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How does a water sensor work and why install one with your Fort Smith smart home?

April 21, 2025
Cell phone app alerts resident of a water problem

One minor leak at your house can lead to big problems and thousands of dollars worth of damage. You have to protect against this threat; thankfully, there’s a straightforward way to achieve this. A water sensor is a simple, effective, and budget-friendly solution. See how they work and why you ought to integrate water sensors into your Fort Smith smart home.

How water sensors protect Fort Smith your home

Water penetrates homes in various ways, whether from a storm-related event, plumbing problem, appliance snafu, or human error. Whatever way it takes place, you must know at once, and this is how water sensors help. But how exactly do they work? 

The majority of water sensors are conductive and work with two electrodes. When water reaches the electrodes, an electrical connection is established, activating your alarm. You’ll also come across capacitive sensors that give off an electrical field. Your alarm activates when water reaches the conductive parts of these components and interrupts the field. Optical sensors employing infrared LED light are another option.

Some water sensors give you more

A few innovative water sensors give you even more peace of mind as they have integrated temperature sensors. This is an outstanding feature in preventing pipe freezing. If there’s an extreme reduction in temperature, you’ll know right away. Taking measures before pipes rupture will shield you from water infiltration and exorbitant repair costs.

Why connect water sensors to your Fort Smith smart home? 

When water emergencies happen, you have to be alerted immediately. You can reach this goal by incorporating water sensors into your smart home. Whether you’re there to hear the alarm or somewhere else, you’ll receive an instant update on your mobile device. As an added benefit, your 24-hour monitoring team will be alerted. Each moment matters in a water emergency to control the damage and disruption to your household.

Where should you install water sensors?

Any location prone to flooding is an ideal place for water sensors. Place them in these locations:

  • Bathrooms: Position close to bathtubs or behind toilets.
  • Basements: Water commonly infiltrates basements via leaky walls or because of excess rain or malfunctioning sump pumps.
  • Around water heaters or appliances: Any water-connected appliance could leak over time.
  • Underneath sinks: Water sensors are ideal for identifying leaky pipes in areas you can’t see.
  • Attics: Detect roof leaks quickly and prevent expensive repairs.

Get water sensors with your Vivint smart home

Give your residence the complete protection it deserves with innovative devices from Vivint. Our water sensors in Fort Smith integrate with your Vivint smartphone app to send you automatic updates any time your alarm goes off. You also enjoy built-in temperature sensors to avert pipe freezing. Discover all the smart home tools available in Fort Smith by dialing (479) 370-4503 today.