[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1478},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content:\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement":3,"category:\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement":6,"read-next:\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review,\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings,\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review,\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review":221},{"id":4,"title":5,"bmcUsername":6,"body":7,"cover":204,"date":205,"description":206,"draft":207,"extension":208,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":209,"navigation":210,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":211,"review":6,"seo":212,"sitemap":213,"stem":214,"updated":6,"video":215,"__hash__":220},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement.md","How to Replace the Flume 2 Battery (Step-by-Step with Video)",null,{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":186},"minimark",[10,14,17,21,26,35,38,42,65,69,74,77,81,84,88,91,95,98,102,105,108,112,115,119,122,126,141,144,148,162,170,178,182],[11,12,13],"p",{},"Replacing the battery in a Flume 2 water monitor comes down to five things: take the sensor off your water meter, swap the battery pack, seal it back up, reattach it, and recalibrate in the app. Don't skip the last step, because Flume won't report your water usage until it's recalibrated.",[11,15,16],{},"I've used a Flume to monitor my house's water usage since 2021. Here's the video of my battery replacement, followed by the written steps:",[18,19],"u-video",{"src":20},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FjAeGrLO1SRs",[22,23,25],"h2",{"id":24},"how-to-tell-the-flume-battery-is-low","How to Tell the Flume Battery Is Low",[11,27,28,29,34],{},"The Flume app shows a banner at the top saying your water sensor batteries are low, with a link to fix it. That link takes you to ",[30,31],"external-link",{"href":32,"text":33},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.flumewater.com\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002F5878544-flume-batteries-are-low-or-dead","Flume's help article on low batteries",", which includes a link to buy replacement packs directly from Flume.",[11,36,37],{},"When I made this video, my first battery pack had lasted about 10 months. That was on my original sensor, which had early battery failures that Flume support later attributed to corrosion. The newer revision of the Flume 2 I switched to has had much longer battery life. According to Flume, batteries should last at least six months, and if yours die sooner than that, Flume asks you to contact their support team.",[22,39,41],{"id":40},"what-you-need","What You Need",[43,44,45,53,59],"ul",{},[46,47,48,52],"li",{},[49,50,51],"strong",{},"A Flume battery pack."," The Flume 2 uses Flume's own battery pack, not standard batteries. Buy it from Flume through the link in the app. It cost me about $19 and arrived in about a week. Flume warns not to use non-approved battery packs, which voids the warranty and performance guarantee, so skip the third-party packs on marketplace sites.",[46,54,55,58],{},[49,56,57],{},"A towel or rag"," to clean the sensor before opening it.",[46,60,61,64],{},[49,62,63],{},"Your phone"," to take a photo before removing the sensor and to recalibrate afterward.",[22,66,68],{"id":67},"step-by-step-replacing-the-flume-2-battery","Step-by-Step: Replacing the Flume 2 Battery",[70,71,73],"h3",{"id":72},"_1-photograph-the-sensor-on-the-water-meter","1. Photograph the sensor on the water meter",[11,75,76],{},"Before you remove anything, take a picture of how the sensor is attached to your water meter. You'll want to reattach it in exactly the same position. The sensor also has a sticker marking its bottom side, which helps.",[70,78,80],{"id":79},"_2-remove-the-sensor-and-bring-it-inside","2. Remove the sensor and bring it inside",[11,82,83],{},"Slide the sensor out of its rubber straps and off the water meter. Meter boxes are a popular home for insects (mine came with a colony of ants), so shake it off outside before bringing it in.",[70,85,87],{"id":86},"_3-clean-the-outside-before-opening-it","3. Clean the outside before opening it",[11,89,90],{},"Wipe the sensor clean and dry before you open the lid. Flume recommends this too: any dirt or water on the outside can fall in when the lid opens, and moisture inside the sensor is what you're trying to keep out.",[70,92,94],{"id":93},"_4-remove-the-old-battery-pack","4. Remove the old battery pack",[11,96,97],{},"Open the lid and use the ribbon attached to the battery pack to pull it out. Before you set it aside, note which way the contacts face.",[70,99,101],{"id":100},"_5-install-the-new-battery-pack","5. Install the new battery pack",[11,103,104],{},"The pack and the sensor are marked with plus and minus signs. Line them up and press the pack in. If it's seated correctly, the status light flashes green.",[11,106,107],{},"According to Flume's instructions, it doesn't matter which side of the sensor the pack goes in. The sensor has room for a second pack, and I've read that installing two extends battery life, but check with Flume support before counting on that.",[70,109,111],{"id":110},"_6-seal-the-lid","6. Seal the lid",[11,113,114],{},"Close the lid and press until the latch clicks. That click is how you know it's sealed watertight. Take a moment to make sure the seal is clean and seated, since the sensor lives in a meter box that can get wet. My original sensor eventually had battery failures that Flume support attributed to corrosion, so a good seal is worth the extra few seconds.",[70,116,118],{"id":117},"_7-reattach-the-sensor-to-the-water-meter","7. Reattach the sensor to the water meter",[11,120,121],{},"Using your photo as a reference, put the sensor back in the same position on the meter, with the bottom sticker facing down, and wrap the rubber straps around the meter body so it's held firmly in place.",[70,123,125],{"id":124},"_8-recalibrate-in-the-flume-app","8. Recalibrate in the Flume app",[11,127,128,129,132,133,136,137,140],{},"In the Flume app, open the menu (the three lines in the upper left), go to ",[49,130,131],{},"Settings",", then ",[49,134,135],{},"Other Troubleshooting",", and tap ",[49,138,139],{},"Recalibrate Water Sensor",". The app asks you to run a steady stream of water. I ran the bathtub. When calibration succeeds, the low battery banner disappears.",[11,142,143],{},"Don't skip this step. Flume notes that water usage will not report until a successful calibration is completed.",[22,145,147],{"id":146},"replacing-batteries-in-the-flume-f2x","Replacing Batteries in the Flume F2X",[11,149,150,151,156,157,161],{},"The newer ",[152,153],"sponsored-link",{"href":154,"text":155},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB06HFCtQa","Flume F2X"," (Flume 2X) uses two standard AA battery packs instead of the Flume 2's proprietary pack, which addresses one of the most common complaints about the Flume 2. I haven't replaced the batteries in an F2X myself. The removal, cleaning, sealing, and recalibration steps above apply in the same way, but follow ",[30,158],{"href":159,"text":160},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.flumewater.com\u002Fen\u002Fcollections\u002F3554133-flume-batteries","Flume's battery documentation"," for the pack itself.",[11,163,164,165,169],{},"Flume also now offers a customer-replaceable black battery pack for the Flume 2, where you replace the four lithium batteries inside the pack instead of buying a new pack. Flume has a ",[30,166],{"href":167,"text":168},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.flumewater.com\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002F10542766-how-to-replace-the-batteries-in-your-black-battery-pack","separate guide for that pack",".",[11,171,172,173,169],{},"For my long-term experience with the Flume, including the leaks it caught and the ones it missed, see my ",[174,175,177],"a",{"href":176},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review","Flume 2 water monitor review",[179,180],"faq-section",{":items":181},"[{\"label\":\"How long does a Flume battery last?\",\"content\":\"My first Flume 2 battery pack lasted about 10 months on my original sensor, which had corrosion-related battery failures. The newer revision of the Flume 2 I switched to has had much longer battery life. Flume says batteries should last at least six months, and asks you to contact support if yours die sooner.