Water leaks are often invisible until they cause major damage—stained ceilings, warped flooring, or a sudden spike in utility bills. Smart sensors aim to shorten the time between a leak starting and a homeowner noticing it by continuously monitoring for signs such as moisture, abnormal flow, or pressure drops and then sending real-time alerts.

While no single device is perfect for every home, combining the right sensor type with thoughtful placement and correct settings can significantly improve leak detection coverage.

Start with the right sensor type

Most smart leak-detection systems use one (or more) of these approaches:

• Moisture/contact sensors: Detect water on floors, under sinks, near water heaters, or around plumbing joints using conductivity or probe-based detection.
• Whole-home water leak sensors (flow/pressure): Track water ... Read more »

A hot water recirculating pump is designed to keep hot water moving through your home’s plumbing so it’s available at the faucet or shower with less wait time. Instead of letting hot water sit in the pipes until you turn on the tap, the system circulates it continuously (or on a schedule), returning cooled water to the water heater to be reheated.

While the idea is simple, deciding whether you need one depends on several practical factors—especially your pipe layout, your typical usage patterns, and your tolerance for energy costs.

How a recirculating pump works

In most homes, hot water leaves the water heater, travels through the hot-water line to the fixture, and then cools in the pipes when you’re not using it. A recirculating pump moves water through that loop so the hot line stays warm. Many systems also include controls such as timers, temperature sensors, or occupancy-based trigge ... Read more »

Flooding in Illinois can come from multiple sources: prolonged rainfall that overwhelms storm sewers, rapid creeks and streams that rise quickly, and major rivers that crest after upstream storms. To manage these risks, the state and local agencies rely on a mix of engineered infrastructure and ongoing maintenance funded through public and federal programs.

Flood control systems are designed to reduce the frequency and severity of flooding—but they don’t eliminate water entirely. Instead, they aim to manage where water goes, slow its movement, and protect homes, businesses, and critical services.

What flood control systems include

In Illinois, flood protection typically combines physical structures with land and water management. Common components include levees and floodwalls along rivers, detention and retention basins that temporarily store stormwater, and dams that regulate flows. For smaller wa ... Read more »

Illinois winters can be expensive, especially when heating systems run longer than they need to. A smart thermostat is designed to make that control more efficient—by automating temperature changes, avoiding unnecessary heating, and helping homeowners monitor and manage energy use in real time.

While no device can eliminate every utility cost, smart thermostats often reduce waste by ensuring your home heats only when it matters most. For Illinois households, that can translate into lower bills during the coldest months.

1) Learning your schedule to avoid “heating empty rooms”

Many smart thermostats use motion sensors, phone location data, or learning algorithms to understand when you’re home and when you’re away. Instead of keeping the house at a constant temperature, the thermostat can lower heating when people are out and warm up before you return. This helps reduce runtime for y ... Read more »