I've used those Govee sensors too, and they're decent for the price, but honestly, I'd hesitate to rely on them long-term. Had a couple fail on me after about a year—no warning, just stopped working. If you're serious about preventing water damage (and keeping your sanity intact), investing in something a bit sturdier might be worth it. I've had better luck with Zircon sensors; they're pricier but built tougher and seem to last longer without false alarms or random failures. Placement definitely matters, but reliability is key—especially if you're away from home often or have areas you don't check regularly. Just my two cents...
I've seen mixed results with Zircon sensors, personally. They're definitely tougher-built than the Govee ones, but I've had one or two Zircons start giving false positives after about 18 months. Not a huge deal, just annoying to keep checking and finding nothing wrong. I ended up switching to Honeywell sensors about two years ago, and they've been solid so far—no false alarms yet, knock on wood.
One thing I'd add is that no matter what brand you go with, placement really does matter a lot. Even a top-tier sensor won't help much if it's not in the right spot. I always recommend putting them near your water heater, washer connections, and under sinks—basically any spot that's prone to leaks or condensation buildup. Also, every 6 months or so, do a quick battery check and make sure they're still working properly. Doesn't take long, but gives peace of mind.
Yeah, I've had similar experiences with Zircon sensors. They're definitely built tougher than some of the cheaper brands, but after a year or two, they can get a bit twitchy. Had one under my kitchen sink that started randomly going off at 2 AM—talk about a rude awakening. Checked everything thoroughly, bone dry every time. Eventually just swapped it out because I got tired of the false alarms.
Honeywell's been solid for me too, though I haven't fully switched over yet. Still have a mix of brands scattered around my properties. Honestly, placement is probably even more important than brand. Learned that the hard way when a tenant called me about water damage in the laundry room. Turns out I'd placed the sensor just slightly uphill from where the leak pooled—rookie mistake. Now I always double-check the slope and make sure they're positioned at the lowest possible point.
Another thing I've found helpful is to label each sensor with the install date and battery replacement date right on the unit itself. Saves me from guessing or digging through old notes when I'm doing my semi-annual checks. And speaking of batteries, I switched to lithium ones a while back—they cost a bit more upfront but last way longer and handle temperature swings better.
One last tip: if you're using Wi-Fi connected sensors, make sure your router or extender reaches those basement or utility areas reliably. Had a sensor lose connection once because the signal was weak, and of course that's exactly when a pipe decided to leak. Murphy's law at its finest...
Good call on labeling the install dates—I should've thought of that earlier. And yeah, placement really is key... learned that the hard way myself. Might give lithium batteries a shot next time, too.
"Might give lithium batteries a shot next time, too."
Lithiums are definitely worth the upgrade—switched over a couple years back and haven't looked back since. They handle cold snaps better and last noticeably longer. Just make sure your detectors actually support lithium; some older units can be picky. Learned that one myself after an annoying troubleshooting session...
