Best Smart Water Shutoffs and Monitors, Ranked by Plumbers

You’re shopping for an automatic smart water shutoff valve and monitor to protect your home from costly water damage. Your goal is simple: find the product that offers the best whole-home leak protection at a price point that makes sense. And you want to be sure your insurance carrier offers a strong installation rebate or premium discount.

Mother researched 7 of the leading smart water monitor and shutoff products. Our Master Plumbers provided expert insight from real-world installations and service calls. We backed up our reviews by interviewing insurance experts and manufacturer’s representatives. Then, we sourced verified homeowner reviews of the products.

We recommend the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant and Shutoff as the best smart water shutoff system for most homeowners. It offers the strongest combination of leak prevention, advanced monitoring and reporting, price point and insurance adoption.

Our team suggests the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff as a second option for homeowners who want a simpler app and faster learning phase. The Leak Defense System by Watts is a premium upgrade for homes with 5+ bathrooms and multiple water lines.

Installing a smart water shutoff in Dallas? Call Mother 24/7- our team of leak protection experts provide the best possible solution for your home.

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Why You Should Read This Product Comparison Guide

At Mother, our licensed plumbers see more smart water shutoff products than most homeowners ever do. We install them weekly, repair them when needed, and replace the ones that don’t hold up over time. 

Our regular use and working knowledge of automatic smart water monitoring systems gives us a clear view of which products and features work- and which ones don’t.

Then, we tell you what we learned in simple terms anyone can understand.

Smart water shutoff rankings, backed by the experts

Our Responsible Master Plumber, Steven Smith, oversaw our smart water system review process. He has first-hand experience testing and installing all the products we recommend in this article.

Top insurance carriers value smart water shutoff systems for their automatic leak detection and prevention, and provide installation rebates and premium discounts for homeowners who install them. We spoke to two insurance experts: Jason M. Pond, Personal Risk Advisor for Swingle Collins, and Paxten Volbrecht, Director of Agency Operations at Jacobs Insurance Solutions.

Finally, we sourced and thoroughly vetted homeowner reviews. These verified reviews reveal what it’s like to own, maintain and live with these smart shutoff products.

Compare the Best Whole Home Smart Water Shutoffs

Don’t have time to read the whole article? Let’s cover the most important specs, features, and insurance data for the top 3 automatic smart water monitors and shutoff devices.

Smart water shutoff comparison: product specs

Smart water shutoff comparison: product features

*Visit our guide for complete info on which smart home devices pair with your smart shutoff.

Smart water shutoff comparison: insurance carrier adoption

Two of Dallas’ most notable insurance experts spoke to us about how choosing a quality smart water monitor and shutoff lowers your water damage risk- and why avoiding those claims is so valuable to your carrier.

“Water-related claims are among the costliest in property insurance,” explains Jason M. Pond, Personal Risk Advisor for Swingle Collins. “As a result, the demand—and in some cases, the requirement—for these systems has grown significantly, These systems include advanced technology that detects unusual water flow or pressure changes, triggering alarms and sending real-time alerts via text or email.”

“Carriers are looking for a homeowner that is trying to mitigate risk,” says Paxten Volbrecht, Director of Agency Operations at Jacobs Insurance Solutions. “An automatic water shut off valve will greatly mitigate water damage to the home.”

As of this publication, here are the major insurance carriers who recognize Phyn Plus, Moen Flo, and Leak Defense by Watts:

*Insurance information accurate as of November 15, 2025.

Take a deeper dive into insurance perks for smart shutoff installation! Learn more from Paxten Volbrecht about lowering your premium.

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How We Chose The Best Smart Water Monitors and Shutoffs

Sensitive monitoring and fast shut-off times are the most important performance factors in choosing the right smart water monitor and shut off for your home. The best devices offer exceptional leak detection from catastrophic pipe breaks down to a slow leak in your faucet. 

Our Master Plumber Steven Smith says your product must “know what it feels like to have a kitchen faucet on, or when you take a shower. “Everything that uses water in your house, it learns what that feels like. So anything out of the ordinary [should] send you an alert.”

Here’s an overview of the five most important factors to consider when purchasing a smart water monitor and shutoff valve for your home.

