Water can cause a lot of damage to a property, and not just by flooding: excess humidity can damage the walls and window panes. It’s a right pain to repair.
Knut Water is a smart water detector that aims to protect your property against water damage. It hooks up to your Wi-Fi network, and senses the temperature, humidity and detects water. Put it in an area you’d like to monitor – the bathroom, say – and
You can also set it to tell you if the temperature gets too high or low, so you can check if the heating is working while you’re away.
It keeps all the info on easy-to-read graphs, which could be handy if you need to prove something to a difficult landlord.
The companion app works on iOS, Android and Windows, and can help you monitor your home from afar.
Read more: 9 crazy smart home gadgets you didn’t know existed
The Knut takes two AA batteries, and will run for about two years before they need replacing. Or you can plug it in using the microUSB port if you prefer, and power it from the mains.
It’s a good idea, and providing it works, it could save you a fortune. It’s raised almost $8,000 of a $50,000 target, and has 26 days to go. You can pick one up for $50 (£32) as an early bird special. The retail price will be $65 (£41). If successful, it will ship in January.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.