Watts Leak Defense System: Our Master Plumbers Review

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 Leak Defense System by Watts alongside other leading smart shutoff brands. Overall, we recommend Leak Defense for consumers with multiple water lines or a water line 2” or larger, looking for a premium-grade solution that’s highly customizable. It’s best for houses with 5+ bathrooms and high water usage.

We spent 14 hours researching this system, and our plumbers installed a custom-ordered Leak Defense System for a customer. We interviewed Leak Defense’s Senior Account Manager Vicki Wojnicki for product insights, and spoke to Jason M. Pond of Swingle Collins & Associates for an expert insurance perspective. 

We’ll discuss the core features that Leak Defense 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 Leak Defense 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.

Leak Defense System by Watts: The Bottom Line

If you own a luxury home and want sophisticated, fully-customized leak defense to protect your 5+ bathrooms and multiple water lines, then Leak Defense System is right for you.

The reason you don’t see many reviews or prices online for Leak Defense System is simple: every product is built from the ground up for consumers. You’ll spend thousands on your devices instead of hundreds- the benefit is a custom-crafted smart leak detection and prevention system.

Leak Defense is optimal for homes with water lines 1.5” and above. It boasts the highest live-pipe leak detection sensitivity on the market and excels at detecting hidden leaks in walls and the slab. However, its price point and features make it “overkill” for people with small to average-sized homes.

Here’s the bottom line on aspects of Leak Defense that matter most to homeowners:

Setup: Your Watts representative conducts an in-depth analysis of your water line, plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances. Your Leak Defense System is customized for your specific home and installed by a Watts-certified licensed plumber on your main water line. Note: the product almost always requires indoor installation.

Learning phase: There is no learning phase. Your system is crafted to the specs of your home plumbing system- it knows what to monitor and expert in terms of your daily water usage before it’s installed in your house.

Customized preferences: Each Leak Defense System is custom-built from the ground up for the homeowner. “You’re in control of how long water can continuously flow- and how much,” Vicki Wojnicki explains. “We can program around an under-counter reverse osmosis system, a stand-alone ice maker, and we offer accommodations for filters, irrigation, pool lines.”

Performance: Leak Defense provides whole-house water leak detection using a flow sensor. The sensor alerts a motorized brass ball valve of potential leaks, which closes the responsive valve to turn off incoming water supply. The entire system communicates via radio frequencies, and doesn’t need Wi-Fi to operate (unless you use the app).

App: For a complex system, the Leak Defense app is surprisingly user-friendly. Find the Leak Defense System app in the Google Play store or Apple app store. Apple users note occasional system timeouts.

Price: There is no pre-set price, as Leak Defense Systems are customized for each home. Expect to pay substantially more than the list price of products like Phyn Plus and Moen Flo- the average cost of Leak Defense Systems is between $2,700-$4,800. There are no monthly or annual subscription fees.

Warranty: Watts provides a 2-year limited warranty from date of installation on the Leak Defense System. 

Recommendation: Leak Defense System by Watts is ideal for larger houses and multi-family homes. It’s a premium-grade line of defense that prevents leaks for your sixth (or eighth) bathroom- if you’re in an average to above-average sized property, it’s oversized for your needs. 

Compare your options: Check out our detailed reviews of Phyn Plus 2nd Gen and Moen Flo, and see which product checks the most boxes on your list!

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Stats and Analysis: Leak Defense System

Let’s get down to the basics of this complex system. How does Watts’ Leak Defense System work? Which insurers offer incentives for installation? And what do our Master Plumbers and other industry experts say about the product?

Leak Defense System by Watts: product specs

Leak Defense: product features

Insurance discounts and rebates available

These 7 major insurance providers currently offer discounts and rebates for homeowners who install Leak Defense devices:

• Chubb
• Nationwide
• AIG
• Berkley One
• Pure Insurance
• Cincinnati Insurance Companies
• Hanover Insurance Group

We asked Jason M. Pond of Swingle Collins for his expertise for two reasons. For 14 years running, he’s been named a “Best in Dallas” personal risk advisor. As an expert risk assessor, Jason understands what carriers valve in an automatic smart water monitor and shutoff.

Luxury homeowners have unique insurance needs- the comfort and convenience of 5+ bathrooms, an indoor pool or spa also carries extra risk of water damage, which can drive up premiums.

“It’s essential for homeowners to know how to evaluate which solution is most appropriate for their property,” Jason states. For luxury properties, he advocates for smart water monitors that “include advanced technology that detects unusual water flow or pressure changes, triggering alarms and sending real-time alerts via text or email.”

Jason also notes that “Leak Defense devices can connect to an alarm system for an additional fee”, a trait popular among many insurance carriers. 

The team at Watts provided proof of independent testing which shows the extreme likelihood of the Leak Defense System preventing water damage claims.

“Independent testing was conducted by an insurance carrier, and the testing concluded that with a flow-based, water shutoff system, policyholders are 93% more likely to catch a leak before it reaches their deductible,” Vicki notes.

