Flo by Moen Smart Water Leak Detector with Programmable App and Alarm

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This water detector is easy to use and great for peace of mind. I am using ours to monitor for any leaks near our (older) dishwasher and adjacent refrigerator with water line for ice maker. Setup including installing the app was probably five minutes or less. I did test it with a damp cloth before installing, and it functioned perfectly. The app and notifications are especially nice to have.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I got the Flo Smart Water Detector after having a leak in our bathroom that caused ceiling damage to the floor below. Very expensive to fix. I got the single detector which can be placed anywhere there can be a leak. It gives immediate alerts through the app. The app was easy to set up and even monitors temperature and humidity. A smart water shutoff can also be added. Definitely ordering more detectors!

SUMMARY: A great addition to our smart home system. BACKGROUND: We had a leak in the discharge hose of our dishwasher a couple of years ago which cause damage to our kitchen cabinets and floors. We wanted to get some type of leak alarm within our budget. The chance to evaluate the MOEN Flo Leak Detector looked like just what we wanted. FIT AND FINISH: The unit and sender are suitably made for this type of device. FEATURES: From the Home Depot page, with my comments as appropriate. • Protect your home from water damage, 24/7, with Flo by MOEN Smart Water Detectors. o Continuous monitoring was a big selling feature for us. • These smart water detectors can be placed in your home anywhere moisture could be a problem, such as the basement or laundry room, to provide round-the-clock protection. o I put our sensor behind the built-in dishwasher and placed the transmitter in the cabinet next to the dishwasher. • When water, excess humidity or extreme temperatures are detected, the unit sends an alert via the Flo by MOEN app, sounds an audible alarm or emits a blinking LED light. o The sensor monitors temperature and humidity and you can set low and high alarms for each. It also alarms if it detects water on the sensor. • Combine the detector with the Flo by MOEN Smart Water Shutoff for whole-home protection. o We did not get the water shutoff because the dishwasher leak was only during operation. However, putting the sensors in locations that might leak at any time (under sinks, hot water heaters, basements, etc.) would have definite advantages. • Can be placed in the home wherever there is a risk for potential water damage, such as a flooding basement, washing machine leak, hot water tank failure, etc. • Smart technology helps detect leaks to help reduce the risk of water damage by providing 24/7 monitoring. • Monitors for water leaks and measures the room’s temperature and humidity to help protect against frost and mold risk. o The detector not only monitors temperature and humidity, the app records and saves the information. This can be handy if you have an issue develop that is not immediately noticeable, or for tracking trends in a particular location. • Senses and sends real-time notifications of water events that happen outside of the pipes – like a flooding basement or malfunctioning appliance. o The transmitter beeps, the transmitter lights flash, the app gives an on-phone alert, and you can receive an email. A pretty broad spectrum of notifications. • Includes a detector extension cable with remote sensing disc that can extend up to 48 in., making it perfect for reaching tight spaces. o The remote sensing disc is definitely handy. But 48 inches is too short. I could not place the sensing disk at the back of the dishwasher and the transmitter on the backsplash because the cable is too short. I think a 96 inch cable would make the system much more versatile. • Available in single- or multi-packs, providing the opportunity to achieve home water management at any budget. o We just got the single pack, but have already identified two other places we’d like to monitor. • Offers ability to use and connect multiple detectors within the home for whole home protection • Works independently or in conjunction with the Flo by MOEN smart water shutoff • Battery type: CR123A - 3-Volt lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 2-years INSTALLATION: There are several options for hardware installation. The transmitter can be placed (laid) in a location, but it also snaps into a mounting bracket which can be screwed on or installed with pre-installed mounting tape. Due to the (too short for me) length of the sensing disc I was forced to install the transmitter inside the adjacent cabinet. To avoid an exposed cord, I had to drill a 5/16” hole in the cabinet to run the cable (see pictures.) The software installation is straightforward but was extremely frustrating. The device would not synchronize/pair with the app or my phone. This is not the first time I’ve found “smart” devices that acted dumb. I just kept repeating the process, literally about 20 times, and it suddenly worked. There was a notification a few times that the software was updating, but it said it would take about 15 seconds, there was no visible indication that anything was happening, and after waiting 3-5 minutes I cancelled the installation and started over. This happened repeatedly. A progress bar, or flipping hourglass, or some other indication the update was progressing would have been nice. OPERATION: Once the software is installed and the sensor is connected to your home Wi-Fi you can set high and low alerts for temperature and humidity and configure notifications. After that the device is essentially invisible operating in the background. I did a leak test by placing a SMALL amount of water in a shallow bowl, just barely enough to cover the bottom of the bowl. As soon as I placed the sensing disk into the bowl the transmitter began to beep, and flash and I got a notification on my phone as well as an email (see pictures.) That is exactly what we wanted and expected from such a device. On the downside, the transmitter beeper is too quiet to be heard from inside a cabinet. SUMMARY: The first time this lets us know about a leak it will pay for itself 100 times over. PROS: Good monitoring features. Good notification options. Responsive. Unobtrusive. CONS: Difficult to pair to Wi-Fi network. Sensor cord is too short. Alert is hard to hear from inside a cabinet.