\"},{\"label\":\"Do I need to recalibrate Flume after changing the battery?\",\"content\":\"Yes. In the Flume app, go to Menu, Settings, Other Troubleshooting, Recalibrate Water Sensor, and run a steady stream of water when prompted. Flume will not report water usage until calibration succeeds.\"},{\"label\":\"Can I use regular batteries in a Flume 2?\",\"content\":\"The Flume 2 uses Flume's own battery pack, and Flume warns that non-approved packs void the warranty. Flume does offer a customer-replaceable black pack that you refill with four new lithium batteries. The newer Flume F2X uses standard AA battery packs.\"},{\"label\":\"How much does a Flume replacement battery cost?\",\"content\":\"My Flume 2 battery pack cost about $19 when I bought it directly from Flume through the link in the app. Check the current price through that link, since prices can change.\"},{\"label\":\"Where do I buy a Flume replacement battery?\",\"content\":\"Directly from Flume. When your battery is low, the banner in the Flume app links to a help article with a purchase link for Flume battery packs.\"},{\"label\":\"Can I install two battery packs in a Flume 2?\",\"content\":\"The sensor has room for a second pack, and Flume says it does not matter which side the pack goes in. I have read that two packs extend battery life, but confirm with Flume support before relying on it.\"}]",[183,184],"read-next",{":items":185},"[\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review\"]",{"title":187,"searchDepth":188,"depth":188,"links":189},"",2,[190,191,192,203],{"id":24,"depth":188,"text":25},{"id":40,"depth":188,"text":41},{"id":67,"depth":188,"text":68,"children":193},[194,196,197,198,199,200,201,202],{"id":72,"depth":195,"text":73},3,{"id":79,"depth":195,"text":80},{"id":86,"depth":195,"text":87},{"id":93,"depth":195,"text":94},{"id":100,"depth":195,"text":101},{"id":110,"depth":195,"text":111},{"id":117,"depth":195,"text":118},{"id":124,"depth":195,"text":125},{"id":146,"depth":188,"text":147},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement-cover.webp","2026-10-04","Flume water monitor battery replacement, step by step with video: remove the sensor, swap the battery pack, reseal it, and recalibrate in the Flume app.",false,"md",{},true,"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement",{"title":5,"description":206},{"loc":211},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement",{"id":216,"name":217,"uploadDate":218,"description":219},"jAeGrLO1SRs","Flume 2 low battery replacement how to","2022-02-05","How to replace the battery in a Flume 2 smart water sensor: remove it from the water meter, swap the battery pack, reseal it, reattach it, and recalibrate in the Flume app.","lPFUxHDFQUoqRSYknNi74rxqGUpa4f8uN4RPHM1t4B8",[222,680,911,1242],{"id":223,"title":224,"bmcUsername":6,"body":225,"cover":658,"date":659,"description":660,"draft":207,"extension":208,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":661,"navigation":210,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":176,"review":662,"seo":676,"sitemap":677,"stem":678,"updated":205,"video":6,"__hash__":679},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review.md","Flume 2 Water Monitor Review: 5 Years of Leak Detection",{"type":8,"value":226,"toc":635},[227,232,244,248,251,258,261,265,282,285,291,294,297,303,311,314,320,324,332,335,338,342,363,366,370,378,382,390,394,397,416,419,422,425,431,435,438,443,468,473,481,484,488,501,504,508,511,514,518,521,525,528,531,535,543,546,550,553,557,564,568,571,574,578,589,609,612,616,619,622,629,632],[11,228,229,230,169],{},"I've used a Flume smart water monitor since early 2021. It's good at what it's built for: accurate whole-house water usage data and alerts for leaks like a dripping faucet. But two years ago it missed a slab leak under my foundation that ended with repiping the house. This review covers why I chose Flume, installation, how well the leak detection works, five years of long-term experience, and what's changed in the newer ",[152,231],{"href":154,"text":155},[233,234,235],"aside",{},[236,237,238],"blockquote",{},[11,239,240,243],{},[49,241,242],{},"Affiliate disclosure:"," As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links to products I personally purchased and used — at no extra cost to you.",[22,245,247],{"id":246},"why-i-added-a-smart-water-meter-to-my-smart-home","Why I added a smart water meter to my smart home",[11,249,250],{},"In 2020 I discovered, the hard way, an intermittent leak in a pipe run under the foundation was emitting through my bathroom wall. It left a pretty expensive mess to deal with and, due to the nature of it, was difficult to locate, since it seemed to trigger seemingly randomly, even with the help of leak detection experts.",[11,252,253],{},[254,255],"img",{"alt":256,"src":257},"Plumbers finding the leak","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\u002Fplumbers.jpg",[11,259,260],{},"This left me paranoid and for peace of mind I started researching to see if there were any whole-house smart wifi water monitors or leak detectors I could install. In my research I found several promising ones which I'll go over below, along with why I ultimately chose the Flume 2.",[22,262,264],{"id":263},"flume-vs-moen-flo-streamlabs-and-droplet","Flume vs Moen Flo, Streamlabs, and Droplet",[11,266,267,268,271,272,276,277,281],{},"I narrowed my list down to the ",[152,269],{"href":154,"text":270},"Flume 2",", ",[152,273],{"href":274,"text":275},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3e4dU19","Moen Flo",", and ",[152,278],{"href":279,"text":280},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3hBP89s","Streamlabs",". Unlike leak sensors you place under likely places a leak might occur like near a toilet or under a sink that alarm when water is detected, these all attach to the main water supply for your house allowing them to measure the water flow for your entire house.",[11,283,284],{},"They have intelligence to alert you to unusual water usage. The Moen Flo even has an integrated shut off valve allowing you to remotely shut off water to your house in an emergency.",[11,286,287,288,290],{},"The ",[152,289],{"href":274,"text":275}," is the most expensive, but the integrated water shut off is worth it in my opinion and the specifications claim it can detect up to 1 drop per minute or \"microleaks\". It can also detect high pressure and has a temperature sensor for freeze warnings.",[11,292,293],{},"However, for the Moen Flo installation you need enough exposed pipe to cut your existing pipe and install the Flo and also have a nearby source of power to plug it into. The Streamlabs doesn't require plumbing, but it also needs power, and isn't as sensitive as either other option (it theoretically wouldn't be as good at finding small leaks).",[11,295,296],{},"Florida houses like mine don't have power nearby the main shut off and there is no basement or crawl space to access more of the pipe than this.",[11,298,299],{},[254,300],{"alt":301,"src":302},"Main water shut off - no space","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\u002Fpipe.jpg",[11,304,305,306,310],{},"A newer option I haven't tested is ",[30,307],{"href":308,"text":309},"https:\u002F\u002Fhydrificwater.com\u002F","Droplet by Hydrific",", which uses ultrasonic sensors clamped onto the main pipe instead of reading the water meter. Based on Hydrific's installation requirements, it attaches near the main shutoff and needs a power outlet within about five feet, the same constraint that ruled out the Moen Flo and Streamlabs at my house.",[11,312,313],{},"This ultimately led me to the Flume 2 because it non-invasively attaches to your water meter and is powered by replaceable lithium batteries that last for 2-4 years.",[11,315,316],{},[254,317],{"alt":318,"src":319},"Flume 2 plumbing","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\u002Fflume2-plumbing.png",[22,321,323],{"id":322},"flume-2-installation","Flume 2 Installation",[11,325,326,327,331],{},"The below how-to video goes over my experience installing the Flume water monitor on a Tesla4 water meter. Flume claims to be compatible with about 95% of water meters in the US, but you can use the ",[30,328],{"href":329,"text":330},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.flumewater.com\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002F1618594-is-the-flume-device-compatible-with-all-water-meters","chat on their website"," where they can help you confirm before purchasing.",[11,333,334],{},"It's 5 minutes and worth your time, I promise 