1. Performance: How well does the product identify leaks (at small and large levels), respond to water use anomalies, prevent catastrophic damage and claims?
2. Insurance Adoption: Major insurance carriers like Chubb, State Farm and Nationwide offer installation rebates and premium discounts on select products. Does your insurance agency recognize the smart shutoff product you want?
3. Compatibility: Does your preferred monitor and shutoff pair with your smart home devices? Can you purchase extra water sensors for added monitoring?
4. App Use and Reporting: Is the app simple to use? Does it provide deep reporting that homeowners can customize to their own specific needs?
5. Notifications and Remote Access: How does the device alert you to a potential leak or water anomaly? Are you able to make decisions, turn your water on and off in a timely fashion from anywhere in the world?

Product cost isn’t a determining factor in choosing a smart water monitor and shutoff. Most well-regarded products- like Phyn Plus and Moen Flo- consistently fall within the a $50-150 price range, even during sales and promotions. Installation costs end up being more important to the homeowner’s decision than product pricing.

Homeowners with larger, luxury homes will spend several thousand dollars to monitor and protect multiple water lines or lines over 2”, regardless of brand.

🥇 Phyn Plus 2nd Gen: The Best Whole Home Smart Water Monitor

Of all the smart water monitor and shutoff devices we reviewed, our Master Plumbers rank the Phyn Plus 2nd Generation Smart Water Assistant as best in class.

Phyn’s combination of leak detection accuracy, detailed reporting, insurance adoption and a lack of subscription fees makes it the best choice for most homeowners.

Why we chose Phyn Plus 2nd Generation

Phyn Plus’s 2nd Generation Smart Water Assistant is the most accurate product on the retail market for detecting plumbing leaks in your home. 

We like that Phyn Plus uses ultrasonic flow sensors instead of a mechanical or plastic turbine. Less internal moving parts means repairs and maintenance are far less likely. 

The initial learning phase (as Phyn Plus learns your home’s daily water habits) is longer the most- roughly 1,000 hours. You’ll get more false alarms and shutoffs during the first 3 weeks of ownership than other devices. The payoff is more granular leak detection- even slow drips don’t get past the Phyn Plus.

The Phyn app is a bit trickier to use for tech-averse buyers. Power users love it for its daily, weekly and monthly reporting, and the sheer depth of information it provides.

An independent study from Utah State University compared five different smart water shutoff valves for accuracy. The study ranked Phyn Plus #1, ahead of products from Moen, Buoy, StreamLabs and Flume.

Phyn Plus product and installation cost

As of this publication, the list price of Phyn Plus 2nd Generation Smart Water Assistant and Shutoff is $579.99. We found the product on Amazon and Home Depot for $30-40 less.

Phyn occasionally runs 15% off promotions for 2nd Gen products on its website. Some insurance companies offer a 15% discount for installation- check with your provider, as this may not be able to be combined with the Phyn promotion.

The average cost of Phyn Plus installation is between $3,000-$5,000.

Pros and cons of Phyn Plus ownership

Here are the top pros and cons of living with Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant, as noted by homeowners and professionals.

Pros of the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant:

• Most accurate product on the market. Phyn Plus does send false alarms, but it has the most accurate reporting of any smart water assistant currently for sale.
• More partnerships with insurance providers. We researched major insurance carriers who offer installation rebates or premium discounts for people who install smart water shutoff valves. 15 of them offer incentives for Phyn Plus Gen 2 products- that’s more than any product we reviewed.
• Great reporting. Several Phyn Plus owners told us they love the daily reports- “they actually tell me stuff I care about,” one user said. Get water pressure, temperature and water flow readings in real time- not just leak alerts.
• No subscription fees. You aren’t charged to access your water use data, and there’s no monthly subscription charge.
• We like “the pucks”. The separate water sensor “pucks” are particularly useful in trouble spots you don’t often see- place one by your water heater.
• Repair avoidance. Ultrasonic flow sensors instead of turbines and moving parts = less risk of internal clogs, damage and corrosion.

Cons of the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant:

• The first 3 weeks are like babysitting. Phyn Plus takes 1,000 water events to learn your water use patterns. That’s about 2-3 weeks (vs. Flo’s 1 week). Expect false alarms and unnecessary water shut offs for a few weeks.
• The app isn’t great for beginners. Power users may actually prefer it. We spoke to a homeowner who switched from Flo by Moen to the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen. “The Moen app just feels easier for first timers,” they said.
• Push notifications, not calls. Some owners wish they got automated calls with leak alerts (like Flo) instead of text alerts. “Texts are easier to miss or ignore,” one user told us.
• No current alarm compatibility. “This device does have Mobile App Connectivity, but is not able to connect to an existing alarm system,” says Jason Pond.