I have a MOEN Flo smart water valve in my home so adding the MOEN Flo Smart Water Leak Detector seems like the thing to do. Let me start by saying that the first detector I received was non functional. Resolving that issue took over a month. I called the Flo support people who promised they would send me a replacement, but it never came. I then contacted MOEN customer service, which had a voicemail message that there would be a 3 hour wait before I could speak to an agent via their call back system. That ended up being 4 hours, the call back came after I'd waited the 3 hours but could not wait any longer. I called the next day and spoke to an agent who referred me to the Flo product support again. They again promised to send a replacement unit that I would get by the end of the week. Well it did arrive but took 2 weeks. Now the good part, the replacement device works perfectly. I already had the APP loaded on my phone and was familiar with it's use. Connecting the detector to WIFI was simple, as was setting it up on the APP. I tested the detector with some water in a cup and it notified me almost instantly. It has an audible alarm but I'm not sure I'd hear it if I were a few rooms away, it is not all that loud. If I have my phone with me than I would hear that notification. There is also an email message. Mounting of the unit is also simple. The installation booklet has ample instructions and images to help with all the steps. The device is battery powered with a CR123A 3V battery, which is rated to last up to 2 years. The detector comes with a wired remote sensor that plugs into the base of the unit when it is wall mounted. I do like this unit and all of its features but I have to say I'm concerned with the customer support. There is definitely room for improvement in that area.

The Moon Flo system looks to be a winner based on my experience with the leak detector. I had looked at the whole house system which would shut the water main if any leak was detected but passed do to an app running my water main via the Internet. So I tired the lead detector and I can say the following. 1. the app is very well designed. 2. the app is simple to setup via your phone . (I tried to use my Mac browser to register but it had to be done via my phone to work.) 3. the leak detector works as advertised. 4. The Internet backend that notifies you via the app and email is instant and works extremely well. I ave mine next to a sump pump in case it fails and since the unit is battery powered it would work well in a power outage but the wifi would most likely be done as well rendering it disabled. Overall I am very happy and I will be looking at the Flo device for my water main.

I guess that MOEN was not satisfied that they have some of the best faucets out there. I have one of their garbage disposals attached to my kitchen sink and now I have their water leak detector on the floor of my utility closet. We have had a number of failed water heaters in our condo building so I am counting on this product to keep me alert. It is very easy to set up and the sensor just sits on the floor between the water heater and the condensation pump under the furnace/ac.

The Flo by Moen Smart Water Detector is a compact device you can place in a high risk area of your home to send a push notification to your phone as well as sound an alarm when water is detected. You must download an app to your phone or smart device and connect the detector to your home wifi. I was able to complete the set up in about 5 minutes and then tested the device by placing it in the bathroom sink and opening the faucet. Within 1-2 seconds an alarm sounded from the device and 1-2 seconds later I received a notification to my iPhone. Per the included documentation, the app is also available from the Google Play Store. Once you've downloaded the app, you have to create an account, which requests some information you may not feel 100% comfortable giving, such as the size and location of your home and your insurance and water providers. I figure you either trust companies like this with this information or live in fear, so I trust them. Obviously this is not a product for someone wanting to live off the grid. I have a similar product I received from my insurance provider and this Moen product requested a little more information, presumably because my data was already available from my insurance company. On the unit itself, you can see from the pictures it is very small an will fit almost anywhere. I placed it to the side of my washing machine. If space is tight, it comes with a wall-mount base and cable that allows it to be mounted a few feet away from the water detection area. Additional cables can be purchased if needed. The alarm itself is loud enough to be heard probably anywhere in my house except behind a closed door. I'd guess it's maybe 1/10th as loud as a smoke alarm. I think it's really relying on your phone notification, which you can control. Overall so far I'm pretty happy with it. You can add several units to your account and have them placed in other high-risk areas in your home, or even set up additional sites like vacation or rental properties and have them controlled together.

The item arrived in the mail well packed and undamaged during shipping. There is a defect inside the device however. The battery was put inside incorrectly and the tab that helps hold the battery in place is bent. As is the positive battery terminal. The sensor still works; the battery is just not as stable as it should be (see pics.) Another device that needs an app. The app was easy to download. Fairly straightforward too. I tested the sensitivity of the sensor and it works well. It notifies with sound and a message to your phone. I like that it has multiple options for install. Wall mount with included hardware, a 3M sticker, or place the entire sensor itself in the spot if your choice. It has a remote wired sensor designed to be used in hard to reach places. Overall a nicely designed device. The interface with the app is easy. I recommend the FLO by Moen, but give it three stars because of the interior defect.

Simple to install and provides easy peace of mind. The sensor was easy to get set up on the app and only took a minute or two to get the sensor connected to my home wifi. My water heater is basement and I never go down there to check it for leaks. This provides the comfort everything is doing well. If the sensor detects water it sends an alert to both the app and an email as well. I also find it interesting how it tracks the temperature and humidity and shows trends overtime.

The Flo by Moen smart water detector is a great item to have. Water leaks and busted pipes and hoses have caused so much damage that we try our best to take preventative steps such as the stailess steel braided hoses for the washing machine, dishwasher and refrigerator. But what about the water heater? That is where I feel this item is a great addition. Simple to install with plug-in sensors and clear instructions made installation a breeze.