👇",[18,336],{"src":337},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F-1y3UyRfWkE",[70,339,341],{"id":340},"installation-steps","Installation Steps",[343,344,345,348,351,354,357,360],"ol",{},[46,346,347],{},"Download the Flume app to your phone, register",[46,349,350],{},"Locate the water meter in your yard",[46,352,353],{},"Strap Flume alongside your water meter",[46,355,356],{},"Plug the wireless bridge into power in your house that was wifi signal",[46,358,359],{},"Pair using the app prompts",[46,361,362],{},"Run some water from a faucet to calibrate when the app prompts you",[11,364,365],{},"My installation was straightforward and everything detected right away.",[22,367,369],{"id":368},"how-does-flume-work-does-it-work-well","How does Flume work? Does it work well?",[11,371,372,373,377],{},"Somehow Flume reads the magnetic field of your water meter allowing it to detect, they claim, as low as .01 to .03 gallons per minute or around 1 gallon per hour which would be close to 152 drips (",[30,374],{"href":375,"text":376},"https:\u002F\u002Fwater.usgs.gov\u002Fedu\u002Factivity-drip.html","assuming 15,140 drips in a gallon",") of water per minute without needing to invasively cut and splice the Flume into your plumbing.",[70,379,381],{"id":380},"how-accurate-is-the-flume-water-monitor","How Accurate Is the Flume Water Monitor?",[11,383,384,385,389],{},"The first thing I did was ",[30,386],{"href":387,"text":388},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=-1y3UyRfWkE&t=183s","test the flow rate"," by filling up the known volume of a bucket with my garden hose and was shocked that it was exactly right. Flume also let's you check the accuracy through a tool on their website from your account there by comparing meter reads at least 24 hours apart. Five years in, the usage data is still the part of Flume I value most.",[70,391,393],{"id":392},"leak-detection","Leak detection",[11,395,396],{},"In the first few months after installing it, Flume notified me by text and push notification that a leak was detected a few times. I immediately panicked and started looking around the house.",[398,399,400,408],"figure",{},[11,401,402],{},[254,403],{"alt":404,"src":405,"className":406},"Flume app notification alerting that a leak was detected","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\u002Fleak-detected.jpg",[407],"portrait",[409,410,415],"figcaption",{"className":411},[412,413,414],"text-sm","text-muted","mt-2","A Flume leak alert, sent by text and push notification",[11,417,418],{},"I discovered the first time was a bathroom faucet not shut off all the way and the other two were when my temporary hose-end lawn sprinkler had a constant small drip from its O-ring after it shut off. The first time, their customer service even sent me a follow up message to make sure everything was ok!",[11,420,421],{},"So leak detection does work, but it does require a constant detectable use for minimum 2 hours. If it is something under 1\u002F100 of a gallon it may not pick it up automatically.",[11,423,424],{},"The usage chart is good for picking up usage at odd times of day. For example, if nobody was using the water in the middle of the night and you see usage that isn't attributable to maybe your ice-maker or a flushing toilet it might mean something strange is going on.",[11,426,427],{},[254,428],{"alt":429,"src":430},"Flume water use graph","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\u002Fflume-chart.png",[22,432,434],{"id":433},"what-flume-detects-well-and-what-it-misses","What Flume Detects Well (and What It Misses)",[11,436,437],{},"After five years, here's how Flume's leak detection breaks down in practice.",[11,439,440],{},[49,441,442],{},"Great at catching:",[43,444,445,451,456,462],{},[46,446,447,450],{},[49,448,449],{},"Faucets left running,"," like the bathroom faucet that triggered my first alert",[46,452,453],{},[49,454,455],{},"Running toilets",[46,457,458,461],{},[49,459,460],{},"Irrigation leaks,"," like my hose-end sprinkler dripping from its O-ring",[46,463,464,467],{},[49,465,466],{},"Unusually high usage,"," like a burst pipe or a large leak, which stands out immediately in the usage data",[11,469,470],{},[49,471,472],{},"Not good at catching:",[43,474,475],{},[46,476,477,480],{},[49,478,479],{},"Slow, ongoing leaks,"," like pinhole leaks and slab leaks under the foundation. These are the leaks that do the most hidden damage over time, and they're the kind Flume missed for me.",[11,482,483],{},"If slow leaks are your main worry, as they were mine, treat Flume as one layer of protection, not the whole plan.",[22,485,487],{"id":486},"does-flume-require-a-subscription","Does Flume Require a Subscription?",[11,489,490,491,495,496,500],{},"No. According to ",[30,492],{"href":493,"text":494},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.flumewater.com\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002F2524512-are-there-any-monthly-fees","Flume's help center",", there are no monthly fees if you buy the device from Amazon or flumewater.com. That includes real-time usage data, leak detection, custom alerts, water budgets, appliance-level breakdowns, and API access. Flume used to sell some of these as premium features, but ",[30,497],{"href":498,"text":499},"https:\u002F\u002Fflumewater.com\u002Fall-the-very-best-of-flume-now-included-with-every-purchase\u002F","since April 2022"," they're included with every purchase.",[11,502,503],{},"The exception is a Flume you get through a water utility or partner program, where features and fees can vary, so check that program's terms.",[22,505,507],{"id":506},"cost-savings","Cost savings!",[11,509,510],{},"When I was going over my policy with my agent earlier in the year they briefly mentioned something about credits being available for smart water monitoring devices. After I installed the Flume, I reached out to my insurance company, and they applied a credit to my policy that ended up paying for the cost of the Flume 💧🤑! If you're considering one, it's worth asking your own insurer.",[11,512,513],{},"Beyond that, you realize how much water certain activities use which let's you be more aware which helps to conserve. For example, hand watering the lawn exceeded my household water usage on some days which I had no idea beforehand.",[22,515,517],{"id":516},"flume-2-review-5-years-later","Flume 2 Review: 5 Years Later",[11,519,520],{},"The original review was written three months after installation. Here's what long-term ownership has added.",[70,522,524],{"id":523},"it-missed-a-slab-leak","It missed a slab leak",[11,526,527],{},"Two years ago I had another slab leak, and Flume never alerted me to it. That leak is what finally led me to repipe the house. Slow, ongoing leaks like this one are Flume's weak spot, and unfortunately, the type of catastrophic leak I bought it to catch is the one it didn't catch.",[11,529,530],{},"That doesn't make the usage data less useful, but I'd no longer treat Flume as complete protection against slab leaks. Keep checking the usage history yourself, and if you suspect a leak, call a leak detection professional rather than waiting for an alert.",[70,532,534],{"id":533},"is-the-flume-2-waterproof","Is the Flume 2 waterproof?",[11,536,537,538,542],{},"Flume says the sensor is waterproof, which matters because it lives in your outdoor meter box. According to ",[30,539],{"href":540,"text":541},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.flumewater.com\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002F5520424-my-flume-water-sensor-disconnected","Flume's support documentation",", if the meter box floods and the sensor is submerged, it can temporarily lose its connection, and Flume recommends draining the box before putting the sensor back on the meter.",[11,544,545],{},"Waterproof didn't mean trouble-free for me, though, as the next section explains.",[70,547,549],{"id":548},"battery-pack-failures-and-a-replacement-unit","Battery pack failures and a replacement unit",[11,551,552],{},"My original unit started having repeated battery pack failures early on. Flume support attributed it to corrosion, even though I couldn't see any water inside the casing. They replaced it with a newer revision of the Flume 2 that fixed the issue, and the replacement has worked without problems for two years. I'd attribute this to early-adopter growing pains and I doubt the newer models, including the revision I now have, will reencounter this kind of failure.",[70,554,556],{"id":555},"replacing-the-flume-2-battery-pack","Replacing the Flume 2 battery pack",[11,558,559,560,563],{},"The Flume 2 runs on a