The Basement Watchdog 110 dB Water Alarm w/Detachable Sensor for Hard-to-Reach Areas (BWD-HWA)

In March of 2024, I purchased the “Basement Watchdog Model BWD-HWA 110 dB Battery Operated Water Alarm” from Amazon and good thing I did. I positioned the small sensors in the tray below my hot water heater in my laundry room. About two weeks ago, my hot water heater broke and the Basement Watchdog did its job! It set an alarm off. Yes, the alarm was loud but it was effective in alerting me to a leak that was taking place. The water alarm was reliable and easy to install, taking seconds to set up. It was effective in preventing water damage and it saved me thousands of dollars in potential damage! It really worked!!

THE BASEMENT WATCHDOG Model BWD-HWA 110 dB Battery Operated Water Alarm, has been an excellent addition to my home safety setup. This water alarm is perfect for placing next to water heaters, next to the dishwasher or laundry room, under kitchen and bathroom sinks, and by AC drain pans. It saved me big from a leaking water heater! The alarm is powered by a 9v battery, which makes it very convenient to install anywhere without worrying about electrical outlets. The 110 dB alarm is loud and ensures that you can hear it from anywhere in the house, giving you peace of mind that you will be alerted to any leaks or water issues promptly. One of the standout features of this product is its extended cable, which allows you to place the sensor separately from the main device. This is incredibly useful for those hard-to-reach spots where leaks are most likely to occur but where placing the entire device might be impractical. Make sure to test it periodically by touching the two sensors with a finger. I also write the date of installation on the battery and change it once a year. With the cost of insurance and labor going up, don't skip on this economical and reliable home protection device! Overall, THE BASEMENT WATCHDOG Model BWD-HWA is a reliable and effective water alarm. It's easy to set up, provides a loud and clear alert, and offers the flexibility to position the sensor in the most critical locations. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to protect their home from potential water damage.

Simple, inexpensive, and works. Saved our finished basement, or at least a lot of headache. Detected a water heater leak, with a loud enough buzzer that we heard it across the house and investigated. Caught it at a small leak before spreading, shut off the water to the heater, and got it replaced. Otherwise it would likely have been weeks or longer until we discovered the leak.

I put this in my crawl space next to my sump pump about four years ago after my sump pump died and my crawl space was half full of water before I knew about it. This did it's job. At 1 am, this thing went off and it was so loud I could hear it throughout my 1 story ranch house. I was extremely grateful as I found out about the sump pump failure very soon after it failed. Unfortunately, it took me long enough to crawl the length of the house to shut this off that the sensor was submerged under about an inch of water. The box was still above water as I had hung it on a nail well above the sensor. The problem with the sensor getting completely submerged is that it would not shut off when I took it out of the water and I could not get the battery door open to pull the battery out. I grabbed a piece of wood to try to muffle the sound, which only worked a little, as I crawled all the way back with this killing my ears the whole way. I could not get it to shut off and I had to unscrew the screws on the back and take the entire back cover off to get the battery out and disconnect it before it would stop. They need an on/off switch or a door for the battery that opens far more easily so we don't kill our ears trying to get this thing apart. I only docked one star for this because in the end, not only did it work perfectly, once it dried out, I put the battery back in and it's working well again. I'll put a new battery in it (as that one is 4 1/2 years old) and re-hang it in the crawl space tomorrow. I'm really grateful I don't have to buy another one, but am now considering getting more for other places in the house--like where the pipes were leaking after a freeze and I didn't notice it for about a week last December, though admittedly, I might look around first for one that is easier to shut off. Just to be clear, if only a little water touches this, it shuts off just fine when you remove it from the water, but if the sensor gets really wet, it will not shut off unless the battery is removed. It needs a bit of a redesign, otherwise I'm grateful for it.

