Delta Wi-Fi Leak Detector Sends Phone Alerts to Prevent Flooding
|Delta’s Wi-Fi leak detector alerts users of leaks and potential flooding right through their smartphones. Along with leak detection, this smart device will also send alerts when temperatures exceed the user-designated threshold.
The excessive temperature alerts can be helpful in the winter when pipe freezing may be an issue.
The Delta device allows for hub-free Wi-Fi connectivity. It connects to the network using a mobile phone and the app, which completely eliminates the need to have a smart home hub. The hub-less design also means fewer connectivity issues and an easier set-up. All that’s needed is a set of three AAA batteries to get the unit up and running.
The device can detect leaks in two different ways: pooling water and drips from above. The water detection rings at the bottom of the unit can detect pooling water even if it’s not directly under the source of the leak. Alerts are sent to both the phone and email to ensure that users are aware of the issue.
The unit is small enough to fit underneath or near appliances that are prone to leaking, like sinks, water heaters and sump pumps.
Through the app, users can see a list of the alerts and more information about the detection. Users can also see the unit’s battery life, signal strength and temperature through the free app. The unit itself runs off of three AAA batteries, which last about two years, according to Delta.
Delta’s solution allows homeowners to keep tabs on leaks and potential flooding issues. The simple device allows for leak detection without destruction, but it can’t replace the services of a local plumber. At best, the unit can let you know when there’s a problem so that you can contact a plumber to find the leak and solve the problem.
While helpful, the unit does have its issues. The battery compartment is surprisingly not waterproof. The unit will have to be replaced if a serious leak occurs in the home and the device is completely submerged in water.
If the power goes out, there’s a good chance that the Wi-Fi router will go out, too. That means homeowners will not receive notifications if there’s a leak or flooding in the middle of a bad storm. While it could be helpful in this scenario, it seems the Delta device was designed primarily to catch routine leaks that could otherwise turn into a serious repair if left unchecked.
The Delta unit also does not integrate with other smart-home devices.
Delta’s leak detector unit isn’t the first of its kind. Honeywell offers the Lyric Leak and Freeze Detector; Roost has a Smart Water Leak Detector; and D-Link also has a Water Sensor. All of these smart leak detectors connect to a home’s Wi-Fi, either through a hub or a hub-less design. Some of these other units have waterproof designs that can tolerate more exposure to moisture.
The Honeywell Lyric unit even comes with sensing cables that allow for a much larger detection radius. A unit with a large detection radius may be ideal for a basement.