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Pros
- Responsive.
- Interacts with other HomeKit devices.
- Loud siren.
- Easy to install.
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Cons
- Lacks Wi-Fi.
- Only works with HomeKit.
- Requires Apple TV or HomePod for integrations.
With the Eve Water Guard ($79.95), you'll receive an early warning on your iPhone or iPad when even the slightest bit of moisture is detected where it shouldn't be in your home, providing an opportunity to resolve the issue before repair costs skyrocket. The sensor installs in minutes and works with other smart devices that are part of the Apple HomeKit ecosystem, but it doesn't work on Android devices or support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, nor does it support integrations using IFTTT applets. If you're an Android user, you might want to check out the $50 D-Link DCH-S161 Wi-Fi Water Sensor, but if you're looking for full-blown protection against water leaks, the Flo by Moen Water Shutoff system is your best bet, albeit an expensive one.
Design and Features
The Water Guard consists of a square white sensor unit that measures 2.6 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches (HWD). It has an LED ring that flashes red when water is detected and uses a 6.5-foot sensor cable that plugs into the sensor unit. The entire cable acts as a water sensor, so if any 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-foot extension cable for $19.95. Inside the box are four snap-on international power plug adapters, the sensor, the cable, and a quick start guide.
As is the case with other Eve smart devices, the Water Guard only works on the Apple HomeKit platform. It 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 a HomePod to act as a hub for remote access and to work with other HomeKit and Eve devices. Unlike the D-Link DCH-S161, the Water Guard doesn't 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 that you get with the Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector. It also lacks support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.
The Water Guard uses the same mobile app as other Eve devices, and it also gets added to Apple's Home app. The Eve app opens to an At a Glance (home) screen that contains tiles for all of your installed HomeKit devices. 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 display Alert in red.
Tap the Rooms button at the bottom of the screen to see a list of devices by room or by type, and then tap the Water Guard tab to see its current status, test the alarm, and view a list of all events with dates and times. Tap the Automation button to create scenes that will control several devices with one tap and to create rules that allow the Water Guard to trigger other HomeKit devices.
The Settings button takes you to a screen where you edit home and room names, add new devices, and invite other users to access your HomeKit devices.
Installation and Performance
Installing the Water Guard is very easy. I plugged the sensor into an AC outlet, connected the cable, and downloaded the Eve app. I tapped Add Accessory in the Settings menu, and used my phone's camera to scan the HomeKit code located on the back of the quick start guide (it's also printed on the bottom of the sensor). The app needed 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. The moment the cable came in contact with even a small puddle of water, the siren rang out and was loud enough to hear throughout my house. Push alerts arrived immediately as well. With an Apple TV running in the background, I created an automation to have an Eve Energy smart plug turn on when water was detected and it worked like a charm. I also created an automation to run a scene that turned on an iDevices socket and a Yeelight Color bulb, and this too worked perfectly.
Conclusions
The Eve Water Guard is a solid choice for anyone using Apple's HomeKit to control their smart home. It's easy to install and worked well in testing, sending quick push alerts when water was detected and sounding a relatively loud siren. It also had no trouble interacting with other HomeKit devices, but you'll need an Apple TV or HomePod to make automations work and to control the sensor remotely. In addition, Android users need not apply: The Water Guard only works with HomeKit and as such doesn't support IFTTT applets or the popular Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice services.
If you require a water sensor that will work with your Android phone and will interact with lots of other smart devices, consider the D-Link DCH-S161. It's around half the price of the Eve Water Guard and it supports IFTTT and Google Assistant voice commands. For more advanced whole-home water control, our Editors' Choice, the Flo by Moen Water Shutoff, detects leaks, offers daily, weekly, and monthly usage reports, and automatically turns off your water if it senses the type of abnormal usage associated with broken pipes and fixtures.
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