A Smart Water Shutoff Uncovered a Hidden Leak—and Cut Water Use by 1,000 Gallons the Next Week

What Sacramento homeowners should know about leak detection, insurance requirements, installation, and potential savings.

Has your homeowners insurance company asked whether your home has an automatic water shutoff device? You are not alone.

McCray & Sons Home Services has recently helped homeowners in Sacramento and West Sacramento evaluate and install these systems. One customer needed an approved device to renew her homeowners insurance. Another was offered an insurance discount for installing one.

But insurance is only part of the story. After one Sacramento installation, the system helped the homeowner discover an underground irrigation leak. Once the leak was repaired, her water usage dropped by approximately 1,000 gallons the following week.

McCray & Sons Home Services installs smart water-monitoring and automatic shutoff systems in Sacramento, West Sacramento, and nearby communities. We can provide the equipment or install an appropriate customer-purchased system.

What Does a Smart Water Shutoff System Do?

Think of it as a watchdog for your home’s main water supply.

The device is installed directly into the main water line entering the home. Depending on the system, it may monitor water flow, pressure, usage patterns, and how long the water has been running.

When the system detects unusual activity, it may:

• Send an alert to your phone

• Identify water usage that is higher than normal

• Allow you to shut off the water remotely

• Automatically close the home’s main water valve when it detects a potentially serious leak

Many systems take time to learn what normal water use looks like for a particular household. Some also include an away or vacation setting that provides more sensitive monitoring when no one is home.

A smart shutoff system cannot guarantee that water damage will never occur. However, it may provide an early warning and, in some situations, stop the continuous flow of water before a leak becomes a much larger problem.

From the Field: An Insurance Requirement Uncovered a Hidden Leak

A Sacramento homeowner contacted McCray & Sons after Farmers made an approved automatic water shutoff system a requirement for renewing her policy.

In this particular customer’s experience, Farmers:

• Provided a list of approved systems

• Required installation by a licensed contractor

• Required proof of installation

• Offered access to discounted equipment

The homeowner selected a qualifying system. Farmers also offered an installation option, but this home did not have a straightforward installation.

The main copper water line was located beneath the house, and the existing piping had to be cut and reconfigured to properly accommodate the device. The homeowner chose

McCray & Sons to complete the customized installation.

We recently followed up with her to see how the system was working.

She told us that the system took approximately one week to learn her household’s normal water-use patterns. It then reported that the home was using more water than comparable households in the area.

That information prompted her to inspect the property. She found an unexpectedly wet area and discovered an underground irrigation leak.

After the leak was repaired, the system showed that the household used approximately 1,000 fewer gallons of water the following week.

She originally installed the device to satisfy an insurance requirement. In the process, it helped uncover a leak she might not otherwise have known existed.

Insurance requirements, approved equipment, incentives, and documentation rules can vary by property and policy and may change over time. This was one Sacramento homeowner’s experience and should not be interpreted as a statement that Farmers applies the same requirements to every policyholder.

A Different Experience in West Sacramento

A West Sacramento homeowner began considering a smart water-monitoring system after a leaking toilet resulted in water bills of approximately $300 and then $500.

Later, while comparing homeowners insurance policies, she repeatedly encountered questions about whether the home had a water-monitoring or automatic shutoff device.

She ultimately selected coverage through Protective, which offered her a discount for installing a qualifying system. The system was not required for her policy, but the available discount—combined with her previous leaking-toilet experience—made the added protection appealing.

For this home, we evaluated placing the device on the 1-inch main water line inside the garage, between the main shutoff and the water-softener system.

These homeowners had different reasons for considering the technology. One faced an insurance-renewal requirement. The other was offered a discount and wanted additional protection after an expensive water leak.

What Are These Devices Called?

Homeowners, manufacturers, and insurance companies may use several names for this type of equipment:

• Automatic water shutoff device

• Smart water shutoff valve

• Whole-home water monitor

• Automatic leak-detection and shutoff system

These systems should not be confused with small leak sensors placed beneath sinks, water heaters, or appliances. A small sensor may detect nearby water and sound an alarm, but it may not monitor the home’s overall water usage or control the main water supply.

Commonly encountered whole-home systems include:

• Moen Flo Shutoff, often called Flo by Moen

• Phyn Plus

• Kohler H2Wise+

A popular or widely available system is not necessarily approved for your particular insurance policy. Confirm the exact manufacturer, model, and installation requirements with your insurance agent before purchasing anything.

Who Installs Smart Water Shutoff Systems in Sacramento?

Because the device is installed directly into the home’s main water line, the plumbing should be completed by a properly licensed plumbing contractor.

McCray & Sons Home Services is a licensed general and C-36 plumbing contractor serving West Sacramento, Sacramento, Davis, Natomas, and nearby communities.

