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Phyn Plus 2nd Gen: Our Master Plumbers Review
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You’re interested in installing a smart water shutoff in your home. Maybe you read about the insurance discounts you can get- or a big leak ruined your favorite couch while you were on vacation with the family.
Our team reviewed the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant and Shutoff alongside other leading smart shutoff brands. Overall, we recommend Phyn Plus due to its excellent performance and widespread adoption with insurance providers. However, expect a few false alarms after you install it- especially as it learns your home over the first 2-3 weeks.
We spent 18 hours researching the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen. We interviewed a Phyn representative, as well as Jason M. Pond of Swingle Collins & Associates for an expert insurance perspective. Mother has installed 7 Phyn Plus 2nd Generation products for our customers- keep reading to see their feedback.
In this article, we’ll discuss the core features the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen provides. We’ll cover the pros and cons that matter to real users in their everyday lives, as well as the cost to own and maintain the system.
Live in Dallas, and want a smart water shutoff valve? Call Mother 24/7 for priority scheduling- a licensed technician will arrive at our first available appointment.
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Why You Should Read This Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Review
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.
Why trust Mother’s product reviews?
We’re a plumbing service. We write reviews to earn business, not just to be nice.
When we’re right about a product, we gain customers, trust and visibility.
When we’re wrong, it doesn’t just hurt our reputation. It costs us call backs, warranty work, and wasted labor hours.
We pay for bad products twice: once when we install them, and again when we rip them out for underperforming. When our customers avoid bad products and choose the best ones, everybody wins.
It’s in our best interest to write great reviews and recommend the best plumbing products possible. It keeps our customers happy, their homes efficient, and saves everyone time.
Phyn Plus 2nd Gen: The Bottom Line
If you’re good with technology and motivated by insurance discounts, then the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen is the right smart water shutoff product for you.
Early adopters and smart home enthusiasts liked Phyn’s 1st generation model for its tech-first approach. The 2nd Gen builds on that reputation with broader reporting and optional point-of-use sensors for enhanced leak detection in vulnerable areas (i.e. under the sink).
Here’s a quick overview of things that mattered to homeowners in our review process:
Setup: You’ll need a licensed plumber for installation on your main water line, preferably one who’s installed smart shutoff devices before.
Learning phase: The first month of ownership sees a lot of false alerts and shutoffs- Phyn Plus takes 1,000 hours to learn your water use habits. It makes for a better product long-term, but first-time users can get annoyed.
Performance: You’ll get the odd false alarm here and there. But for most people, Phyn Plus is currently the best smart water shutoff at accurately detecting and reporting home plumbing leaks. It uses ultrasonic flow sensors instead of mechanical parts- no moving parts means less repairs.
App: The Phyn app is comprehensive, but more difficult to use than the Flo by Moen app. While both are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, neither natively pairs with Apple HomeKit.
Price: There’s some online complaining about the cost of Phyn Plus, but it’s within the same price range as its most direct competitor (Flo by Moen). There is no monthly subscription fee, and 15 insurance providers currently offer installation rebates and/or premium discounts.
Warranty: The Phyn Plus 2nd Gen has a 2 year limited warranty, vs. Flo by Moen’s 1 year limited warranty. The warranty requires professional installation by a licensed plumber.
Recommendation: Phyn Plus is a strong choice for buyers concerned with home leak prevention that don’t mind a learning curve. If you struggle with apps and technology, it may frustrate you.
Compare your options! Read our fresh review of the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, and see which product is best for your needs.
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Stats and Analysis: Phyn Plus 2nd Generation
Let’s start with the basics. How does the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant work? Does installing Phyn products lower your insurance premium? And what are real industry experts (our Master Plumbers and others) saying about it?
Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant: product specs
Phyn Plus 2nd Gen: product features
Insurance discounts and rebates available
These 15 major insurance providers currently offer discounts and rebates for homeowners who install Phyn Plus 2nd Gen smart shutoffs:
- Chubb*
- State Farm
- Nationwide
- Farmers Insurance
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual
- AIG
- Amica
- Berkley One
- Bamboo
- Pure Insurance
- Vyrd
- Selective
- Proper Insurance
- American Family Insurance
*Chubb partners with Phyn to provide policyholders a 15% discount on Phyn Plus installation. Our local insurance partners indicate Chubb places high priority on Phyn Plus systems. All insurance provider data is accurate on the date of publication.
We asked Jason M. Pond of Swingle Collins for his expertise for two reasons. He’s a “Best in Dallas” personal risk advisor for 14 consecutive years, and he’s also experienced his own home water leak claim. He knows first-hand what carriers are looking for in a smart water system.
“Water-related claims are among the costliest in property insurance,” Jason told us. “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.”
“Check with your home insurance company and see if installing a leak defense system will offer you a policy credit,” Jason continues. “As part of a water claim, if the company will pay for a portion of the parts and installation/labor.”
We are impressed with Phyn’s best-in-class number of partnerships with insurance companies.
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Phyn Plus water rebates
Currently, 22 municipal water and utility companies offer rebates on your water bill if you install a Phyn Plus system. Notable rebates exist in Texas, California, Georgia, Oregon and Arizona.
Consult the Phyn website for an updated list of these local water providers.
Expert recognition and studies
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.