Read our complete review of Phyn Plus 2nd Generation for a full list of pros and cons.

Our Master Plumber talks about Phyn Plus 2nd Gen

Steven Smith is a certified Phyn installer with over 20 hours of in-home installations over the last year.

“Meeting with Phyn and the company, understanding the technology and everything that goes into the 2nd Generation- it gave us a lot of confidence in how the product works,” Steven says.

Steven likes Phyn Plus’ ultrasonic flow sensors far better than the moving parts in competing smart water assistants. They create more sensitive monitoring and smarter water reports in your app.

Steven notes a major advantage these sensors give Phyn Plus: faster shut-offs and alert times.

“Other products are looking for that catastrophic break, whereas the Phyn Plus knows hey- this toilet’s been running for 12 minutes, that’s a problem. Other systems won’t register that. So from the time it senses an issue to the time it shuts the water off- it’s way less than other products.”

Real homeowners review Phyn Plus

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Very happy with Mother Modern Plumbing! They installed our new Phyn automatic water shut off in case of a leak. Professional, clean and fair priced!” – Kerry Jacobs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Had main water line break in the wall just where it enters house. Had plumber install a riser and add this to it. This is the only automatic shutoff that can be installed outside. Recommend going to Phyn website and learning how this works.” – Owner via SupplyHouse

Want more info on Phyn Plus? Read our full product review:

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🏆Moen Flo: Best for First-Time Smart Shutoff Users

We rate Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff just behind the Phyn Plus for overall performance and insurance adoption. 

However, it’s a strong contender for homeowners looking for a simpler app experience- and ones who prefer leak alerts via call instead of push notification.

Why we like Moen Flo

Our Master Plumbers rate Phyn Plus ahead of Moen Flo in terms of overall leak detection, for its ability to detect smaller, slower leaks in a more timely fashion.

Flo’s learning phase is shorter- roughly 7-10 days vs. Phyn’s 1,000 hour routine. While this leads to less comprehensive overall reporting, it does cause fewer early headaches due to false alarms and shutoffs.

That said, Flo still outperforms most other devices in terms of overall leak detection. We like that when a leak is detected, owners receive a robocall rather than a push notification- this makes a leak event harder to miss or ignore.

Moen Flo uses a turbine rather than ultrasonic flow sensors- this leads to potential wear of internal parts over time. 

Overall insurance adoption of the Flo lags behind Phyn Plus, but it’s still covered by 7 major insurance carriers.

Pros and cons of Moen Flo ownership

Here’s what real Moen Flo owners and professionals have to say about living with Flo:

Pros of the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff:

• Easy-to-use app. Scared of smart tech and complex apps? The Moen Smart Water app was the easiest to learn for our new shutoff customers.
• Robocall leak alerts. Customers like the automatic call feature- Flo sends a robocall when it detects a leak, rather than an “easier to ignore” push notification.
• Good smart alarm compatibility. Flo pairs with Alarm.com and Nice security monitoring systems- great if you want your alarm company to react to potential leak events.
• What you need is in the box. Connection fittings, O-rings, installation spacer, power adapter- it’s all there when you open your Moen Flo.
• Good customer support. The customer service line is open 55 hours a week, Monday-Friday. That’s 10 more hours a week than Phyn customer service. Owners state the Moen reps are friendly and patient. 

Cons of the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff:

• Plastic turbine = more repairs. Flo operates with an internal plastic turbine (vs. Phyn’s ultrasonic flow sensors). This internal moving part is more likely to cause repairs.
• Misses some small leaks. Flo’s going to catch catastrophic leak events- but it may miss that slow, persistent drip behind your toilet.
• Less overall insurance adoption. Insurance agencies lean towards installation discounts and benefits for Phyn Plus (15 agencies) over Flo (7)*. Make sure your insurer offers incentives for Moen Flo before installing.
• One-year limited warranty. Other competing products offer a stronger warranty- in particular, Phyn Plus 2nd Generation devices have a 2-year warranty.
• Small paywall. Live support and enhanced water usage data are part of the FloProtect plan, which costs an extra $5/month.

Read our complete Moen Flo review for a full list of pros and cons.

Moen Flo product and installation cost

As of this publication, Moen’s website lists the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff at $649. We found the product at Home Depot for between $520-$550.

Moen offers the Smart Water Shutoff as a solo product for $449.99 (we strongly recommend purchasing the monitor as well). A 3-pack of smart leak detectors and 25’ extension cable are also sold separately.