proprietary battery pack. On my original unit, the first pack only lasted about 10 months, part of the early battery failures Flume support attributed to corrosion. The newer revision of the Flume 2 I switched to has had much longer battery life, so battery replacement has become an occasional chore rather than a real annoyance. My ",[174,561,562],{"href":211},"Flume 2 battery replacement guide"," walks through it step by step with video, including recalibrating afterward, what a replacement pack costs, and the F2X's AA batteries.",[70,565,567],{"id":566},"range-and-connection-reliability","Range and connection reliability",[11,569,570],{},"My Flume bridge is in the garage, about 50 feet from the sensor on the water meter in the yard, and the sensor has never dropped its connection to the bridge, even with the signal passing through a metal garage door.",[11,572,573],{},"Flume also handles internet outages well. It notifies me when it loses its connection, which has only happened when my ISP is down, and reconnects on its own once service is back.",[22,575,577],{"id":576},"flume-f2x-whats-new","Flume F2X: What's New",[11,579,580,581,583,584,588],{},"Flume has since released the ",[152,582],{"href":154,"text":155}," (also called the Flume 2X). According to ",[30,585],{"href":586,"text":587},"https:\u002F\u002Fflumewater.com\u002Fproduct\u002F","Flume",", it adds three upgrades over the Flume 2:",[43,590,591,597,603],{},[46,592,593,596],{},[49,594,595],{},"Standard AA battery packs"," instead of a proprietary pack. This addresses one of the most common complaints about the Flume 2. It mattered less to me because my packs lasted a long time, but it means replacements are easy to find.",[46,598,599,602],{},[49,600,601],{},"A reinforced parylene coating"," for better protection against water and the elements. That's aimed at exactly the kind of corrosion-related failure my original unit had.",[46,604,605,608],{},[49,606,607],{},"Upgraded Wi-Fi"," for faster, more reliable setup.",[11,610,611],{},"I haven't used the F2X myself, but if I were buying today, it's the model I'd get.",[22,613,615],{"id":614},"final-thoughts","Final thoughts",[11,617,618],{},"After five years, I'd rate Flume 4 out of 5. It's accurate and reliable for whole-house water usage, it catches everyday leaks like a running faucet, and it's easy to install where other monitors can't go. It loses a star because it missed the slab leak it was supposed to protect me from.",[11,620,621],{},"Flume also provides access to your data through an API, though I haven't tested that yet, but it's important to many.",[11,623,624,625,628],{},"If you want one, the ",[152,626],{"href":154,"text":627},"Flume F2X on Amazon"," is the current model.",[179,630],{":items":631},"[{\"label\":\"Does the Flume water monitor need power at the water meter?\",\"content\":\"No. The Flume sensor straps onto your water meter and runs on batteries, so it needs no power or plumbing work at the meter. Only its wireless bridge plugs into an outlet inside your house within Wi-Fi range.\"},{\"label\":\"How small a leak can Flume detect?\",\"content\":\"Flume claims it can detect flows as low as about 0.01 to 0.03 gallons per minute, depending on your water meter. In practice, its leak alerts need roughly two hours of continuous flow. It caught a dripping faucet and a leaking sprinkler O-ring for me, but it missed an slow slab leak under my foundation.\"},{\"label\":\"How accurate is the Flume water monitor?\",\"content\":\"Very accurate in my testing. When I filled a bucket of known volume with a garden hose, Flume reported exactly the right amount. Flume also offers an accuracy check that compares your water meter readings at least 24 hours apart.\"},{\"label\":\"Does Flume require a subscription?\",\"content\":\"No. Flume says there are no monthly fees for devices bought from Amazon or flumewater.com, and since April 2022 its former premium features, like appliance-level breakdowns and custom alerts, are included with every purchase. Devices from water utility or partner programs may have different terms.\"},{\"label\":\"Is the Flume 2 waterproof?\",\"content\":\"Flume says the sensor is waterproof. If your meter box floods and the sensor is submerged, it can temporarily lose its connection. My original unit still had battery pack failures that Flume support attributed to corrosion, and the newer Flume F2X adds a parylene coating for better water protection.\"},{\"label\":\"How far can the Flume bridge be from the sensor?\",\"content\":\"My bridge sits in my garage about 50 feet from the sensor on the water meter, and in five years the sensor has never dropped its connection, even through a metal garage door. Range will vary with your home's construction.\"},{\"label\":\"Can Flume detect slab leaks?\",\"content\":\"Not reliably, in my experience. Slow, ongoing leaks like slab and pinhole leaks are Flume's weak spot, and it never alerted me to a slab leak under my foundation that eventually led to repiping the house. Check its usage history for unexplained water use, but do not rely on alerts alone to catch slab leaks.\"},{\"label\":\"What is the difference between the Flume 2 and the Flume F2X?\",\"content\":\"According to Flume, the F2X adds standard AA battery packs instead of a proprietary pack, a reinforced parylene coating for better water protection, and upgraded Wi-Fi for faster setup.\"},{\"label\":\"How long do Flume batteries last?\",\"content\":\"Flume rates the Flume 2 battery pack for 2 to 4 years, and mine are presently within that range in real-world use. The newer Flume F2X uses two standard AA battery packs.\"},{\"label\":\"Flume vs Droplet: which water monitor is better?\",\"content\":\"They install differently. Flume reads your water meter and runs on batteries, while Droplet clamps ultrasonic sensors onto the main pipe and needs a power outlet within about five feet. If you have no power near your main shutoff, as in my Florida house, Flume is the option that works.\"}]",[183,633],{":items":634},"[\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fyale-smart-door-lock-installation\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume-water-monitor-battery-replacement\"]",{"title":187,"searchDepth":188,"depth":188,"links":636},[637,638,639,642,646,647,648,649,656,657],{"id":246,"depth":188,"text":247},{"id":263,"depth":188,"text":264},{"id":322,"depth":188,"text":323,"children":640},[641],{"id":340,"depth":195,"text":341},{"id":368,"depth":188,"text":369,"children":643},[644,645],{"id":380,"depth":195,"text":381},{"id":392,"depth":195,"text":393},{"id":433,"depth":188,"text":434},{"id":486,"depth":188,"text":487},{"id":506,"depth":188,"text":507},{"id":516,"depth":188,"text":517,"children":650},[651,652,653,654,655],{"id":523,"depth":195,"text":524},{"id":533,"depth":195,"text":534},{"id":548,"depth":195,"text":549},{"id":555,"depth":195,"text":556},{"id":566,"depth":195,"text":567},{"id":576,"depth":188,"text":577},{"id":614,"depth":188,"text":615},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\u002Fflume2-review.jpg","2021-07-06","Five years with the Flume 2 water monitor: real leak alerts, a slab leak it missed, battery and corrosion issues, and what the newer Flume F2X fixes.",{},{"name":663,"brand":587,"rating":664,"pros":665,"cons":671},"Flume 2 Smart Water Monitor",4,[666,667,668,669,670],"Installs on the water meter with no plumbing work and no power needed at the meter","Flow readings matched a known volume in my bucket test","Catches faucets left running, running toilets, and irrigation leaks","Usage history makes unusual water use at odd hours easy to spot","Reconnects reliably on its own after internet outages",[672,673,674,675],"Misses slow, ongoing leaks like pinhole and slab leaks; it missed one that led to repiping my house","Leak alerts need about two hours of continuous flow","No automatic shutoff valve like the Moen Flo","My first unit's battery packs failed early, which Flume support attributed to corrosion",{"title":224,"description":660},{"loc":176},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review","Y4MhqEYMdgDYwyUypHGG-paSszeEmzIyZQ1M1C1RpEI",{"id":681,"title":682,"bmcUsername":6,"body":683,"cover":902,"date":903,"description":904,"draft":207,"extension":208,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":905,"navigation":210,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":906,"review":6,"seo":907,"sitemap":908,"stem":909,"updated":6,"video":6,"__hash__":910},"content\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings.md","How to Find Your Variable Speed Pool