Water leak detection for inside sump pump bucket

Hardware
1

I’m looking for a water leak detector that I could stick to the side of my sump pump bucket. All the ones I have seen show them sitting on the floor but I want to trigger before the water gets to the floor. Right now my main integrations are Insteon and Wi-Fi devices but open to other options. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

2

If you get the Aqara leak sensor it has 2 removeable leads on the bottom. You can attach a couple wires to those leads and place those wires at the level you want in the bucket. Just keep the bare wire ends about a 1/4 inch apart. Once water gets to those wires it will trigger the sensor.

3

Based on experience, I’d forego a water level sensor for a float switch. I tried the sensor route and found moisture accumulated on the sensor probe during heavy drainage (rainy) periods. The accumulated water would triggered false alarms. Moving to a float, instead of a sensor, solved the problem.

1 Like
4

Thanks. I’ll take a look

5

Thanks for the suggestion. May I ask what switch you used?

6

I purchased it on Amazon. Here’s a link to the Float Switch I used

7

awesome. Thanks. What water sensor did you end up using?

8

I’m not sure I understand this question. I used an ESP8266 with the float switch purchased from Amazon. Here’s the code for the ESP8266;

# Establish Substitutions
substitutions:
    esphome_name: sump-water-level-monitor
    esphome_platform: ESP8266
    esphome_board: d1_mini
    esphome_comment: Sump Well High Water Level Monitor
    esphome_project_name: "Robert.Sump Well High Water Level Warning"
    esphome_project_version: "sump-well-water-level-monitor__2023_02_01_06"
    devicename: sump_water_level_monitor
    upper_devicename: Sump Water Level Monitor

#Define Project Deatils and ESP Board Type
esphome:
    name: $esphome_name
    platform: $esphome_platform
    board: $esphome_board
    comment: $esphome_comment
    project:
        name: $esphome_project_name
        version: $esphome_project_version

# WiFi connection, replace these with values for your WiFi.
wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: !secret api_encryption

# Enable over-the-air updates.
ota:
    password: !secret ota_password

# Enable Web server.
web_server:
  port: 80

# Sync time with Home Assistant.
time:
  - platform: homeassistant
    id: homeassistant_time

# Text sensors with general information.
text_sensor:
  # Expose ESPHome version as sensor.
  - platform: version
    name: $devicename ESPHome Version

  # Expose WiFi information as sensor.
  - platform: wifi_info
    ip_address:
      name: IP
    ssid:
      name: SSID
    bssid:
      name: BSSID
    mac_address:
      name: WiFi MAC

# Button to restart the sump-water-level-monitor.   
button:
  - platform: restart
    name: "$devicename Restart"

# Enable On-Board Status LED.
status_led:
  pin:
    # Pin D4
    number: GPIO2
    inverted: true

sensor:
  # Uptime sensor.
  - platform: uptime
    name: $devicename Uptime

  # WiFi Signal sensor.
  - platform: wifi_signal
    name: $devicename WiFi Signal
    update_interval: 60s
  
# Define output for "Sump High Level Alert"
output:
  - platform: esp8266_pwm
    id: alarm_led
    pin:
      # Pin D2
      number: GPIO4

# Define Water Level Sensor Input
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      # Pin D3
      inverted: true
      number: GPIO0
      mode:
        input: true
        pullup: true
    name: "Sump Water Level Monitor"
    id: sump_sensor
    device_class: moisture
    on_state:
      - while:
          condition:
            binary_sensor.is_on: sump_sensor
          then:
            - script.execute: flash_led
            - delay: 500ms

# Flash High Water Level Alert LED
script:
  - id: flash_led
    mode: single
    then:
      - output.turn_on: alarm_led
      - delay: 250ms
      - output.turn_off: alarm_led
9

Based on your comment, I actually called a manufacturer and asked if the sensor could be used in a sump pump pit. The guy was very nice and initially said it would work. But as I brought up the consecutive submission issue, he agreed it would probably quickly break.
Thanks for the tip.
The product locked good
https://a.co/d/eJEAw6F