As a homeowner with a ton of responsibilities, one of the worst surprises you can get is an unnoticed plumbing leak in your home. Leaks can quickly lead to water damage in a home, which it is estimated 40% of homeowners suffer from, according to studies.

Water damage can not only lead to a multitude of other problems, including the buildup of mold, structural and electrical damage, harm to belongings among other things, but can also potentially be a costly surprise.

Fortunately for Gaithersburg and surrounding area homeowners, Mallick Plumbing & Heating can help by installing the MOEN Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff.

What is a MOEN Flo?

The MOEN Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff -- or “Flo” for short – is installed on your home’s main water line and plugs into the nearest outlet within a 48” radius – or up to 25 ft. with an additional MOEN-supplied cable -- and monitors you water supply system for any irregularities, including for any type of leak. It accomplishes this by monitoring the water’s temperature and your home’s water pressure.

For the smart home device to see irregularities within your water usage, it will need to operate for a short time period to learn you and your family’s regular water usage schedule. Once learned, MOEN Flo will possess the ability track your water usage and detect leaks as small as a drop per minute – such as a dripping faucet.

Prior to installation, it is important to get a professional plumber to inspect your plumbing system and perform leak tests to ensure there are no existing leaks. If your MOEN Flo is installed with an existing leak, it will recognize the leak as regular water usage and will not notify you.

When it senses any major leak within your home, Flo by MOEN automatically shuts off your home’s water and can alert you phone with the details if you’re utilizing the MOEN app. The app also gives homeowners the opportunity to track your water usage, flow rate, water pressure and temperature along with the chance to shut off your water with the tap of a button if needed and compare your water usage to the past with historical data.

Ready for MOEN Flo to be installed at your home? Call the experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759.

MOEN-Flo Installation Explained

How much does a MOEN Flo Cost?

When Flo by Moen is installed, a licensed, certified and insured technician installs the smart home device on your home’s main water supply line. The installation also includes pairing the device to your home’s Wi-Fi, so you receive up-to-date and accurate notifications to your phone.

Depending on you plumbing system, location of the device and what size Flo by Moen device your home will work best with, installation costs will vary.

If you would like to know more about a MOEN Flo for your home, call the experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759.

Does Flo by MOEN work without the Internet?

Flo by MOEN is designed to work with internet connection for real-time monitoring and alerts of potential leaks in your home. However, it is not Wi-Fi dependent.

Without internet connection the device will continue to monitor your water flow, temperature and detect leaks, but it will not be able to notify you. If you happen to have a major leak in your home while your internet connection is offline, MOEN Flo will still possess the capabilities to quickly shut off your water.

If you’re uncertain whether you valve is open or closed, MOEN Flo possesses two lights – a red and a green one -- on the device to indicate this. The red will represent the valve being closed, while the green will mark the valve being open.

The device does, however, require electricity. Homeowners should also ask their plumbing professional about the MOEN-provided emergency battery backup, which can operate for 3+ days if your electricity would cease or the device would be disconnected from an outlet.

Is there a monthly fee for Flo by MOEN?

There is no monthly fee associated with Flo by MOEN.

However, there is an option to sign up for FLO Protect, which you can purchase for $5 a month with any-time cancellation that has all the following benefits, according to MOEN:

$5000 Deductible guarantee if the product fails under normal use
Extended 5-Year Warranty (1 Year out of the Box)
Proactive monitoring and water concierge
Enhanced water usage data
Eligibility for homeowner’s insurance discounts, which may vary depending on carrier
And more

(Benefits are subject to change over time)

Is Flo by MOEN worth it?

If we asked you if you have any leaks in your home, could you provide an accurate answer with 100% certainty? It is estimated that 17 gallons are lost due to leaks every day in a typical home – which could lead to larger issues.

If you’re looking for a smart home device that will monitor their water usage on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, detects any leaks, alerts you of any issues and allows you to shut off your system via a tap of a button within the app if a leak is detected then Flo by MOEN is absolutely one of the best decisions you can make for your family’s wellbeing, your home’s health and your financial savings.

Flo by MOEN can potentially grant you access to some homeowner’s insurance discounts, which you should contact your provider to learn more.

If you would like to be sure the smart home device is properly installed and explained, give our Mallick Plumbing & Heating Team a call at (301) 804-6759.