Water Leak Week

Not sure why two companies I know, decided to introduce water leark sensors in the middle of summer – but I’m happy to do a quick write-up – as it happens I’ve just recently refitted a hot water tank complete with rather large calcium filter and I’m not 100% sure of my engineering skills so – here goes.

Just about now, Sonoff are releasing their SNZB-05P Zigbee water leak detector and SWV smart water valve – more on those when they arrive.

In the meantime, Switchbot sent me their latest “Switchbot Water Leak Detector. It’s a small unit with integral beeper and self-test button – handy for a quick test after installing.

There are two stainless prongs at the front and two at the back and a text button at the front. Pressing the button gives off a fairly quiet alert, good for probably a couple of metres – I guess that’s intentional.

Sticking a damp finger across either of the stainless pairs lets off a much louder alert which stops immediately the source of moisture is removed. The unit looks substancial and takes a pair of (supplied) AAA batteries. As this is new I can’t comment on battery life as this would be a combination of standby current and what kind of batteries you use. When the battery is low or damp is detected, their APP will put up a low-battery notification and optionally send an email to a destination of your choice.

The manual is interesting, showing examples of places to position the unit, one example being in front of a toilet. Now, I was about to be sarcastic here when I noted that the unit does have a silicone seal around the base which you remove to change batteries.

Good idea – I can think of several local pub men’s toilets which could make use of this – it seems that significant portions of the male population can’t aim. Other examples included under a pipe bend and in the corner of a room on the floor. Switchbot are claiming 2 years battery life without making recommendations as to which brand of battery to use.

The only problem I initially found with all of this was that the unit seemed as if it was going to communicate by Bluetooth as the manual states you need to have a phone with BT4.2 or later. In my building that would be good for maybe 2 rooms between my phone and the unit – I’ve never had a great deal of luck with Bluetooth and range.

But hold on – later in the manual is a reference to the unit connecting to WiFi. Ok, long-press the test button and sure enough – pairing mode…. OK so the Bluetooth was just to get the pairing running. I turned on the Switchbot APP, hit + and immediately the water leak detector signed up and reported safe….OK I could see that being useful.

It is worth noting that unlike the Switchbot thermometer – this device did not show up in my Home Assistant network. There’s also a reference in the manual about using the detector for DRY detection using the “extended probe” inserted in a fishtank. Well, I didn’t get any kind of extended probe in the box!

The unit measure 78mm by 39mm by 32mm.

More when my Sonoff device arrives.