As a smart home enthusiast who recently purchased a condo that I knew had previously had water intrusion issues, another incident was always something I was concerned about. Then it happened ... I have water damage to a rug, some discoloration on the floor, but otherwise, no evidence of when it happened - just that it occurred when I was away. This is very frustrating since had it been worse, I may not have been able to recover before it caused serious damage. My solution was to invest in the Govee Leak Detector 2 that I'm writing about today. This system has multiple sensors that I can place around the home and when it detects water ... it alerts me via my smart home network.
While that won't stop the leak, I can at least have a neighbor come over and check things out so that I can avoid having a small inconvenience turn into a major problem!
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The Govee Leak Detector 2 is an essential investment for any homeowner who wants to protect their property from water damage, but it's particularly valuable for those who travel frequently, own multiple properties, or have experienced water damage in the past.
- Peace of Mind While Away: Whether you're on vacation or managing multiple properties, the real-time alerts and quarter-mile range ensure you'll know about water issues immediately, allowing you to take action before minor leaks become major disasters.
- Smart Home Integration That Makes Sense: Unlike many smart home gadgets that just add convenience, this device serves a crucial protective function while integrating seamlessly with Alexa and other smart home systems through the GoveeHome app.
- Low Maintenance, High Protection: With a two-year battery life and IP66 waterproof rating, you can install these sensors in vulnerable areas and trust them to work reliably without constant maintenance or battery changes.
- Expandable System That Grows With Your Needs: Starting with just a few sensors in critical areas, you can expand up to 100 sensors over time, making it a scalable solution whether you're in a condo or managing a large property.
How It Works
The sensors use a simple but effective design with 2 probes on top and 4 probes on the bottom that detect water through electrical conductivity - when water touches multiple probes, it completes a circuit that triggers the alarm. Once triggered, the sensor uses "LoRa wireless technology" to communicate with the hub up to a quarter mile away, which then sends notifications through your home's WiFi to your phone via the app or email.
Honestly, I'm not sure who's home would ever have sensors that far away, but perhaps this is designed so that you could have the hub in your home with sensors placed in your boat house or pool cabana. Either way, for my < 1,000 sq ft condo, this feature was overkill, but it's nice to know that I wouldn't have issues placing the hub in my office and still have the ability to reach anywhere in the home.
The system's setup is straightforward, with sensors that use a clever probe design to detect water presence. During my testing, the sensors responded quickly to water contact, instantly sending notifications through the connected app. For someone who isn't always on-site, this feature is invaluable, allowing me to coordinate with neighbors or friends before a small leak becomes a major problem.
Smart Home Integration That Makes Sense
What sets this detector apart is its integration into the broader smart home ecosystem. With Google and Alexa compatibility connected to the GoveeHome app, it fits seamlessly into my existing smart home setup. Compared to some other smart home tech that I've reviewed, this one is pretty simple and since I'm using other Govee devices such as a fridge and freezer monitor, it's nice to have everything all in one spot.
Design wise, the sensors feature an IP66 waterproof rating to ensure they can handle the environments they're meant to monitor, while the 100dB alarm provides local alerting for anyone present. Battery life is rated at an impressive two years under normal use, meaning you won't need to regularly maintain these devices once installed.
I also like the fact that you can label them 1, 2, 3 etc. so that you don't have to remember what serial number unit is placed where. This makes it really easy to simply remember that sensor 1 is in the kitchen by the dishwasher while 4 is under the window.
Strategic Placement Is Key To Success
While I'm sure it would work if you had a major flood - at least until submerged - that's not the use case that I'm focused on here. When purchasing these you can buy them in a few different packs - for instance a 1 gateway + 4 sensors or 6. Ininitially was I was thinking just two would suffice since I was concerned about my bathroom area by the sink and toilet as well as the front window where they had water issues in the past.
I ended up selecting the six pack though because as I thought about it ... there's a lot of places where water could come from!
Here are some key areas where the Govee Leak Detector 2 can provide crucial early warning:
- Around Water Heaters: These appliances can leak slowly over time, potentially causing extensive damage to floors and walls before visible signs appear.
- Near Dishwashers and Washing Machines: These high-use appliances have multiple potential failure points, from supply lines to drain connections.
- Beneath Bathroom Fixtures: Toilets, sinks, and bathtubs can develop subtle leaks that might go unnoticed until significant damage occurs.
- Along Exterior Walls: Weather penetration or condensation can lead to moisture accumulation, particularly in regions with severe weather.
- Near HVAC Units: Condensation lines and drain pans can overflow, potentially damaging flooring and surrounding structures.
- Below Windows: Water infiltration during storms can lead to hidden damage and mold growth.
- Around Foundation Areas: Early detection of water intrusion can prevent serious structural issues and expensive repairs.
- Under Sinks: Both kitchen and bathroom sinks are prone to plumbing leaks that can damage cabinets and flooring.
For condo owners and homeowners alike, the Govee Leak Detector 2 fills a crucial gap in home protection. While we hope to never need it, the peace of mind it provides is well worth the investment, especially for those who can't always be present to monitor their property personally.
The ability to expand the system with up to 100 sensors means you can start with critical areas and expand coverage as needed, making it a scalable solution for properties of any size. For the tech-savvy dad or homeowner looking to protect their investment, this smart water detection system is a valuable addition to any connected home setup.