The average cost of Moen Flo installation is between $3,100-$5,100.

Our Master Plumber talks about Moen Flo

As our Responsible Master Plumber, Steven is part of the Moen Flo dealer network.

Steven says a majority of consumer happiness with Flo is due to good customer experience through the app and robocall leak alerts.

“They spent a lot of time engineering the app,” Steven explains.

Installation of the Moen Flo is straightforward for licensed plumbers, especially those with Flo-specific training from the manufacturer. 

“Hiring a Moen-trained installer is a real plus,” he says.

Steven does note some insurance industry concerns about Flo’s ability to detect smaller leaks that cause gradual damage over time.

“There are some known issues with the Moen Flo in terms of not registering a small water leak,” Steven says. “They may or may not have corrected those issues- but because of them, some insurance companies accept it less as a whole home water shutoff.”

Real homeowners review Moen Flo

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”Bought this and had it installed . Works perfectly after it went through the learning process. My sprinklers came on before it was properly programmed and shut my main off which is good, shows me that it’s working. After the 7 days of learning it is working perfectly. Highly recommended.” – Owner via Home Depot

⭐⭐⭐ “This is a good app with one fatal flaw: it only allows one phone number and email address for notifications. A family member, neighbor, etc. will not receive email or text alerts…it would be nice for them to get alerts without needing the app.” – Raul B. via Google Play

Get more insight on Moen Flo! Check out our updated product review:

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🏆 Leak Defense System: Upgrade Pick for Large Homes

The Leak Defense System by Watts isn’t for everyone- its set at a higher price point and isn’t available for retail purchase. However, it’s the best performing system for large homes with 5+ bathrooms and multiple water lines (or lines 2” and above).

Each Leak Defense product is built from the ground up to each homeowner’s specifications, home layout and water usage habits. The device you get is custom-fit for your home- that means tons of unique monitoring and system details.

Why we like Leak Defense System

The user journey starts with a comprehensive interview with a Watts Leak Defense representative. They analyze your home’s plumbing layout, fixtures, water line and water-using appliances.

That means your system arrives ready to install and ready to go. No learning phase required. This does require a Watts-certified installer with direct experience integrating the product into your water line.

Customization is everything with Leak Defense. “You’re in control of how long water can continuously flow- and how much,” says Senior Account Manager Vicki Wojnicki. “We can program around an under-counter reverse osmosis system, a stand-alone ice maker, and we offer accommodations for filters, irrigation, pool lines.”

We also like that Leak Defense works offline via radio frequencies- if the Internet goes out, your leak monitoring doesn’t. WiFi is only required to connect to the app.

Watts Leak Defense System product and installation cost

Leak Defense isn’t a retail product- every device is custom-built for the individual homeowner. As such, there’s no “list price” for Leak Defense Systems. Our independent research finds the average cost range for the system is between $2,700-$4,800.

Your quote will be determined by the answers you give during a pre-installation property assessment from Watts.

The average cost of Leak Defense installation is between $10,500-$21,000. The custom buildout of associated devices directly impacts the installation price.

Pros and cons of Leak Defense ownership

Public reviews of Leak Defense are limited, as it’s a non-retail product. We vetted several quality reviews and spoke to professionals about living with the Watts product.

Pros of the Leak Defense System by Watts:

• No learning phase. Other systems have a 1-3 week learning phase with “false alarms”. Your Watts representative conducts a detailed intake analysis of your home’s specs, water routine and usual flow rate.
• Proprietary tech. Leak Defense System has onboard technology no other system uses. “We have thermodynamic probe sensors inside of our pipes that are detecting water flow,” Vicki explains. “That’s what makes it so sensitive [to leaks].”
• Easy-to-change modes. Leak Defense offers 3 “scenes”- Home, Away and Standby. Standby is great for unique water usage events, like filling a pool or running an extremely long bath.
• Good leak sensitivity. Smaller models detect unusual water flow down to .005 gallons per minute (GPM). Even the larger models offer strong leak detection.
• U.S.-based customer service. When you call for support, you’ll speak to a US-based rep who likely has the system installed in their own home. Advice is friendly and proficient.

Cons of the Leak Defense System by Watts:

• Price point. The product is far too expensive for anything other than luxury and multi-family homes. The least expensive system we found was $2,700.
• Specific insurance adoption. As a premium-grade unit, Leak Defense System is recognized and supported by 8 insurance carriers- we’d like to see stronger adoption. 
• Limited public reviews. As a high-end product that’s crafted for each property, it’s difficult to find social proof from other owners.
• App timeouts. While the app itself is responsive, several users (especially on Apple devices) note system timeouts and crashes.
• Optional add-ons. The point of leak detectors (POLDs), 120VAC outlets and APIs are all added costs- the already high price point can stack up quickly.

