These Smart Products Will Help You Use Less Water and Prevent Leaks
While most people would idealistically like to use less water at home, it’s difficult to measure how successful you are in your daily life. Of course, your water bill shows your total consumption each month and compares it to previous periods, but the bill doesn’t tell you what that water was used for. How much water is used for showering, irrigation or possible leaks? If we really want to do better in conservation, more specific reporting is key, and there are now tools to help you.
Smart water shut-off valves
Water leaves pipes in two ways: intentionally and due to leaks. Smart valves and sensors will look for these leaks and stop them when they happen by shutting off the water and report to the 1/10th of a gallon where you’ve used the water. There are several variations of this technology: some of the most well-known are the Moen Flo, Phyn, Kohler H2Wise and Flume 2. These devices are professionally installed along the water line near the shut-off valve (Phyn can be installed yourself) and then sync via Wi-Fi with an app on your phone. They report in real time where the water is going, using algorithms to determine the water’s destination: toilet, shower, kitchen, pool, irrigation, etc. A pressure test is performed every night to ensure there are no leaks. If there is a sudden unexpected use of water, the app will contact you so you can approve it or it will turn off the water to prevent leaks or water damage.
First, Flo spends a week studying your water consumption and establishing a baseline for how much water you use and what is typical for your family. I used 500 to 700 gallons per week during peak irrigation season. Hearing this made me realize that I had no idea if that was a good amount or not, which goes to show how out of touch I was with my own water consumption. Once Flo completes the training period, the app will set a goal for you and provide you with updates on how you’re meeting those water goals.
The first few days I was fascinated by the reporting tools on Flo. If the app doesn’t detect your water flow correctly, you can fix it, and over time I found that Flo got better at detecting where my water was going. Once a week, Flo would send me a report on how I was doing, and I could identify a few places where I could cut back on my water use (like turning off the water while hand washing dishes). It was actually helpful to see how much water my dog’s outdoor water mat used. Because the watering was turned off at inopportune times, I also got to experience what it was like when Flo thought there was a water leak. Not only did I receive an email and a text message, but I also received an actual phone call. If I hadn’t responded to either call, Flo would have simply turned the water off and then I could have turned it back on with a button on the physical device or in my app, but I appreciated how hard they worked to alert me. Even though we’re heading into the hottest part of summer, I’ve reduced my water use by about 15%, just by being more aware of where it’s going.
Smart weather watering stations
During the summer, one of the main places where water goes is the yard or pool. Gardens and grass use huge amounts of water, and most people use timers that turn the water on and off at specific times, regardless of the level of humidity in the ground or air and whether the plants actually need all that water. Smart watering stations will fix this by syncing with local weather stations and changing watering based on temperature, humidity and rain. My Hydrawise watering station reports daily how much water has been saved based on local weather conditions, and at the end of the season it’s impressive. These devices are manufactured by several companies, including:
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Hydrawise X2 8 Station Outdoor Irrigation Controller $119.33
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Orbit 57995 B-hyve XR 16-Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller for Indoor/Outdoor Applications $145.49
Water Leak Detectors
Water leak detectors are not new, but smart water leak detectors are. They are located on a flat surface and act as sensors. When they sense water, they can trigger an alarm, turn off a light, or turn on a flashing light—any automation that your other smart devices are capable of. Since water leaks are a leading cause of home damage, it is a good idea to fix the leaks promptly. Placing water sensors under your water heater or sink is a good idea, but also consider placing them near toilets, bathtubs or automatic planters.
Smart Water Leak Detectors:
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Aqara Water Leak Sensor $18.99