As these devices become more popular, theyre also becoming easier to installand less expensive, too.
I will never forget waking up to a dripping sound, which turned out to be the water heater.
I got luckyI heard it early and knew how to turn off the waterbut thats uncommon.
Most people have heaters located in basements.
It is, perhaps, the most proactive piece of smart home tech Ive used.
Nine months ago, I had theMoen Floinstalled.
The rig requires electrical access and wifi access, and gets to work immediately.
For a week, Flo learned my water habits, doing dishes, showering, washing clothes.
From there, it assessed my weekly water usage.
The Flo began running a nightly leak test, to confirm I didnt have major plumbing issues.
(I had a very slight leak, which Flo thought was normal).
During the day, the gear looked for behavior that was outside my normal activity.
It understood my washing machine and shower, but handwashing dishes it sometimes thought was me filling a pool.
That woke me up, and I was able to let Flo know things were all right.
If I hadnt, it would have shut the water off.
For a week, Ting monitors your usage and then forms an understanding of what your electricity looks like.
Ting is looking for signals generated by electrical arcs, which is what leads to electrical fires.
Moreover, they can develop over time, not just after maintenance or a new installation.
Like the Flo subscription, Ting offers some form of monetary coverage.
Still, I know its working, and I have to trust it will catch problems if they arise.
Im comforted by the fact that the insurance industry also trusts Ting.
If there is anything, absolutely anything, I could do to protect my home, I would.
These devices are a small way Im doing that.