Get the complete list of pros and cons in our new Leak Defense System review.

Our Master Plumber talks about Watts Leak Defense System

Steven has personally installed a Leak Defense System in a Dallas-area home, and talked about his hands-on experience learning and working with the device.

The build-out process involves a lot of interaction between homeowner and manufacturer. “You get on a call with the manufacturer,” Steven explains. “And you tell them, is there an ice maker? A pool? Is there an outdoor fountain? You go through every fixture in the home, and they pre-program it.”

This attention to detail is part of what makes Leak Defense Systems so costly to purchase and install. As a result, they’re best utilized in homes with larger water lines- “I’d say water lines 1.25” and above,” Steven says.

“It’s a higher end product for higher-end homes, because they’re going to have 35, 40 water-using fixtures.”

Real homeowners review Watts Leak Defense

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Leak Defense is the best product on the market, they have a bunch of questions for you or your plumber, but once you get past the initial install and setup, they perform well. Their tech support is great.” – Owner via Reddit

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ”Used this for over 5 years… Product is definitely worth the premium price (expensive). Tons of product hardware add-ons available to manage complex large homes. Insurance company Chubb requires it and agent told us Leak Defense is the best in the market.” – Owner via Apple app store

Need a smart water monitor for your luxury home? Browse our complete expert review:

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Notable Products We Reviewed and Didn’t Select

Our Master Plumbers and research team spent between 10-18 hours reviewing each whole home smart water monitor and shutoff product for this comparison guide.

Two notable products didn’t quite make the grade, but have some features that may appeal to homeowners. Let’s talk a bit about each, and why they didn’t make our top three.

Flume 2 Smart Water Monitor

Flume 2 is well-regarded for its highly non-invasive approach to water leak detection and monitoring.

Homeowners like Flume 2’s installation- it’s placed well outside the home, strapped directly to your water meter. No plumbing work, no wiring, no soldering, and no cutting into pipes. This makes the purchase and installation of Flume 2 considerably cheaper than other products we reviewed.

Once attached, it reads the magnetic field from the spinning dial in your meter, and converts that information into water flow data.

Why we didn’t pick Flume 2: While it’s a great water monitor, it’s not a smart shutoff valve. Flume 2 only monitors changes in water flow- it can’t turn off the water supply.

In order to do that, you have to buy a separate, third-party shutoff valve. The Flume 2 monitor then communicates with that product to shut off your water in case of a leak emergency. It can’t stop a catastrophic leak on its own.

We can’t recommend Flume 2 because without buying a separate shutoff valve (and proprietary Flume 2 sensors), it doesn’t meet the threshold for an insurance premium reduction or installation discount.

StreamLabs Control

We like StreamLabs’ use of an ultrasonic flow meter- no internal turbine and less moving parts means you’re less likely to experience repairs. The device is installed inline on your main water line, and uses a Wi-Fi connection to monitor water flow and send reports to its app.

The product’s retail price falls in the same range as Phyn Plus and Moen Flo, making them natural competitors in the space. 

Why we didn’t pick StreamLabs: There’s nothing inherently wrong with StreamLabs as a smart water shutoff product. Our review team found it accomplishes its stated goals- leak detection and water damage mitigation- quite competently… just not at the level of the products we ranked above it.

Another strike against StreamLabs is current rate of adoption by insurance carriers. Phyn Plus and Moen products carry brand partnerships with major insurance providers. While StreamLabs may be listed as “approved”, it doesn’t partner with as many carriers.

The Best Smart Water Shutoff For Your Home

For most homeowners, the Phyn Plus 2nd Generation offers the best blend of leak detection, claim prevention, insurance adoption and price point of any smart water monitor and shutoff product.

Moen Flo is a strong choice for customers who want a simpler app and shorter learning phase. Leak Defense by Watts is an upgrade pick for luxury homes with multiple water lines and a wide variety of plumbing fixtures.

Ultimately, any of these smart water assistants is better than not owning one. They drastically reduce the risk of catastrophic leaks and water damage claims in your home, and your insurance carrier likely offers a premium discount or installation rebate.

Dallas: want a smart shutoff in your home? Call Mother 24/7- we confidently install every product we ranked on this list. Talk to us today!

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