My home was built in 2000. Unfortunately, the builder used the cheapest plumbing materials they could get. As a result, I experienced an extensive water damage event in 2003. After my home was repaired, I wanted to do something to help protect myself from future issues. So, I got several of these Watchdog Water Alarms and placed them in key locations like the bathrooms, the laundry room, and the kitchen. I've added additional alarms over the years to cover every potential leak spot I could think of. I now have 14 of these alarms in my home. Well... This week, they paid for themselves! I was in my home office, on a conference call, and I heard an unfamiliar noise. I ignored it for a couple of minutes but eventually excused myself from the call so that I could investigate the noise. Within another few minutes, I had tracked it down to the kitchen, then to the cabinet under the sink. When I opened the cabinet doors, the problem was clearly evident. The supply shut off valve to the faucet was spraying a small stream of water. The bottom of the cabinet was wet, but nothing that I couldn't mop up with a few towels. The only casualty was a box of dishwasher detergent. Other than that, there was no harm done thanks to the alarm. Without the alarm, there's no telling how long the leak would have gone or how much damage would have been done. Now that is great, but something else about these alarms amazed me. Having the alarm trigger reminded me that I couldn't remember the last time I had changed the battery. So I picked up every alarm and checked them. The battery in the alarm that triggered had a shelf date of 2011 -- That's 14 years ago! And that means that I hadn't changed the battery since at least 2011. --Shame on me. But the alarm still did its job! As I changed the batteries in all of the alarms, I tested them by placing them on a damp paper towel. Every one of them sounded the alarm. Even the one with a battery dated 2008 (17 years ago). --Double shame on me. ;-) --I've learned my lesson and set myself a reminder task to change those batteries in a few years. So bottom line, would I recommend the Watchdog Water Alarm to a friend? ABSOLUTELY! And without hesitation!

Worth their weight in GOLD! We had a very small leak under 1 of our bathroom sinks - in the vanity compartment. We heard the sound of the water alarm. This device SAVED my vanity and my flooring from being a potential huge disaster, if this device had not been used. Because this is a room that gets rarely used, we do not enter it daily. I put these devices by EVERY water source, hot water heater, under every sink, in the garage - my water closet that has sprinkler system, main plumbing, etc. These are INVALUABLE.

This is the second water alarm that I have purchased to give us an early warning if our water heater starts leaking. We bought this alarm for a heater we purchased 10 years ago and we test it periodically (along with our smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors) by putting a little water in a bowl and dipping the alarm in there to see if it goes off. The one that's 10YO still passes the test. This, along with a water pan underneath, is the best & least expensive way to keep your basement from flooding without your knowing it.

The Basement Watchdog water detector is one of those products you hope you’ll never actually need—but you’re really glad it’s there. For the price, this is an excellent value and a smart investment in protecting your home. Setup couldn’t be easier: pop in the battery and place it where water might appear. No apps, subscriptions, or Wi‑Fi required. I tested it with a small amount of water and the alarm is very loud—easily heard from upstairs—which is exactly what you want if something goes wrong. What really stands out is how versatile this detector is. I initially placed it near my sump pump, but it would work just as well by a water heater, washing machine, utility sink, or anywhere a leak could cause damage. Because it’s compact and self‑contained, you can move it around as needed or buy multiple units without breaking the bank. Considering the fair price, solid build quality, and the potential savings from catching a leak early, this is an outstanding value. It’s inexpensive insurance that can prevent a very expensive problem. If you want a simple, reliable, no‑nonsense water alarm that just works and doesn’t overcomplicate things, I highly recommend this one.

I tested the watchdog several times, worked perfect !.. hope I never hear that alarm again ... lol ... I will buy again

No es estético pero cumple su función. Ojalá que hagan versiones más estéticas.

the best on the market

J'ai une pompe de puisard au sous-sol qui rejette l'eau à l'extérieur quand la nappe d'eau monte trop. J'ai installé le détecteur à 6 cm (2.5 pouces) sous le niveau du plancher en le vissant sur une petite planche (Voir la photo). À l'arrière de la boîte principale, il y a une encoche qui permet de l'accrochée au mur, maximum 1.5 m (5 pieds) plus haut. Il arrive, surtout au printemps, que l'eau monte plus que normal et s'il manque d'électricité ou que la pompe tombe en panne, j'espère être avisé par le son "strident" de l'alarme. J'ai testé le détecteur et il fonctionne normalement.

Easy to install,very loud alarm. Simple,simple simple. Only has to function one time to save major home damage.