Top pick
This sensor provides best-in-class response times and thorough and versatile leak-detection options, but its smart-home support is limited.
Compatibility: Google Home, IFTTT
The D-Link DCH-S1621KT Whole Home Smart Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor Kit is our top water leak sensor because of its comprehensive leak-sensing capabilities, helpful and fast notifications, and overall versatility. We especially like that while most sensors use either a leak-sensing puck or a cable, this D-Link kit includes both options, which makes it more likely to catch leaks than other sensors.
It offers more options for sensing water. The DCH-S1621KT kit primarily senses leaks by way of a 19-inch-long cable that connects directly into the D-Link hub, which you plug into an electrical outlet. The cable can detect water at any point, and you can extend it further with an included 39-inch extension cable. You can run the cable under an appliance or cabinet, though we did encounter some annoyances when we attempted to do so (see “Flaws but not dealbreakers” below).
Also included in the kit is a Sensor Pod, which you can place underneath an appliance or water heater or near a toilet or sink in a bathroom. The puck-like Sensor Pod has an IP65 waterproof rating, which means it is resistant to dust and has limited water protection. It has four bottom-mounted sensor probes (most competing puck sensors top out at two or three) to maximize its detection ability—the more probes, the greater your chances of catching a leak. You can pair up to 16 Sensor Pods to the hub for full-home coverage, and with a height of only 0.8 inch, they’re as low-profile as the D-Link kit’s sensor cable.
It has near-instant response times. The DCH-S1621KT kit excelled throughout our sensor testing—the Sensor Pod and cable detected water in less than a second. It also offers multiple notification channels for leak alerts. Since the Sensor Pod relies on the hub in order to send out alerts, you have to make sure that it is within wireless range of the hub. We tested it about 30 feet away from the hub, between multiple floors, and had no issues.
It gives you multiple useful alert options. Unlike many other leak sensors, the DCH-S1621KT sends follow-up notifications after it no longer detects water, so you’ll know when your leak or flood has stopped or has been contained. That’s an especially reassuring option should you receive an alert when you aren’t home to do anything about it.
D-Link’s Mydlink app also notifies you if the hub goes offline. In our tests, we received instant push notifications when the hub went offline and back online, while the Mydlink app took around three minutes to detect our unplugging the hub.
The hub has a light that flashes when leaks are detected, and it includes a blaring alarm for another layer of notification coverage. From a distance of 6 feet, we measured the alarm at 83 decibels, about the same as the volume of a lawn mower or vacuum cleaner and loud enough to be readily audible from nearby rooms.
D-Link backs it with lengthy support guarantees. D-Link has tended to cycle through its leak-detector systems—the DCH-S1621KT is the third D-Link leak system we’ve tested since 2016, and both of its predecessors were discontinued. But according to the company, the DCH-S1621KT will continue to get firmware support until at least March 2026.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Offline notifications for the Sensor Pod are relatively slow. In our tests D-Link’s hub quickly notified us when it went offline, but the Sensor Pod’s offline notifications weren’t as responsive. We weren’t able to get an offline notification right when we pulled the Sensor Pod’s batteries; during our 2023 testing, it took around 48 hours to trigger an offline notification from the Sensor Pods. We reached out to D-Link, and a representative confirmed that the company is looking into the issue. We will update this guide when we have an answer.
That said, the Mydlink app did quickly detect when the Sensor Pod was offline after we unplugged the D-Link hub. The Sensor Pods stay in a power-saving mode to maximize their battery life—they use two AAA batteries, and D-Link touts a maximum lifespan of up to five years—but that makes them slower to pick up on anything that isn’t an active leak. Fortunately, the Sensor Pods quickly spring into action when they detect water, and the Mydlink app conveniently shows their remaining battery life, but we wish the D-Link kit’s offline-notification abilities extended to the Sensor Pods too.
Securing the sensor cable can be tricky. Out of the box, the leak-sensing cable tends to coil up like a pigtail. Although that doesn’t affect the cable’s responsiveness, as it needs to have contact with water at only a single point to trigger an alarm, its resistance to straightening out can be a pain if you want to maximize its range. D-Link includes some adhesive-mounted clips to help hold the cable in place, but if you want the cable to fully lie flat on the floor, it’ll take some extra work.
The kit offers only basic smart-home coverage. Though the DCH-S1621KT supports Google Home and IFTTT, its abilities are slightly hamstrung by Google’s platform limitations. We got leak alerts through our Google speaker within four seconds, but the system gives you no way to create Automations to trigger other devices or custom notifications. And if you have an Amazon Alexa– or Apple Home–powered smart home, you need to look elsewhere for leak coverage.
Privacy and security snapshot
- D-Link offers two-factor authentication through the Mydlink app.
- User data is stored in region-specific secure databases, and data access is limited and monitored.
- No internet service is required to get audible alerts, though an internet connection is needed for app alerts.
- User data is not shared outside of D-Link without granted permission.
Review D-Link’s privacy policy for more information.
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