In spite of Leak Defense Systems’ ability to be tailored to individual properties, it lags behind Phyn Plus (15 carriers) in current adoption by insurance carriers. However, the product’s rate of adoption by insurance carriers has nearly doubled in the last 4 years.

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Leak Defense water rebates

Our research team was unable to find specific local water rebates that explicitly mention Leak Defense System by Watts. However, adoption by insurance carriers is a positive sign that installing Watts devices in your home entitles you to public water incentives.

These incentives and rebates are most common in regions with water use concerns- most notably in California, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas.

Expert recognition and studies

Mechanical Hub calls the Leak Defense touchscreen control panel “intuitive”, and notes the product offers “total system visibility”.

A case study of a luxury condo complex in Florida found that after installing Leak Defense Systems in 130 units, they “haven’t had a single loss” in nearly 8 years.

Our Master Plumber talks about Leak Defense

Our Responsible Master Plumber, Steven Smith, has spent over 15 years mitigating water damage and leaks in homes of all sizes. He’s followed this product from its inception as Sentinel Leak Defense, subsequent acquisition by Watts, and its specific value to larger homes.

Steven was quick to note the extensive level of customization Watts provides. “They build each Leak Defense specifically for the home- they’re pre-programmed to avoid a learning phase,” he says.

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.”

What It’s Like to Live With Leak Defense System

It’s just as important to find out what customers who own smart shutoff think about their purchase. Most Leak Defense owners contact Watts directly for customer support, as their product is factory-built to their home’s unique specifications.

We also read 11 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 Leak Defense System from Watts:

Real-world pros and cons of ownership

We took extra steps to find brand-specific feedback from homeowners who installed Leak Defense. We placed extra value on comparative reviews from people who currently own Leak Defense, but used to own other smart shutoff products.

Pros of the Leak Defense System by Watts:

• Designed for your home. There’s no fear of the device “not suiting your home”- it’s built for your house and the way you use water in it.
• 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.
• No Wi-Fi needed. The system operates with or without internet connection through radio wave communication.
• 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.
• Adaptable for freezing events. Customize your system to leave a tap dripping overnight to prevent frozen pipes without triggering a leak alert.
• Good raw materials. A brass ball valve and stainless steel body offer strength.
• 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.

*This insurance information is accurate as of October 2025.

Learn more about which smart water shutoff products are compatible with your existing voice assistant and smart home hub.

What real homeowners say about Leak Defense

Our research team selected two insightful reviews from Leak Defense customers who installed the product in their homes. They deal with overall satisfaction, the initial consultation and setup stage, performance and app use.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “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

We did not receive any service calls from Leak Defense System customers over the last year. This is due to the proprietary nature of these custom-built products- users are more likely to call Watts directly for assistance. 

We reviewed the internal service data we do have alongside vetted online reviews. These are the 2 most common critiques of Leak Defense:

1. Apple app errors. System timeouts, system errors and system outages are consistent pain points for owners with Apple devices.
2. “Priced out”. The product is simply too expensive for the average homeowner to consider- it’s a luxury purchase for a larger property.

Purchase and Installation Costs

This section covers the true overall cost of Watts Leak Defense to purchase and install.

How much does Leak Defense System cost?

The average cost of Watts Leak Defense Systems is $2,700-$4,800. This is 5-8x the cost of products like Phyn Plus and Moen Flo, due to its intended use for larger properties and luxury homes.

It’s difficult to pin down precise cost data, as each Leak Defense System is custom-built for the property where it’s being installed. Your quote will be determined by the answers you give during a pre-installation property assessment from Watts.

As each system is uniquely built, there are no wholesale deals or sales on the product.

How much does it cost to install Leak Defense?

This data varies from region to region, but it generally costs $3,500-$6,000 to install a Watts Leak Defense System. This includes the price of the devices involved.

Here are the four core drivers of Leak Defense installation costs:

1. Do you need to trench or excavate to move your existing water line?
2. Do you need to run new electrical for up to 5 120V devices?
3. Does your water line need to be rerouted to accommodate the device?
4. Do you have a main water line over 2”?

Why you need a licensed plumber to install Leak Defense System

It’s pretty much non-negotiable. If you want the Watts 2-year warranty and insurance benefits of installing a smart water shutoff, you need a licensed plumber to handle the job. In many cases, this also means hiring a plumber that’s certified by Watts.

Once installed, a licensed contractor must sign off on your Watts paperwork to claim the warranty and other benefits.

Your installation requires plumbing and low-voltage electrical expertise. 

Leak Defense by Watts: Our Plumbers’ Conclusions

The ideal customer for the Leak Defense System is a homeowner who needs a custom-built, premium-grade smart water monitor for multiple water lines in their large home. It performs specifically well in areas where slab leaks and in-wall leaks are common.

The product simply isn’t priced for the average consumer, and it’s not available through wholesale or big box stores. That said, it does provide the best overall leak protection for homes with water lines over 2”, as well as a high quality track record in detecting hidden pinhole leaks in ceilings and walls.

Overall, there’s very little “wrong” with Watts Leak Defense System- it’s a matter of whether your home and its water usage are big enough to warrant making the purchase.

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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