Pump's Most Efficient Speed Without a Flow Meter",{"type":8,"value":684,"toc":890},[685,689,692,695,698,701,705,713,726,737,740,743,746,750,761,765,768,774,777,780,786,790,793,796,799,813,819,823,831,835,845,848,851,862,865,874,878,881,884,887],[22,686,688],{"id":687},"calculating-your-optimum-variable-pool-pump-speed","Calculating your Optimum Variable Pool Pump Speed",[11,690,691],{},"New smart pool pumps come with variable speed motors that allow you to optimize your flow rate through speed control in order to keep your pool clean, run water features, and\u002For pump water to solar collectors on your roof while using less electricity to do so compared to a pool pump with a single speed motor.",[11,693,694],{},"You can do this by adjusting the pump speed, through RPM settings, which increases the flow, measured in gallons per minute or GPM.",[11,696,697],{},"Some pool pumps have built in flow meters that will tell you your gpm flow rate, but most only provide performance charts that let you determine your gpm at specific RPMs. However, to use these charts you need to know your Total Dynamic Head (TDH).",[11,699,700],{},"This article will help you calculate your total dynamic head allowing you to determine your gpm flow rate at various RPM speeds letting you run your smart variable speed pool pump at the slowest, most energy efficient, settings to save money and run your pool pump quietly.",[22,702,704],{"id":703},"calculating-total-dynamic-head-with-pressure-and-vacuum-gauges","Calculating Total Dynamic Head with Pressure and Vacuum Gauges",[233,706,707],{},[236,708,709],{},[11,710,711,243],{},[49,712,242],{},[11,714,715,716,720,721,725],{},"You can calculate the total dynamic head (TDH) in your pool plumbing by placing a ",[152,717],{"href":718,"text":719},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F31fVhjC","vacuum gauge"," on the suction side of the pool pump and a ",[152,722],{"href":723,"text":724},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F39apt4i","pressure gauge"," at the pressure side. If your pool filter is clean and has a pressure gauge you can use that as well.",[11,727,728,729,731,732,736],{},"The below video goes through installing the ",[152,730],{"href":718,"text":719}," on the suction side of a ",[152,733],{"href":734,"text":735},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3lL2Rwr","Pentair SuperFlo pump"," and explains the calculations in the remainder of this article.",[18,738],{"src":739},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fio9pSRM92FQ",[11,741,742],{},"After the gauges are installed, run your pool pump at the various RPM speeds that match the performance curves in your pool pump manual and record the vacuum gauge reading in Hg and the pressure gauge reading in psi.",[11,744,745],{},"To calculate the TDH, total dynamic head, multiply the Hg reading by 1.13, the psi reading by 2.31 and add the two for the TDH.",[70,747,749],{"id":748},"tdh-formula","TDH formula",[343,751,752,755,758],{},[46,753,754],{},"Multiply Hg reading by 1.13",[46,756,757],{},"Multiply Psi reading by 2.31",[46,759,760],{},"Add products together for TDH",[22,762,764],{"id":763},"using-total-dynamic-head-to-find-gpm-flow-rate","Using Total Dynamic Head to find GPM flow rate",[11,766,767],{},"In your pool pump manual there should be a performance chart like this one from the Pentair SuperFlo below. Using the total dynamic head value you calculated paired with your RPM speed you can use this chart to determine the GPM flow rate.",[11,769,770],{},[254,771],{"alt":772,"src":773},"Pentair SuperFlo VS performance chart showing GPM flow rate curves at various RPM speeds against total dynamic head","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings\u002Fpentair-flow-rate-chart.webp",[11,775,776],{},"For example, let's pretend our TDH calculation came out to 55 when we were at 3000rpm. Start on the left axis of this chart labeled total dynamic head, draw a line to where it intersects the curve for 3000rpm, and then draw a line down to the bottom GPM axis.",[11,778,779],{},"If you follow the red line in the chart above for our example you'd see our GPM is 45. At 3,000 RPM our pump would move 45 gallons per minute of water under that amount of dynamic head.",[11,781,782],{},[783,784,785],"em",{},"The TDH values change at different speeds so be sure to rerun the calculations for the different RPM curves to determine GPM at higher and lower speeds.",[22,787,789],{"id":788},"using-gpm-to-optimize-runtime-and-speed","Using GPM to Optimize Runtime and Speed",[11,791,792],{},"A variable speed pump will use the least amount of electricity at low speed, even if you need to run it longer, to filter the same volume of water in your pool than running it faster for less time.",[11,794,795],{},"Some people run theirs for 24 hours a day at an extremely low speed. It saves money and keeping the water circulating keeps it more sanitary than if it were stagnant.",[11,797,798],{},"However, there are several factors to consider when determining your run time.",[343,800,801,804,807,810],{},[46,802,803],{},"Total gallons of water in your pool",[46,805,806],{},"GPM requirements of pool features",[46,808,809],{},"GPM requirements of suction-side pool cleaners",[46,811,812],{},"Solar collector flow rates",[11,814,815,816],{},"A simple calculation without accounting for 2 through 4 would have you divide your pool volume in gallons by your GPM to determine how long you should run your pool for. ",[783,817,818],{},"In most residential settings a 1x turnover of the pool volume is recommended",[70,820,822],{"id":821},"example-for-a-20000-gallon-pool-w-50-gpm-flow-rate","Example for a 20,000 gallon pool w\u002F 50 GPM flow rate",[343,824,825,828],{},[46,826,827],{},"50gpm * 60min = 3000gph",[46,829,830],{},"20,000 gallons \u002F 3000gph = 6.67 hours of runtime needed",[70,832,834],{"id":833},"considerations-for-solar","Considerations for Solar",[11,836,837,838,844],{},"In my case, I have a ",[174,839,843],{"href":840,"rel":841},"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FhHab_E1eD7w",[842],"nofollow","suction side pool cleaner"," and solar heat collectors on my roof. When my solar controller goes on there is more pressure so my TDH changes. In addition, the solar heater works best at a 32gpm flow rate.",[11,846,847],{},"This means I have to run at a higher RPM to make up for it when heating the pool.",[11,849,850],{},"My Pentair SuperFlo VS has 3 different speed programs it can automate per day so I paired the runtime and RPM to run at the slowest speeds that will filter through the total volume of water in my pool per day (19,000 gallon pool) during daylight hours while staying at flow rates good for solar and my pool cleaner.",[343,852,853,856,859],{},[46,854,855],{},"1900rpm @ 350 watts \u002F 31gpm \u002F 5 hours",[46,857,858],{},"2600rpm @ 775 watts \u002F 47gpm \u002F 2 hours",[46,860,861],{},"2200rpm @ 500 watts \u002F 37gpm \u002F 2 hours",[11,863,864],{},"That gives me a 9 hour runtime and filters 19,380 gallons.",[11,866,867,868,873],{},"I posted ",[174,869,872],{"href":870,"rel":871},"https:\u002F\u002Fdrive.google.com\u002Ffile\u002Fd\u002F1TGU2pmePiY4UmnULn8OzMFYF9SJp-cTA\u002Fview?usp=sharing",[842],"my Pentair SuperFlo VS flow rate calculation spreadsheet"," on drive if you want to use it for your own project.",[30,875],{"href":876,"text":877},"https:\u002F\u002Ffloridasolardesigngroup.com\u002Fcan-you-run-water-through-solar-pool-heating-panels-too-fast-causing-it-not-to-heat-long-enough\u002F","Extra reading: Can you run water through solar pool heating panels too fast?",[22,879,880],{"id":614},"Final Thoughts",[11,882,883],{},"I found this method very helpful for calculating my pool pump's flow rate. Alternative calculations either require a dedicated flow meter, that I didn't have the plumbing space to add, or error prone estimates based on length of pipe, diameters, and height.",[11,885,886],{},"I hope you also found this useful if you were in a similar situation and trying to figure out how to best take advantage of your variable speed pump controls.",[183,888],{":items":889},"[\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Faiper-experts-duo-review\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-powered-mini-split-installation\"]",{"title":187,"searchDepth":188,"depth":188,"links":891},[892,893,896,897,901],{"id":687,"depth":188,"text":688},{"id":703,"depth":188,"text":704,"children":894},[895],{"id":748,"depth":195,"text":749},{"id":763,"depth":188,"text":764},{"id":788,"depth":188,"text":789,"children":898},[899,900],{"id":821,"depth":195,"text":822},{"id":833,"depth":195,"text":834},{"id":614,"depth":188,"text":880},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings\u002Fpentair-superflo-pump-speed.webp","2021-03-29","How