With the Eve Water Guard ($ 79.95), you'll get an early warning on your iPhone or iPad when even the smallest bit of humidity is detected where it shouldn't be in your home, giving you an opportunity to solve the problem before the repair costs. explode. The sensor is installed within minutes and works with other smart devices that are part of the Apple HomeKit ecosystem, but does not work on Android devices or support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands and does not support integrations using IFTTT applets. If you are an Android user, you may want to check out the $ 50 DCH-DCH-S161 Wi-Fi Water Sensor, but if you want full water leak protection, the Flo by Moen Water Shutoff system is the best bet, though expensive. .

Design and features

The Water Guard consists of a white square sensor unit that measures 2.6 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches (HWD). It has an LED ring that flashes red when it detects water and uses a 6.5 meter sensor cable that connects to the sensor unit. The entire cable acts as a water sensor, so if part of it comes in contact with water, it will trigger a push alert and activate a 100dB siren. If you need to cover large areas, such as basements and laundry rooms, you can add an optional 6.5-meter extension cable for $ 19.95. Inside the box are four international power adapters, the sensor, the cable and a quick start guide.

As with other Eve smart devices, Water Guard only works on the Apple HomeKit platform. Requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS 13.3 or later and uses a Bluetooth radio to connect to your Apple mobile device. However, it is not equipped with a Wi-Fi radio and therefore requires an Apple TV or HomePod to act as a hub for remote access and to work with other HomeKit and Eve devices. Unlike the D-Link DCH-S161, Water Guard does not support IFTTT applets to allow it to interact with other smart devices, such as thermostats, fans, and smart plugs, and it lacks the temperature and humidity sensors you get. with Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water leak and frost detector. It also does not support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

Water Guard uses the same mobile app as other Eve devices and is also added to the Apple Home app. The Eve application opens in a Home (home) screen that contains cards for all HomeKit devices installed. Each tile displays the name of the device and its status. If the Water Guard is dry, the tile will display the word Safe in green, and if water has been detected, it will show Alert in red.

Touch the Rooms button at the bottom of the screen to see a list of devices by room or type, and then tap the Water Guard tab to see the current status, test the alarm, and view a list of all date and time events. . Tap the Automation button to create scenes that will control multiple devices with a single tap and create rules that allow Water Guard to trigger other HomeKit devices.

The Settings button takes you to a screen where you edit your home and room names, add new devices, and invite other users to access HomeKit devices.

Installation and performance

Water Guard installation is very easy. I connected the sensor to an AC outlet, connected the cable, and downloaded the Eve application. I hit Add Accessory in the Settings menu and used my phone's camera to scan the HomeKit code on the back of the Quick Start Guide (it's also printed at the bottom of the sensor). The application took a few seconds to connect to the sensor and add it to my HomeKit home, and the installation was complete.

The water guard worked as promised. When the cable came into contact with even a small puddle of water, the siren sounded and was loud enough to hear throughout my house. Push alerts arrived immediately. With an Apple TV running in the background, we created an automation to activate an Eve Energy smart plug when water was detected and worked like a charm. I also created an automation to run a scene that started an iDevices socket and a Yeelight Color bulb, and this worked perfectly.

conclusions

Eve Water Guard is a solid choice for anyone who uses AppleKomeKit to control their smart home. It is easy to install and performs well in testing, sending quick alerts to water detection and ringing a relatively loud siren. It also had no problems interacting with other HomeKit devices, but you will need an Apple TV or HomePod for the automation to operate and control the remote sensor. In addition, Android users do not have to apply: Water Guard works only with HomeKit and, as such, does not support IFTTT applets or popular Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice services.

If you need a water sensor that works with your Android phone and interact with many other smart devices, consider D-Link DCH-S161. It is about half the price of the Eve Water Guard and accepts IFTTT and Google Assistant voice commands. For more complete water control throughout the home, our publisher's choice, Flo by Moen Water Shutoff, detects leaks, provides daily, weekly and monthly usage reports, and automatically turns off your water if you feel the type of abnormal use associated with broken pipes and bodies for fixing.