Z-Wave Generation & Long Range

800 Series sensors add S2 security, SmartStart QR pairing, lower power use and optional Long Range, which is a big help for basements, crawl spaces and detached garages. Z-Wave Plus (500) and 700 Series sensors still work on any modern hub but lean on your mesh for range.

Built-In Contacts vs Remote Probe

Floor sensors with contacts underneath are the simplest to drop under a sink. A wired probe lets you keep the sensor body high and dry while the probe sits in a drip pan, sump pit or behind a fridge, and it helps the radio signal escape from tight cabinets.

Freeze, Temperature & Humidity

A temperature or freeze alert can warn you before pipes burst in a cold basement or vacation home. Humidity and mold-risk reports turn a leak sensor into a bathroom or laundry room climate monitor too.

Battery Type & Life

Coin cells keep sensors tiny, while CR123A and 1/2 AA lithium cells usually last longer; makers quote three to five years. Leak sensors sit idle most of the time, so long life is realistic, but set a yearly test reminder anyway.

Shut-Off & Hub Fit

An alert is only half the job. Pair sensors with a Z-Wave valve actuator so your hub can close the main water line automatically, and check the maker’s supported-hub list, since most open-hub sensors are not supported by Ring Alarm or pro alarm panels.

With the most Amazon ratings of any Z-Wave leak sensor here and a strong average, the Ecolink FLF-ZWAVE5-ECO is the proven workhorse. It does two jobs: a 36-inch probe detects water under sinks, behind refrigerators or in a drip pan while the sensor body mounts on the wall, and a freeze sensor triggers at 41°F (5°C) so you hear about a cold crawl space before a pipe splits (or tell a Z-Wave thermostat to turn up the heat). Ecolink rates it at five years on one CR123A lithium cell. It is an older Z-Wave Plus (500 series) design without S2 Long Range, so a far-off basement may need a powered Z-Wave device in between.

The Water Sensor 7 Pro is the previous-generation version of pick #2 and often the better deal. It reports water presence (Aeotec says as little as 0.02 inches), plus temperature and humidity for managing heating, cooling and bathroom ventilation. It can also report the absence of water, which is handy for watching tank or reservoir levels, and it can send on/off commands directly to Z-Wave pumps or valves. The 700 Series radio brings S2 and SmartStart, and Aeotec quotes around three years of battery life. The listing names Hubitat, HomeSeer, Vera, Fibaro Home Center and other certified gateways, and it works with SmartThings and Home Assistant too. No Long Range, and some reviewers mention fiddly first pairing, but it’s a lot of sensing for the money.

HomeSeer’s LS100 G8 is the 800 Series successor to the popular HS-LS100+. It sits free-standing on the floor, or you can use the included magnetic wall mount with probe cable to keep the sensor up on the wall while the probe watches the floor; HomeSeer even suggests using the probe to detect a “full” dehumidifier bucket. Besides water, it has a temperature sensor with adjustable high and low triggers and a shock sensor that reports if the unit is moved or tampered with. It runs on one ER14250 lithium cell, supports S2 and Long Range, and the listing names HomeSeer, Hubitat, SmartThings and Home Assistant. At about 2.75 × 2.75 × 0.75 inches it is larger than the Zooz, and the Amazon review pool is still small.

Ezlo, the company behind the Ezlo and former Vera hubs, sells its own 800 Series Long Range leak detector. It gives you two placement options: built-in prongs for sitting flat on the floor, or a probe for hard-to-reach spots behind appliances and inside cabinets. Ezlo highlights local operation (with US-based cloud services for remote alerts) and automations that trigger a siren, alarm or smart switch on detection. It works with Ezlo hubs, Home Assistant and other Z-Wave controllers, and Alexa or Google voice control comes through your hub. It’s a young listing with a small and mixed set of reviews, so it makes the most sense if you already run an Ezlo hub or want a probe sensor on Long Range.

If you only need leak detection, the Water Sensor 7 Basic drops the Pro’s temperature and humidity sensing. The design is wall-first: you mount the slim sensor body on the wall and run its wired probe (connected to a screw terminal inside) down to the floor, drip pan or sump pit, which keeps the electronics dry and the radio above cabinet clutter. Aeotec says it detects as little as 0.02 inches of water, it can also report when water is absent (useful for tanks), and Aeotec retailers list up to five years on one ER14250 cell. It uses a 700 Series chip with S2 and SmartStart. Amazon ratings are the weakest of the Aeotec trio, mostly around pairing and probe placement, so follow the manual closely.

Most homes need several leak sensors: kitchen sink, dishwasher, washing machine, water heater, each bathroom and the sump. The 2-pack of HomeSeer’s LS100 G8 gives you two of the same sensors as pick #5, with the same Long Range radio, wall mount and probe option, temperature triggers and tamper alerts. Compare the per-sensor price against the single on the same listing before you buy, since pack pricing on Amazon moves around, and remember each one needs its own ER14250 cell when it’s time to replace.

Sweden’s Sensative Strips Drip is unlike anything else here: a sealed strip just 3 mm thick that slides under a washing machine, a dishwasher kick plate or a floor-standing boiler where a puck sensor won’t fit. It detects water leaks, reports temperature, works indoors or outdoors, and uses a 700 Series radio with S2 and SmartStart. Sensative designs its Strips for a very long, maintenance-free battery life with no battery door at all. The big caveat is the Amazon listing itself: it has only a couple of reviews (both negative) and limited stock, so buy from it only if you specifically need the thin form factor, and check the return window.

