Wave goodbye to water damage: Moen's Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff for homeowners and insurers

This article was produced in partnership with Moen.

In a recent interview with Nicole Panteloucos of Insurance Business, Jerry Fairborn (pictured), Moen’s national sales manager, commercial, discussed the innovative features and integrations of Moen’s Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff device, the importance of protecting your property from water damage, and Moen’s commitment to sustainability.

Water leaks in the home are more common than people realize but are often not a known problem until it’s too late.

Statistics show that two out of five homes will be damaged by a water leak, with water damage being claimed six times more than fire and eight times more than theft, accounting for 24% of all insurance claims.

The costs associated with water damage can also be immense, emphasizing the need for both homeowners and insurers to find innovative ways to reduce the prevalence and severity of water damage.

Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff

Enter Moen’s Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, the cost-effective leak detection solution for homeowners and insurers.

Installed directly on to a home or building’s main water supply line, the device operates 24/7, vigilantly monitoring water flow to deliver peace of mind to help prevent water damage and leaks.

Through the utilization of cutting-edge machine learning technologies, such as the company’s MicroLeak™ and FloSense™ technologies, it understands the distinct water consumption patterns of each household.

Using its MicroLeak™ Technology, the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff runs daily leak tests which allow it to detect leaks as small as a single drop per minute. And, the device even automatically shuts off the water supply at the earliest indication of any deviation from normal usage.

“This proactive approach enables the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff to effectively avert water damage risks before they happen, providing homeowners with peace of mind,” said Fairborn.

In addition to security and control, the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff can enhance and automate conservation efforts in the home via the Moen Smart Water App.

For example, the Moen Smart Water App allows homeowners to turn their water on and off, access their water usage by fixture type, create custom presets, set conservation goals and receive notifications regarding potential leaks – all from wherever they are.

Savings for homeowners and insurers

Over 10 years, one in every six homes will file a claim for water damage with an average amount of nearly CA$17,000.

Addressing water damage incidents and curbing potential water wastage can yield significant cost savings for both homeowners and insurers.

Through its “permission-based” connectivity and data sharing, the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff ensures constant monitoring and alerts for critical events, meaning the device provides an opportunity for insurers to reduce premiums by offering discounts to homeowners who utilize this proven leak prevention technology.

Smart integrations

By integrating the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff with the Moen Smart Faucet, homeowners and insurers can leverage additional essential features within Moen’s Smart Water App:

• Winterize: Allows users to manually activate the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff to stop water flow into the home. By purging the water line through the Smart Faucet, it helps prevent potential freezing during cold weather, safeguarding pipes from damage.
   
• Burst Protect: Automatically activates when the system senses high pressure or low temperatures that could endanger pipes, prompting water to be purged through the Smart Faucet.
   
• Health Protect: Ideal for homeowners leaving their homes for an extended period without water usage. Before departure, users can enable Health Protect, which flushes both hot and cold-water lines through the Smart Faucet. This action eliminates stagnant water standing in the pipes, ensuring water quality and preventing potential health hazards.

“As the brain of Moen’s Smart Water Network, the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff is pivotal in enhancing each and every experience with water in the home. When paired with other Moen Smart Water Network products, it’s a truly integrated system,” confirmed Fairborn.

Mission Moen: supporting sustainability

The Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff also supports Moen’s sustainability commitment, Mission Moen, dedicated to pioneering innovative, engineered solutions for tomorrow’s water challenges.

Through groundbreaking products like the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, Moen aims to save over one trillion gallons of water by 2030.

Fairborn proudly highlighted the program’s progress, revealing that since the inception of Mission Moen in 2020, the company has already conserved an impressive 178 billion gallons of water.

“Moen understands customer needs and creates opportunities to support the adoption of the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff’s innovative technology to deliver on the promise of reducing water damage incidents,” he added.