Water damage is one of those problems you don’t think about until it’s too late. The Proteus AQUO WiFi Water Detector takes a simple, practical approach: plug it into a wall outlet near a potential leak source—under a sink, behind a washing machine, next to a water heater—and let its 5-foot sensor cable do the watching. No hub, no monthly fees, no complicated network setup. It connects directly to your home WiFi and sends alerts via email or text message the moment moisture is detected.

The setup is refreshingly straightforward. The built-in power module plugs directly into a standard 240-volt outlet, so there’s no separate power brick to hide. Once connected, you control it through the app or voice commands. The sensor cable gives you five feet of reach, which is enough to snake around a pipe or tuck under a sump pump. It won’t cover a whole basement, but for targeted protection in high-risk spots, it works exactly as intended.

There is a catch worth noting: the maximum detection range is limited to that 5-foot cable. You can’t place the sensor far from the outlet. That means you need an outlet within reach of where you suspect a leak might start. If you’re looking for whole-room coverage, this isn’t the tool. But for a focused, reliable early warning system that costs nothing to run after purchase, the Proteus AQUO delivers exactly what it promises. The support team is responsive, too—real people who answer questions before and after setup.