Skip to main content

The Phyn Smart Water Assistant monitors your water usage and warns of problems

Even as we strive to be more green in our day-to-day lives, some statistics continue to plague us. The EPA says that the average family wastes up to 9,400 gallons of water each year just from household leaks — the equivalent of more than 300 loads of laundry. Phyn wants to provide a solution to this problem with the Phyn Smart Water Assistant, an in-home water monitoring system that promises to detect leaks anywhere in the home.

The Phyn Smart Water Assistant doesn’t require a plumber for installation. It’s designed to be a DIY project. The Phyn Smart Water Assistant attaches to the hot and cold water lines under your sink with minimal effort. Once attached, the Phyn detects usage patterns and identifies ways homeowners can reduce water waste and conserve more water throughout the week. According to Phyn, the smart water assistant will alert homeowners within seconds of a leak being detected.

From its mount under the sink, the Phyn is said to be capable of detecting leaks anywhere in the home. The company even claims the water assistant can detect the gradual pressure changes of ice buildup in the lines, warning homeowners of an impending ruptured pipe and allowing them to take action before the lines burst. The Phyn provides an overview of each faucet in the home and gives homeowners a better idea of where the most water is used. For example, maybe the kids’ bathroom uses more water than the rest of the home due to a teenager’s obsession with cleanliness — or maybe dad uses a surprising amount of water for his morning shave.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Phyn Smart Water Assistant also has a diagnostic feature that can look for and identify potential problems within a plumbing system, such as faulty seals and pinhole leaks. The company says repairing problems like these can save homeowners up to 10% on their water bills. More importantly, water damage is the second-largest insurance claim for homeowners. The Phyn’s capabilities can help prevent and minimize that damage. Integration with Alexa, Google Home, and other smart devices means homeowners can set up redundant warning systems. For example, if Phyn detects ice in the lines, the system could have the lights in the kitchen flash blue.

The device retails for $299 with no additional subscriptions or fees and is available for pre-purchase at Best Buy, Phyn.com, and Belkin.com. The Phyn Smart Water Assistant will be available for purchase in stores in September.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Google stops updating third-party smart displays
The Lenovo Smart Display on a table.

Google Assistant is one of the most popular smart home assistants of 2023, but it looks like big changes are in store for the remainder of the year. According to an updated support page, Google won’t be pushing any more Assistant updates to select third-party smart displays.

The Lenovo Smart Display, LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK9, and JBL Link View are the three smart displays in question -- and if you currently have them in your home, don’t expect to see further updates for their Assistant platform. They will, of course, continue to function as they did before this announcement, but they won’t receive any more software updates to enhance their performance.

Read more
ElliQ is a smart home companion designed for your grandparents
ElliQ showing a workout while displayed on a white background.

Smart home gadgets are often designed for folks with decent technical chops. Installing a smart thermostat, syncing a smart speaker with your other electronics, or simply checking in on your Ring doorbell all require the user to be reasonably comfortable with technology -- and they all largely rely on a smartphone. That makes them less than ideal for older individuals who may not be keeping up with the latest tech trends.

ElliQ solves this problem, as it’s a smart home companion designed specifically for grandparents and older individuals who don't want to muck around with complex gizmos. Beyond offering an easy way to make calls, play music, or check the news, ElliQ is a bona fide companion that’s capable of interacting with people without any manual input. There’s no doubt it’s a compelling device, but it might not be the right fit for all seniors.

Read more
The best Google Assistant-compatible devices
The Google Nest Hub Smart Display on a nightstand.

Google Assistant is one of the most popular smart home ecosystems of 2023. Hundreds of devices are compatible with the technology, including smart thermostats, lights, cameras, and locks, among many others. Google itself makes plenty of gadgets that incorporate Google Assistant and Google Home, but you'll find an even longer list of third-party products that are designed around the powerful assistant.

Here's a list of various smart-home categories, each with a number of recommendations for the best products that are Google Assistant-compatible.
Thermostats

Read more