Jon Chase of Wirecutter says Phyn Plus offered “the greatest peace of mind”, and called it a “no-brainer” if your insurance company offers a discount. (More on this later.)
Our Master Plumber talks about Phyn Plus 2nd Gen
We spoke to our Responsible Master Plumber, Steven Smith, about his hands-on experience with the Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant. Steven 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.
“The Phyn literally senses the vibrations and learns what it feels like to have a kitchen faucet on, or when you take a shower,” Steven explains. “Everything that uses water in your house, it learns what that feels like. So anything out of the ordinary, it sends you an alert.”
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.”
We also asked Steven about cost benefits for homeowners interested in Phyn Plus installation. He confirmed more insurance providers partner with Phyn than Flo or other competing products.
What It’s Like to Live With Phyn Plus Products
It’s just as important to find out what customers who own Phyn Plus products think about their purchase. Our research team spoke to 7 homeowners who installed Phyn Plus Generation 2 devices on their water lines- most of these conversations happened during the learning phase.
We also read 71 customer reviews of the product that we judged to be real (no bots, paid reviews or fake reviews).
Here’s what people are saying about the Phyn Plus Gen 2 Smart Water Assistant.
Real-world pros and cons of ownership
For this review, we looked for owner feedback that made Phyn Plus stand out from other smart water shutoff devices. “Leak prevention from anywhere” is a great start- but the same thing is true of Flo by Moen and Leak Defense System products.
Pros of the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen Smart Water Assistant:
- No third-party valve. Some smart water monitors require you to buy a separate valve to physically turn the water off. Phyn Plus offers monitoring, detection and the valve.
- 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 Flo by Moen and Leak Defense.*
- 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.
- Irrigation monitoring. The Phyn Plus 2nd Gen can also monitor for leaks in your yard, lawn and landscape sprinkler system if it’s installed upline- before your irrigation branch line.
- Repair avoidance. Ultrasonic flow sensors instead of turbines and moving parts = less risk of internal clogs, damage and corrosion.
*This insurance information is accurate as of October 2025.
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.
- Spotty customer support. Phyn’s customer support helpline isn’t 24/7- if you don’t get them during business hours, you won’t get them. Online reviewers have called their customer support reps “snooty”.
- 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.
Learn more about which smart water shutoff products are compatible with your existing voice assistant and smart home hub.
What real homeowners say about Phyn Plus 2nd Generation
Here are three insightful reviews from homeowners who installed Phyn Plus 2nd Gen products on their water line- one from a Mother customer, plus two external reviews from Phyn owners:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Cheap price to pay for peace of mind. 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 Google Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The packaging and look of the device is very nice. Looking forward to getting this device installed, but have not been able to yet - it didn't come with any adapters. I was happy to see a manual override for on/off and plenty of chord length for the power supply." – Owner via Home Depot
We looked at Mother’s internal customer data and verified external product reviews and found two common critiques about the Phyn Plus:
- Resetting the app. The most common call we get from Phyn Plus owners deals with help resetting the app. Once we show them how, they’re usually good to go.
- Fittings often need adapters. Several Home Depot and Reddit reviews noted the need for adapters for Phyn’s existing fittings. Your plumber can provide these- they aren’t in the box.
Purchase and Installation Costs
In this section, we’ll cover the true overall cost of Phyn Plus 2nd Generation devices- not just the purchase price, but the cost to install the product.
How much does the Phyn Plus 2nd Gen cost?
As of this publication, the list price of Phyn Plus 2nd Generation Smart Water Assistant and Shutoff is $579. 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.
How much does it cost to install Phyn Plus?
This data varies from region to region, but it generally costs between $3,000-$5,000 to get the Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant and Shutoff installed. In these instances, the cost of purchase is included in the total installation.
Here are the four core drivers of Phyn Plus installation costs:
- Do you need to trench or excavate to move your existing water line?
- Do you need to run new electrical for the device?
- Do you already have a shut-off valve inside your home?
- Does your water line need to be rerouted to accommodate the device?
Why you need a licensed plumber to install Phyn Plus
Phyn’s warranty requires you to hire a licensed plumber to install the Phyn Plus 2nd Generation. If you need to file a claim, you’ll need the name and license number of the plumber who installed the product.
While Phyn does prefer certified installers, you can usually hire your own licensed plumber for the job.
“Phyn Plus may have a preferred plumber in network based upon location, but [buyers] have the option to select a plumber of their choice,” says Jason M. Pond.
Phyn Plus 2nd Gen: Our Plumbers’ Conclusions
The ideal customer for the Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant (2nd Gen) is a homeowner who wants the most accurate leak prevention system- and doesn’t mind a longer learning phase and a slightly more complex app experience.
A lack of moving parts (like turbines) means far less repair and maintenance costs than competing brands. Yes, customer service isn’t ideal- but you’ll be calling them much less often.
Phyn “casts the widest net” of insurance providers who provide installation rebates and premium discounts, which adds a value prop to its slightly higher cost. Overall, our Master Plumbers rate Phyn Plus 2nd Gen as the best automatic smart water shut-off product for most consumers.
Dallas homeowners: want 24/7 leak prevention? Call Mother anytime for smart shutoff installation- and make every trip out of town stress-free.
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