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This Genius Water Monitor and Leak Detector Simply Clamps On to Pipes, No Install Required

Burst pipes and water leaks can put your entire home at risk. Droplet's model clips onto a pipe in seconds.

Headshot of David Watsky
Headshot of David Watsky
David Watsky Managing Editor / Home and Kitchen
David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. David earned his BA from Northeastern and has toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or tinkering with a toaster. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.
Expertise Kitchen tools | Appliances | Food science | Subscriptions | Meal kits
David Watsky
A water monitor in someone's hand.

You're officially out of excuses for not installing a water monitor and leak detector.

David Watsky/CNET

Water monitors and leak detectors are undeniably useful in protecting your home from frozen pipes that are prone to bursting, leaks and other unusual instances of water flow. While most existing water monitors require the removal of pipes and a more comprehensive installation, Droplet's design needs neither.

A water monitor attached to a pipe, next to a phone.

The Droplet water monitor and leak detector are ideal for those not interested in unscrewing pipes for an install. 

David Watsky/CNET

At the floor of CES' preview event, Unveiled, a representative from Hydrific, the brand behind Droplet, explains how its unique product uses ultrasonic sensors to collect 50 water flow samples per second without ever touching the flowing water inside pipes. The powerful sensors are capable of detecting flows as low as 0.026 gallons per minute, according to the brand. 

The device, available for $200 on Hydrific's website, feeds information to a digital profile and sends alerts to your mobile device if it detects an unusual flow, allowing you to address the issue before it becomes a larger problem. The smart system uses learning algorithms to detect precise events, such as burst pipes or leaks. 

The droplet logo, backlit

Droplet's powerful sensors are capable of detecting flows as low as 0.026 gallons per minute, according to the brand. 

Hydrific

Beyond safety, Droplet helps homeowners monitor water use, including which fixtures in the home use the most water and when. In short, if you've been putting off installing a water monitor because you don't want to unscrew old pipes and risk causing a leak yourself, you're officially out of excuses.

For use, the small device simply clips onto the main water pipe. Wi-Fi is required and the device must be within 5 feet of an outlet. 

A Droplet water monitor

Droplet monitors water using ultrasonic sensors that take 50 flow readings every second. 

Hydrific