A leak alert at 3 a.m. is only useful if someone acts on it. The Zooz Titan ZAC36 acts for you: it clamps over your existing 0.5 to 1.25 inch ball valve (no plumbing) and its strong motor closes the main water line when a leak is detected. It ships with a plug-in leak detector probe, so even with no hub it will shut the water off when that probe gets wet; added to a Z-Wave hub, any of the sensors above can close it too. It has a 700 Series Long Range radio, calibrates itself to each valve, can be used outdoors, and the listing calls out compatibility with Z-Box, SmartThings and Ring Alarm. Measure first: Zooz requires 3 in of clearance each side of the valve center, at least 1.25 in between handle and pipe, and 1 in between pipe and wall.

The Bulldog Valve Robot has been the go-to Z-Wave shut-off for years, and this EVC200-WLS1M bundle adds a wired leak sensor that connects directly to the robot for automatic shut-off on detection. Its main advantage over the Titan is valve size: it supports 3/4, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 inch ball valves, and EcoNet says it opens or closes a valve in about 18 seconds. It installs over the existing valve with no plumbing, and the listing names SmartThings, Hubitat, Nexia, Control4, Universal Devices, Honeywell and Ring as compatible systems. A condo kit lets multi-unit buildings drive a second robot. This specific bundle listing is new with very few reviews, though the Bulldog itself has a long track record.

If you don’t have a hub yet and just want leaks handled, the EzloPlus Whole Home Leak Protection Kit puts everything in one box: an EzloPlus smart home hub that supports both Z-Wave and Zigbee, two water leak sensors, and a 1-inch Z-Wave smart shut-off valve (a separate listing carries a 1-1/4 inch valve). Out of the box the sensor detects a leak and signals the valve to cut the water supply, alerts reach your phone through the Ezlo app, and Alexa or Google Assistant can control the valve. Unlike the Titan and Bulldog, this is a full motorized valve that a plumber typically installs in the line rather than a robot that clamps over an existing handle. It’s a brand-new listing with no reviews yet, so it’s the right pick for buyers who value a single-vendor system over a proven track record.

Want one sensor for every sink and appliance?

Standardize on the Zooz ZSE42 800LR: tiny, sealed, Long Range ready and backed by a 5-year warranty.

Want humidity and temperature too?

Choose the Aeotec Water Sensor 8 for Long Range and a probe input, or the Water Sensor 7 Pro to save money.

Worried about frozen pipes?

The Ecolink FLF-ZWAVE5-ECO combines a 36 in leak probe with a 41°F freeze alert.

Want the water to shut off by itself?

Add a Zooz Titan ZAC36 to valves up to 1.25 in, or the Bulldog EVC200-WLS1M for up to 1.5 in.

Sensor far from the hub?

Pick a Long Range model like the Zooz ZSE42, HomeSeer LS100 G8 or Ezlo leak detector for basements and garages.

No hub yet?

The EzloPlus Whole Home Leak Protection Kit bundles a hub, two sensors and a shut-off valve.

Do Z-Wave water leak sensors need a hub?

Yes. Z-Wave sensors have no Wi-Fi, so they report to a Z-Wave controller such as Home Assistant with a Z-Wave USB stick, Hubitat, SmartThings, Zooz Z-Box, HomeSeer or an Ezlo hub, which then sends alerts and runs automations. The only exceptions here are the Zooz Titan, which can close the valve offline using its own probe, and the EzloPlus kit, which includes a hub. If you still need a controller, see our guide to the best Z-Wave hubs and USB sticks.

Where should I place water leak sensors?

Put them at the lowest point where water would collect first: under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, behind the dishwasher and fridge (ice maker lines fail often), beside the washing machine, in the water heater drip pan, next to the sump pump, near the toilet base and below the main shut-off valve. Make sure the contacts or probe touch the floor, and test each sensor with a damp paper towel after installing. A probe sensor lets you keep the body up on the wall in cramped cabinets where the radio signal is weak.

Can a Z-Wave leak sensor shut off my water automatically?

Not on its own, but it can tell a Z-Wave valve to. Create an automation in your hub so any leak sensor closes a valve actuator like the Zooz Titan ZAC36 or the Bulldog Valve Robot, which clamp over your existing ball valve, or a motorized valve like the one in the EzloPlus kit. Some sensors, such as the Aeotec Water Sensor 7 Pro, can also send direct Z-Wave on/off commands to a valve through association. If you’re comparing valves across ecosystems, our smart water shut-off valve guide covers more options.

Is the Ring Flood & Freeze Sensor Z-Wave?

The model currently sold on Amazon is not. Ring’s latest Flood & Freeze Sensor connects over Amazon Sidewalk and does not need a Ring base station, which also means it will not pair with Home Assistant, Hubitat or any other Z-Wave controller. Ring’s earlier Z-Wave flood sensor worked only with the Ring Alarm Base Station and is now hard to find new. If you run Ring Alarm and want a Z-Wave leak response, the Zooz Titan valve lists Ring Alarm compatibility, while most open-hub sensors like the Zooz ZSE42 are not supported on Ring.

Can Z-Wave leak sensors work with Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home?

Not directly, because Z-Wave is its own radio protocol. A hub such as SmartThings, Hubitat, Ezlo or Home Assistant can pass leak events to Alexa and Google routines (for example, an Echo announcement when the laundry room floods). For Apple Home and other Matter ecosystems, choose a hub that bridges Z-Wave into Matter; our guide to the best Matter bridges for Zigbee and Z-Wave covers the options.