'Constantly Loses Connection' - The Smart IKEA Laundry Find That May Not Be Worth The Hype

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IKEA is one of those companies that is always trying new things; while some of its experiments work exceedingly well, others are a disappointment to optimistic consumers. IKEA has made a recent foray into the smart home space, which is a clever business move since many Americans are rapidly adopting such devices in their homes. But for all IKEA's good intentions, when it comes to smart home devices, the proof is in the pudding, and one of IKEA's innovative sensors — a water leak indicator — might not be worth the hype.

The KLIPPBOK water leak sensor ($7.99) seems to solve a lot of potential household headaches for a low price. What if you could leave one under the sink or in your laundry room and never have to worry about a sneaky leak ever again? The KLIPPBOK is designed to emit a beeping sound when it comes into contact with water, which should (in theory) make your home more efficient. Unfortunately, the device has some seriously mixed feedback from customers. It currently has a 3.6-star average, with 20% of the reviews being highly critical, one-star reviews. 

The negative feedback from buyers mainly includes criticism over connection issues, with one reviewer simply stating, "Terrible — constantly loses connection." Many write that the system isn't compatible with Apple or Google. Other criticisms point to the function of the device, such as the alarm being nearly impossible to disable once it goes off. Is this product just a dud, or is there more to the story?

It's true that the KLIPPBOK has had a bumpy start and has garnered a lot of ire from customers. If you purchase something to connect to your home automation network, you should be able to put it to use without a significant headache. A closer look at customer reviews gives a clue as to what is wrong with the setup of the KLIPPBOK.

One five-star reviewer writes, "The sensor kept failing to connect due to an issue with my border router, which made the initial pairing more frustrating than it should've been. Once I tracked down the network problem and got the border router sorted out, everything fell into place." This storyline checks out, since a border router can successfully integrate a piece of tech from an external network into your home's routing. Those who have been able to sort out the KLIPPBOK's connectivity issues seem to speak highly of the device, saying that it works well and is a smart home device you'll actually use.

If all this talk of routers and smart home automation setup is making your head spin, however, perhaps it's best to opt for a lower-tech leak-detecting option. The Metak 5-Pack Water Leak Detectors for Home ($39.99 on Amazon) are a highly reviewed product that operates without any internet connection or need to connect to a smart home hub. These smart sensors are designed to prevent damage to your home by alerting you to moisture from leaking pipes and flooding appliances around the house. The product has a 4.6-star average rating, with a five-star rating from 79% of customers.