Smart home technology never ceases to amaze me, and today I want to share some info with you about a new device we had installed in our home that I am extremely impressed by.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by StreamLabs. All opinions are my own.
We had a StreamLabs Control device installed which allows us to monitor our home’s water usage via an easy-to-use smart home app that provides real time alerts (leaks, drips, freezing, pressure) and the ability to automatically or remotely shut off water anytime, anywhere.
StreamLabs sent a crew out to install the control device on the main water line in our basement and the installation was simple. They just shut off our water supply briefly, allowed the water to drain out of the pipe, cut the pipe, then attached the control device to the water line and plugged it in. The control device is constructed with a heavy-duty full-bore brass body valve. Big shout-out to HM Plumbing here in Atlanta who handled the installation. If you’re local, check them out. Here are a few shots of the process:
Once the device was installed, I was able to connect it to our wifi and sync it with the app on my phone. The installation process was quick and the setup was easy.
Here’s the cool part: the device will spend about a week in “learning mode” where it basically learns our usual water usage patterns. After this period of time, anytime our water usage changes or appears to be out of the ordinary, it will notify me, as this could signify a leak. If I am aware that we are using more water than usual that day, I can just disregard the notification. If not, then I am made aware of the fact that I need to investigate what is causing the excess water usage, whereas otherwise I may never have even known there was a leak. (Or at least not until some serious damage might have been done.) I can use the app to turn our water supply on and off, or I can opt to have it shut off automatically whenever it senses that we are veering off of our usual water usage routine.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, StreamLabs is part of RWC’s family of brands, offering one complete end-to-end solution for customers. The device uses precise, proprietary ultrasonic technology that measures water flow without any obstructions. The StreamLabs Control has advanced water metrics and the ability to remotely shut off water when users are away from home too. So I can also set it to “away” mode when we aren’t home, and it knows to automatically shut our water off if it detects it being used. This is huge since it has the power to prevent massive damage from leaks. No one wants to come home from vacation only to discover a flood.
The app also provides water usage metrics that help eliminate “guess work” or waiting for your water bill before seeing what is going on, as well as better water conservation. I love that with the touch of my iPhone screen I can find out exactly how many gallons of water we’ve used that day, what our water pressure is, as well as the water temperature, room temperature in our basement, and room humidity. I also love that its compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The StreamLabs Control, with its remote shut-off capability, provides value to homeowners, but there’s also major benefit to contractors, including: the ability to provide better protection and service to their customers; reduced water remediation on jobs since homeowners can stop leaks as soon as they are detected; quicker repairs when extensive damage is avoided through remote shut-off; and installation revenue and increased customer confidence and loyalty.
I thought I would have this all set up and tell you about it, and then share an update after we’ve been using it for a while just to share my experience and what I’ve learned. So stay tuned for that down the line! For more information, be sure to visit StreamLabs online and you can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Great information. Thanks!