to calculate total dynamic head (TDH) to find your variable speed pool pump's optimal GPM and RPM settings — no flow meter required.",{},"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings",{"title":682,"description":904},{"loc":906},"diy-home-upgrades\u002Fcalculate-gph-flow-rate-pool-pump-savings","2hYyYMV_F8txsRL5prkPzu1VTDpHYw2N-ExKuR4u64w",{"id":912,"title":913,"bmcUsername":6,"body":914,"cover":1233,"date":1234,"description":1235,"draft":207,"extension":208,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":1236,"navigation":210,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":1237,"review":6,"seo":1238,"sitemap":1239,"stem":1240,"updated":6,"video":6,"__hash__":1241},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review.md","Reviewing SwitchBot door contact and motion sensor home automation",{"type":8,"value":915,"toc":1225},[916,919,922,927,930,933,942,945,950,954,962,968,971,976,988,991,1009,1012,1015,1030,1033,1037,1040,1049,1057,1063,1066,1069,1083,1086,1090,1093,1099,1107,1111,1114,1125,1130,1133,1136,1139,1143,1151,1202,1204,1212,1219,1222],[11,917,918],{},"SwitchBot added unique door contact and motion sensors to their smart home lineup and this article will go over how to use them to create smart home routines to control lights based on your doors opening or sensing room occupancy or the lack thereof.",[11,920,921],{},"These sensors are unique because the door contact sensor, for example, includes a motion sensor and ambient light sensor in addition to the standard contact sensor.",[236,923,924],{},[11,925,926],{},"This gives the contact sensor the ability to create more intelligent routines based on secondary criteria based on ambient light or if the room is occupied.",[11,928,929],{},"I'm excited for the stand alone motion sensor because I can put them in bedrooms and have it work with my TP-Link Kasa light switches (or other smart switches) to shut the lights off when people forget to using Alexa routines.",[11,931,932],{},"In the remainder of this article I'll go over the features of the SwitchBot door contact and motion sensors and how I set them up and installed them using Amazon Alexa and the SwitchBot app.",[11,934,935,936,941],{},"If you prefer to see the video version of the ",[174,937,940],{"href":938,"rel":939},"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FGtLAb6aMnvQ",[842],"SwitchBot review"," you can watch that below or continue reading.",[18,943],{"src":944},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FGtLAb6aMnvQ",[11,946,947],{},[783,948,949],{},"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made from links on the site which is a great way to support it if you are interested in purchasing any of the SwitchBot products mentioned.",[22,951,953],{"id":952},"switchbot-contact-sensor","SwitchBot Contact Sensor",[11,955,956,957,961],{},"The SwitchBot ",[152,958],{"href":959,"text":960},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F2WtbSC7","contact sensors"," can mount on things like doors, drawers, and cabinets so when they are opened and closed you can trigger home automation routines.",[11,963,964],{},[254,965],{"alt":966,"src":967},"Switchbot door contact sensor","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact.jpg",[11,969,970],{},"If you are using various smart assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri you can speak voice commands like",[236,972,973],{},[11,974,975],{},"Hey [ Alexa, Google, Siri ] is the [ name here ] door opened?",[11,977,978,979,271,983,987],{},"You can also integrate it with your other SwitchBot devices like their ",[152,980],{"href":981,"text":982},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3At6Nro","curtain-opener",[174,984,986],{"href":985},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fsmart-switch-no-neutral-using-switchbot","bot (button pusher)",", and indoor camera. You can use the contact sensor to initiate routines like closing the curtains when you leave the house or turn on a light when you open the door when entering your house.",[11,989,990],{},"You can go a step further and setup a smart home routine with secondary criteria like",[11,992,993,996,997,1000,1001,1004,1005,1008],{},[783,994,995],{},"IF"," the door is opened ",[783,998,999],{},"AND"," it's dark inside ",[783,1002,1003],{},"THEN"," turn on the light ",[783,1006,1007],{},"ELSE"," don't do anything",[11,1010,1011],{},"because the SwitchBot contact sensor includes a light sensor so it can tell how bright it is in the room you place it.",[11,1013,1014],{},"You can also help SwitchBot differentiate between a normal door open and close with leaving the house for example by using the physical button it has on the face. You can press that when you enter or leave the house to make an even more complex routine like",[11,1016,1017,996,1019,1021,1022,1024,1025,1027,1028,1008],{},[783,1018,995],{},[783,1020,999],{}," the contact button is pushed ",[783,1023,999],{}," it's dark ",[783,1026,1003],{}," turn on the outside lights ",[783,1029,1007],{},[11,1031,1032],{},"As far as mounting it is pretty flexible. It comes in two pieces; the sensor and contact magnet. You can stick them slightly apart on a fixed and moving surface like the door frame and door using 3m adhesive or screws.",[22,1034,1036],{"id":1035},"switchbot-motion-sensor","SwitchBot Motion Sensor",[11,1038,1039],{},"I've always wanted my smart light switches to also include an occupancy or vacancy sensor, but at least in my case I found the idea is problematic because where my switches are located they don't have a good view of the room. Consequently, light switches with motion sensors fail to detect people in the room and shut the lights off on them.",[236,1041,1042],{},[11,1043,287,1044,1048],{},[152,1045],{"href":1046,"text":1047},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F38oreu0","SwitchBot motion sensor"," allows for placement of the sensor in the room wherever it makes most sense for coverage.",[11,1050,1051,1052,1056],{},"So now, I can put the SwitchBot motion sensor in a bedroom corner where it can pickup motion in the entire room, and setup an Alexa routine to switch off my ",[174,1053,1055],{"href":1054},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsmart-lighting\u002Ftplink-kasa-light-switch-hs200","TP-Link Kasa light switch"," when no motion is detected after 5 minutes for example.",[11,1058,1059],{},[254,1060],{"alt":1061,"src":1062},"Switchbot motion sensor","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\u002Fswitchbot-motion-sensor.jpg",[11,1064,1065],{},"Just like the door contact sensor, the SwitchBot motion sensor includes an ambient light sensor. This allowed me to setup a routine to turn on a light in the pass through when it is dark inside while also shutting it off if it doesn't sense any motion in the room for awhile.",[11,1067,1068],{},"The motion sensor also has flexible mounting options using it's angle-adjustable magnetic pedestal base including",[43,1070,1071,1074,1077,1080],{},[46,1072,1073],{},"Stick on something magnetic",[46,1075,1076],{},"Place on a shelf",[46,1078,1079],{},"Stick on a wall with adhesive",[46,1081,1082],{},"Mount with screws",[11,1084,1085],{},"The motion sensor also has adjustments to reduce false positives from larger pets like dogs.",[22,1087,1089],{"id":1088},"installation","Installation",[11,1091,1092],{},"Both sensors use AAA batteries for power which are included. To pair the sensors, once the batteries are installed, you simply open the SwitchBot app and push the + sign in the top right to add a device then select your motion or contact sensor from the list.",[11,1094,1095],{},[254,1096],{"alt":1097,"src":1098},"Switchbot app","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\u002Fswitchbot-app.jpg",[11,1100,1101,1102,1106],{},"The app walks you through the rest. I highly recommend getting the ",[152,1103],{"href":1104,"text":1105},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3yyqzRh","SwitchBot hub"," to allow external access to your SwitchBot devices otherwise you are limited to bluetooth range of your phone for control.",[22,1108,1110],{"id":1109},"setting-up-switchbot-scenes","Setting up SwitchBot Scenes",[11,1112,1113],{},"To setup automation using your sensors head into the SwitchBot app and select the Scenes tab. From there you can select your sensors and the app will present