Homeowners have two options:

• McCray & Sons can provide the equipment and complete the installation.

• We can install an appropriate system purchased by the homeowner.

Customer-purchased equipment may make sense when an insurance program, manufacturer, retailer, or warehouse store offers a substantial discount. Before ordering, make sure the exact system is approved by your insurer and compatible with your home’s pipe size and proposed installation location.

What Should Be Checked Before Installation?

Before providing a final installation quote, we evaluate:

• The selected system and required pipe size

• The location, material, and configuration of the main water line

• Available working space and accessibility

• Power and Wi-Fi availability

• Irrigation systems, water softeners, pools, and other water-dependent equipment

Power requirements vary by system. If an appropriate power source is not available near the proposed location, related electrical work may be necessary. McCray & Sons can evaluate that work as part of the overall project.

How Much Does Installation Cost?

Installation cost depends on the device, pipe size and material, accessibility, available working space, and whether the existing piping must be reconfigured. Power availability may also affect the total project.

A straightforward installation on an accessible garage water line may be very different from a customized installation on a main water line beneath a house.

For that reason, McCray & Sons evaluates the equipment and proposed installation location before providing a quote.

McCray & Sons’ Take

We do not believe every homeowner needs to rush out and have a smart water shutoff system installed.

However, one may be worth considering if:

• Your insurance company requires it

• Your insurer offers a meaningful discount or equipment incentive

• You travel frequently or leave your home unoccupied

• You own a rental or second property

• You have experienced a previous leak or unexplained water usage

• You want alerts and remote control of your home’s water supply

Before selecting a system, ask your insurance company:

• Is a system required for my property or policy?

• Is a discount or equipment incentive available?

• Which makes and models currently qualify?

• Must it be installed by a licensed contractor?

• What proof of installation must I provide?

• May I choose my own installer?

A discounted device or standard installation offer may not be the least expensive overall option if your home requires substantial piping modifications, difficult access, or a new power source.

Questions Homeowners Ask

Can a smart water shutoff detect a leaking toilet?

Depending on the system, it may recognize unusually long or repeated water use and alert you. It cannot repair the toilet, but an early warning may help prevent weeks of wasted water and unexpectedly high bills.

Will it automatically shut off all the water?

Some systems can close a valve on the home’s main water supply after detecting a potentially serious leak. The exact response depends on the equipment, settings, and how the system is configured.

Will the water be turned off during installation?

Yes. Because the device is installed directly into the home’s main water line, the water must be temporarily shut off while the piping is modified and the system is installed.

The length of the interruption depends on the accessibility and complexity of the installation.

Can it protect my home while I am away?

It can provide added protection by monitoring water use, sending alerts, and potentially shutting off the main supply. Some systems have a more sensitive vacation or away setting.

Irrigation, water softeners, pools, and other water-dependent equipment should be considered before changing the system’s settings or manually shutting off the home’s water.

Does it require electricity and Wi-Fi?

Many whole-home systems require continuous power. Wi-Fi is generally needed for app alerts, remote control, water-usage reports, and other smart features. Requirements vary by manufacturer and model.

Is there a monthly subscription?

That depends on the system. Included features, optional services, warranties, and subscription plans vary among manufacturers and may change over time.

Review the current product terms before choosing a system so you understand which features are included and whether any ongoing charges apply.

Can irrigation or a water softener affect the system?

Yes. Scheduled irrigation, water-softener regeneration, pool equipment, and other regular water use may need to be considered when the system is configured.

Because many devices learn the household’s normal patterns, proper setup can help reduce unnecessary alerts or automatic shutoffs.

Can it be installed in a garage or beneath a house?

Possibly. McCray & Sons has worked with both types of installation locations.

The best location depends on access to the main water line, available working space, environmental conditions, power, Wi-Fi signal, pipe configuration, and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

Will it lower my homeowners insurance?

It may. Some insurers offer policy discounts, discounted equipment, or installation programs. Other insurers may require an approved system for a particular property or policy.

Confirm the current benefits and requirements directly with your insurance carrier.

Does McCray & Sons install systems other than Flo by Moen?

Yes. Flo by Moen is one system we have installed, but it is not the only available option.

We can evaluate other appropriate whole-home water-monitoring and automatic shutoff systems, including customer-purchased equipment. The exact device and installation location must be reviewed before we confirm the scope.

Need a Smart Water Shutoff Installed?

McCray & Sons Home Services provides smart water shutoff installation in West Sacramento, Sacramento, and nearby communities.

We can supply the system or install an appropriate customer-purchased device. We will evaluate your main water line, installation location, pipe configuration, power availability, and any connected equipment before providing a quote.

Before purchasing a device, confirm your insurance company’s current requirements and approved equipment.

Contact McCray & Sons Home Services to request a smart water shutoff installation evaluation.