possibly avoid $7000 or $70,000 in repair/replacement costs.

Most home owners insurance will cover that. I think of this more in terms of savings in the hassle of the repairs. At a minimum I want one for my basement, but these do seem over priced just to add HomeKit. This isn’t home automation. I’m fine with an email or even sms.

 

[JustaTecho]

I don't like the price, but i can live with it, if it works. However what i can't live with is the horrible reviews of the device. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, but this doesn't appear to be in that category...

 

[kcslc]

Jesus Christ. $70 dollars?

I have one from Samsung connected to my SmartThings hub that cost $20 and it has sensors on the top and bottom of it so you can use it as a drip sensor as well. It’s also about half the size of this massive thing.

Which one do you have? How well does it work, and do you like it? I've been in the market for one, and would prefer one that is Z-Wave or Zigbee over Homekit because of my eventually transition to Android.

 

[dewalt]

Which one do you have? How well does it work, and do you like it? I've been in the market for one, and would prefer one that is Z-Wave or Zigbee over Homekit because of my eventually transition to Android.

The Samsung SmartThings sensors are zigbee based. But if you get a SmartThings hub, it will do both. Dont forget about an actuator to turn your water off.

I've tested mine, and the water will shut off entirely within 5 seconds of the sensor tripping.

 

[xero9]

Jesus Christ. $70 dollars?

I have one from Samsung connected to my SmartThings hub that cost $20 and it has sensors on the top and bottom of it so you can use it as a drip sensor as well. It’s also about half the size of this massive thing.

I honestly wish the SmartThings hub had HomeKit integration, but sadly it doesn't.

 

[Tivoli_]

Can it predict the flood before it occurs? I need something like an early warning system.

 

[JustaTecho]

Can it predict the flood before it occurs? I need something like an early warning system.

You mean like this?
It doesn't have sensors the way Fibaro does, but it detects abnormalities via pressure... or so it claims.
https://meetflo.com/

 

[jlc1978]

No, it's a large price to pay if you want to scale this. Besides, a leak sensor on its own only does so much. Use the savings by going with Smartthings and combining with a water valve actuator to actually shut your water off when a leak occurs.

This I have a setup with remote sensors at potential leak sites that will automatically shut off the water if a leak is detected. A bonus is it also has a switch so I can shut off water if I need to to work on something or detect a leak elsewhere.

 

[Pongo5295]

No, it's a large price to pay if you want to scale this. Besides, a leak sensor on its own only does so much. Use the savings by going with Smartthings and combining with a water valve actuator to actually shut your water off when a leak occurs.

[doublepost=1552607464][/doublepost]What kind of water valve actuator do you have?

Thank you...

 

[jlc1978]

[doublepost=1552607464][/doublepost]What kind of water valve actuator do you have?

Thank you...

I have a Watercop unit. Easy install and reasonably priced.

 

[dewalt]

[doublepost=1552607464][/doublepost]What kind of water valve actuator do you have?

Thank you...

I have a Dome water valve. It's z-wave based, and fits on top of any ball valve.

 

[freezah]

Proud that Polish company is doing so well I smart things market !

 

[anselltoskas]

I don't like the price, but i can live with it, if it works. However what i can't live with is the horrible reviews of the device. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, but this doesn't appear to be in that category...

While I know the price seems pretty high, I can say it works perfectly for me! It has alerted me to water twice, including yesterday when a particularly odd winter here in Minneapolis caused a giant snow melt puddle caused water to start coming in through a window well. Would have been really bad if I hadn't gotten the alert.

I know home insurance covers water damage, but you are still suck with the $500-2000 deductible and the jacked up premiums you are probably to pay after fling a claim. (Also the hassle)

 

[macgenius34]

WOW. . . .the price and functionality are not what I was expecting. Having recently dealt with a leak that was actually a sprinkler and bad valve I was excited to read this article and then disappointed. I was hoping for a device that would connect to your water meter that would track water usage and then let you know that there was water running all day everyday. I guess that this product has it's usefulness if you are prone to flooding however at $70 per location it may be cheaper to secure the house and prevent the problem in the first place!!

 

[mrow]

I honestly wish the SmartThings hub had HomeKit integration, but sadly it doesn't.

Get a Raspberry Pi and set up Homebridge on it. I get the best of both worlds. I get the greatly expanded device access from SmartThings along with HomeKit integration.

HomeBridge can do lots of other cool HomeKit related stuff. Check it out, it’s seriously awesome.

I have thought about ditching SmartThings and all of the related equipment and getting one of these. It’s Xiaomi’s Zigbee based Aqara hub. However it has official HomeKit integration.

https://m.gearbest.com/access-control/pp_009984932110.html?wid=1527929

[doublepost=1552787415][/doublepost]

$70 is a small price to pay when you consider this device will alert you to a flood or leak early enough that you can possibly avoid $7000 or $70,000 in repair/replacement costs.

Did you miss the second half of my post? My complaint was this thing is three and a half times the price of competing products. That is always the case with Fibaro products, even in the SmartThings world.

 

[GIZBUG]

The range on this unit is horrible! I have it on the basement floor next to my sump pumps. Directly above it on my main floor is an Apple TV. I also have 2 home pods throughout the house. If I am on my main floor, or upstairs, and I open my HOME app on my iPhone, shows not connected. Also shows connection failure using the Fibaro app. So what good is this unit if I can not get a reading or alert??