you with criteria you can trigger applicable to what the device can sense like motion or ambient room brightness.",[11,1115,1116,1117,1120,1121,1124],{},"Here I setup a scene to trigger my SwitchBot bot to click on the kitchen light switch ",[783,1118,1119],{},"when"," the SwitchBot motion sensor detects motion in the room ",[783,1122,1123],{},"and"," the light sensor detects it is dark inside the room.",[11,1126,1127],{},[254,1128],{"alt":1097,"src":1129},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\u002Fswitchbot-scene.jpg",[11,1131,1132],{},"So now when someone walks into the kitchen pass-through at a dark time of the night the lights will automatically turn on for them, but if the ambient brightness of the room is bright enough it won't unnecessarily turn on the lights.",[11,1134,1135],{},"If you don't want to use their app the SwitchBot is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings, and Clova.",[11,1137,1138],{},"When integrating routines with devices made by other manufacturers, like TP-Link for example, I found it easier to use Alexa to create the routine.",[22,1140,1142],{"id":1141},"setting-up-alexa-routines","Setting up Alexa Routines",[11,1144,1145,1146,1150],{},"I used Alexa to setup a routine to use the SwitchBot motion sensor as a trigger for my TP-Link ",[152,1147],{"href":1148,"text":1149},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3iPjneu","HS200"," light switch. To setup an Alexa routine.",[343,1152,1153,1156,1159,1162,1165,1168,1174,1177,1180,1187,1193,1196,1199],{},[46,1154,1155],{},"Open the Alexa app",[46,1157,1158],{},"Select More on the bottom right",[46,1160,1161],{},"Press Routines",[46,1163,1164],{},"Press the + icon in the upper right",[46,1166,1167],{},"Provide a routine name",[46,1169,1170,1171],{},"Click the + icon next to ",[783,1172,1173],{},"When this happens",[46,1175,1176],{},"Select SmartHome",[46,1178,1179],{},"Select your SwitchBot device (motion sensor for example)",[46,1181,1182,1183,1186],{},"Set when ",[783,1184,1185],{},"Motion is..."," detected\u002Fnot detected",[46,1188,1189,1190],{},"Back at the routine screen press ",[783,1191,1192],{},"Add Action",[46,1194,1195],{},"Select Smart Home > All Devices",[46,1197,1198],{},"Select the TP-Link light switch (or whatever you want to control)",[46,1200,1201],{},"Follow remaining prompts to save",[22,1203,880],{"id":614},[11,1205,1206,1207,1211],{},"The SwitchBot motion and contact sensors allowed the extra input criteria to create some really useful automations with their existing product line up. For example, if you were using the ",[152,1208],{"href":1209,"text":1210},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3oQk3nM","SwitchBot humidifier"," for a bedroom you could use the motion sensor to turn it off when nobody is in the room.",[11,1213,1214,1215,1218],{},"My favorite is the ",[152,1216],{"href":1046,"text":1217},"motion sensor"," because I can finally setup reliable vacancy-sensing routines to turn lights off around the house.",[11,1220,1221],{},"Feel free to use my social links below with any questions and thanks for reading!",[183,1223],{":items":1224},"[\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fsmart-switch-no-neutral-using-switchbot\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fyale-smart-door-lock-installation\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fflume2-wifi-leak-meter-review\",\"\u002Fnetworking\u002Fubiquiti\u002Fsecure-iot-with-ubiquiti-vlan-firewall-rules\"]",{"title":187,"searchDepth":188,"depth":188,"links":1226},[1227,1228,1229,1230,1231,1232],{"id":952,"depth":188,"text":953},{"id":1035,"depth":188,"text":1036},{"id":1088,"depth":188,"text":1089},{"id":1109,"depth":188,"text":1110},{"id":1141,"depth":188,"text":1142},{"id":614,"depth":188,"text":880},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review\u002Fswitchbot-motion-contact-banner.jpg","2021-10-11","In this review I'll use SwitchBot door contact and motion sensors to setup smart home automation routines using Amazon Alexa and the SwitchBot app to turn on lights when I open the door or shut lights off when occupancy isn't detected in the room.",{},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review",{"title":913,"description":1235},{"loc":1237},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fswitchbot-door-contact-and-motion-sensor-review","ZUyG_e6aT3jR4zraA2J1gGxJGGnCOrcYImH8VFyj-HM",{"id":1243,"title":1244,"bmcUsername":6,"body":1245,"cover":1454,"date":1455,"description":1456,"draft":207,"extension":208,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":1457,"navigation":210,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":1458,"review":1459,"seo":1473,"sitemap":1474,"stem":1475,"updated":1476,"video":6,"__hash__":1477},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review.md","Ecobee Smart Thermostat Review: 6 Years of Real-World Use",{"type":8,"value":1246,"toc":1442},[1247,1255,1258,1266,1269,1272,1276,1296,1300,1303,1307,1310,1314,1317,1330,1333,1337,1340,1343,1347,1350,1356,1360,1363,1367,1388,1392,1395,1400,1414,1419,1430,1436,1439],[11,1248,1249,1250,1254],{},"For a long time I debated whether it was worth it to upgrade from a 7 day programmable thermostat to an ",[152,1251],{"href":1252,"text":1253},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F4bIQzyP","Ecobee smart thermostat",". As my schedule became less predictable the ability of the Ecobee to dynamically adjust\u002Fdetect occupancy and the ability to place sensors through the house for temperature balance became a stronger selling point and made me decide to give the Ecobee 3 a try.",[11,1256,1257],{},"After owning the Ecobee 3 for over six years I thought it would be helpful to share what I've learned along the way so others can get a complete view of long-term ownership before purchasing.",[233,1259,1260],{},[236,1261,1262],{},[11,1263,1264,243],{},[49,1265,242],{},[11,1267,1268],{},"In the video below I go over my initial Ecobee installation experience.",[18,1270],{"src":1271},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FErW22bWhtuo",[22,1273,1275],{"id":1274},"ecobee-3-features-6-year-review","Ecobee 3 Features: 6-Year Review",[43,1277,1278,1281,1284,1287,1290,1293],{},[46,1279,1280],{},"Occupancy sensor",[46,1282,1283],{},"Remote room temperature sensors",[46,1285,1286],{},"Ecobee app",[46,1288,1289],{},"Alexa integration",[46,1291,1292],{},"Humidity control (AC overcool max)",[46,1294,1295],{},"Energy tracking",[70,1297,1299],{"id":1298},"occupancy-sensor","Occupancy Sensor",[11,1301,1302],{},"The occupancy sensor has provided tangible cost savings over a 7-day programmable thermostat. For people on more predictable schedules the benefits may be less, and that held true for me after switching to remote work — with someone almost always home, the away mode savings largely disappeared. That said, I still get real value from the finer-grained scheduling and humidity controls that a simpler thermostat wouldn't provide. The occupancy detection has been consistently accurate and hasn't incorrectly triggered away mode while I've been home.",[70,1304,1306],{"id":1305},"are-ecobee-smart-sensors-worth-it","Are Ecobee Smart Sensors Worth It?",[11,1308,1309],{},"Yes, especially if some rooms in your home run warmer than others. The Ecobee 3 I purchased included 3 remote temperature sensors that run on coin batteries, lasting roughly 10-12 months each. One sensor developed a tendency to drop connection after about the first year of ownership. It eventually resolved itself and hasn't had an issue in recent years. Outside of that early hiccup, the sensors do a good job keeping rooms with extra heat sources — like a home office with computers running — balanced with the rest of the house.",[70,1311,1313],{"id":1312},"ecobee-app-and-alexa-integration","Ecobee app and Alexa integration",[11,1315,1316],{},"The Ecobee app has stayed reliable and well-organized over six years. It's easy to get to the settings you need quickly, and it's a convenient way to check or adjust the temperature when you're away from home. In recent years Ecobee added some cross-promotion banner ads at the top of the app which have made it feel busier and more promotional than before, but the core functionality is unchanged.",[398,1318,1319,1326],{},[11,1320,1321],{},[254,1322],{"alt":1323,"src":1324,"className":1325},"Ecobee app screenshot showing banner ad","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review\u002Fecobee-app-screenshot.webp",[407],[409,1327,1329],{"className":1328},[412,413,414],"The Ecobee app in 2026 — cross-promotion banners have been added at the top (takes up too much real estate IMO)",[11,1331,1332],{},"In practice, Alexa integration is how I make most temperature adjustments at home — calling out a temperature change from another room or from bed is more convenient than reaching for the phone or walking to the thermostat.",[70,1334,1336],{"id":1335},"ecobee-ac-overcool-max-humidity-control","Ecobee AC Overcool Max: Humidity Control",[11,1338,1339],{},"I discovered an Ecobee feature called AC Overcool Max which allows you to let Ecobee cool beyond your set point to lower the indoor humidity to your desired comfort level. This has been a great feature in Florida where high humidity is a consistent issue. You can see how to configure it in the video below.",[18,1341],{"src":1342},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F-vrwK5XKzDw",[70,1344,1346],{"id":1345},"energy-savings-and-dashboard","Energy Savings and Dashboard",[11,1348,1349],{},"Ecobee tracks your AC runtime and predicted savings on their portal. The dashboard has been useful for validating that home improvements like blown-in insulation actually translated to real savings — having the usage history made before-and-after comparisons straightforward. Since switching to remote work the away mode savings have dropped significantly, but the energy dashboard is still useful for monitoring overall runtime trends over time.",[11,1351,1352],{},[254,1353],{"alt":1354,"src":1355},"Ecobee energy dashboard","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review\u002Fecobee-home-iq-dashboard.png",[70,1357,1359],{"id":1358},"long-term-reliability","Long-term Reliability",[11,1361,1362],{},"One of the best aspects of the Ecobee 3 over six years of ownership is how reliable and unobtrusive it has been. No hardware failures, no significant connectivity issues, and the unit operates exactly the same today as it did on day one. Ecobee has released several newer models since the Ecobee 3 with differentiated feature sets, but I haven't had a reason to upgrade — which is a strong testament to the hardware's longevity.",[22,1364,1366],{"id":1365},"ecobee-hvac-maintenance-tips","Ecobee HVAC Maintenance Tips",[343,1368,1369,1377],{},[46,1370,1371,1372,1376],{},"Keep spare batteries on hand for the remote sensors. Buying the ",[152,1373],{"href":1374,"text":1375},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F4vxTKBG","CR2032 batteries"," online ahead of time is considerably less expensive than paying inflated drugstore prices when you get a low battery warning.",[46,1378,1379,1380,1384,1385],{},"Change your air filter on a schedule. A clogged air filter will negate your smart thermostat's runtime optimization savings because your HVAC system works harder when airflow is restricted. For my Trane system I like using the ",[152,1381],{"href":1382,"text":1383},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F49MQmuq","Filtrete 1900 filters"," because they reduce allergens and pollutants. ",[783,1386,1387],{},"I change my filters monthly due to long runtimes in Florida.",[22,1389,1391],{"id":1390},"is-ecobee-a-good-thermostat-worth-it-after-6-years","Is Ecobee a Good Thermostat? Worth It After 6 Years",[11,1393,1394],{},"Yes, but it depends on what you're optimizing for.",[11,1396,1397],{},[49,1398,1399],{},"It's a great fit if you:",[43,1401,1402,1405,1408,1411],{},[46,1403,1404],{},"Want a reliable smart thermostat with a proven track record compatible with multiple types of air conditioning systems — I've been running mine with a Trane variable speed central air unit for six years without any issues",[46,1406,1407],{},"Have a schedule that varies or a home that's frequently unoccupied and will benefit from occupancy-based savings",[46,1409,1410],{},"Live in a humid climate where the AC Overcool Max humidity control is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement",[46,1412,1413],{},"Are comfortable with a gradual payback period — given how long the unit lasts, a slower return on the upfront cost is fine since you won't be replacing it before it pays for itself",[11,1415,1416],{},[49,1417,1418],{},"It may not be the right fit if you:",[43,1420,1421,1424,1427],{},[46,1422,1423],{},"Need the upfront cost to pay back within a year — the savings are real but gradual",[46,1425,1426],{},"Have an older thermostat without a C-wire and don't want a technician to update the wiring",[46,1428,1429],{},"Have a home that's consistently occupied and cost savings from away mode is the primary reason you're considering it",[11,1431,1432,1433,169],{},"If you'd like to purchase an Ecobee please consider supporting my site by using my affiliate link to buy ",[152,1434],{"href":1252,"text":1435},"the Ecobee smart thermostat",[179,1437],{":items":1438},"[{\"label\":\"How long does an Ecobee thermostat last?\",\"content\":\"My Ecobee 3 has run for over six years with no hardware failures and no significant connectivity issues. It operates exactly the same today as it did on day one, and I have not had a reason to upgrade to a newer model.\"},{\"label\":\"How long do Ecobee remote sensor batteries last?\",\"content\":\"The remote sensors run on CR2032 coin batteries that last roughly 10 to 12 months each. Buying a pack online ahead of time is considerably cheaper than paying drugstore prices when the low battery warning shows up.\"},{\"label\":\"Does Ecobee help with humidity?\",\"content\":\"Yes. The AC Overcool Max setting lets the Ecobee cool beyond your set point to bring indoor humidity down to your desired comfort level. It has been one of the most useful features in Florida, where high humidity is a constant issue.\"},{\"label\":\"Does Ecobee work with Alexa?\",\"content\":\"Yes. Alexa integration is how I make most temperature adjustments at home. Calling out a temperature change from another room or from bed is more convenient than reaching for the phone or walking to the thermostat.\"},{\"label\":\"Does an Ecobee still save money if you work from home?\",\"content\":\"Less than it would otherwise. After I switched to remote work, someone was almost always home, so the away mode savings largely disappeared. The finer-grained scheduling, humidity control, and energy dashboard still made it worthwhile compared to a 7-day programmable thermostat.\"},{\"label\":\"Does Ecobee still work when the internet or WiFi is down?\",\"content\":\"Yes, just not remotely. You can still change the temperature directly on the thermostat touch screen, and your schedules and preset automations keep running. Remote control from the app and Alexa voice commands need an internet connection and will not work until it comes back.\"}]",[183,1440],{":items":1441},"[\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fportable-ac-efficiency-tips\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fgable-attic-fan-installation\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-powered-mini-split-installation\"]",{"title":187,"searchDepth":188,"depth":188,"links":1443},[1444,1452,1453],{"id":1274,"depth":188,"text":1275,"children":1445},[1446,1447,1448,1449,1450,1451],{"id":1298,"depth":195,"text":1299},{"id":1305,"depth":195,"text":1306},{"id":1312,"depth":195,"text":1313},{"id":1335,"depth":195,"text":1336},{"id":1345,"depth":195,"text":1346},{"id":1358,"depth":195,"text":1359},{"id":1365,"depth":188,"text":1366},{"id":1390,"depth":188,"text":1391},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review\u002Fecobee-box.png","2026-05-25","A 6-year hands-on Ecobee 3 review from a Florida homeowner — occupancy detection, remote sensors, humidity control, and whether the cost is worth it after years of real use.",{},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review",{"name":1460,"brand":1461,"rating":1462,"pros":1463,"cons":1469},"Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat","ecobee",5,[1464,1465,1466,1467,1468],"No hardware failures in six years of daily use","Remote sensors keep warmer rooms balanced with the rest of the house","AC Overcool Max helps control indoor humidity in humid climates","Accurate occupancy detection with real away-mode savings","Energy dashboard makes before-and-after upgrade comparisons easy",[1470,1471,1472],"Away-mode savings mostly disappear if someone is home all day","Sensor coin batteries need replacing every 10-12 months","Requires a C-wire, which older thermostat wiring may not have",{"title":1244,"description":1456},{"loc":1458},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fecobee-2-years-hands-on-review","2026-10-03","y7Vkj59D5K6jVhBqRkq5TQ_NuufvhT3uXHZoEsNjzDs",1791124095165]