Cold snaps crack fittings and thaw cycles dump melt water. Freeze alerts protect pipes; wet contacts catch the flood that follows. This playbook is the companion to the cold-snap playbook: where to place pads, how auto flood differs from Rules, and why vacation mode still wakes you for water.
Where thaw floods show up
- Water heater pan / garage heater: slow drips after a hard freeze or pressure relief event.
- Laundry and utility sinks: supply lines and drain backups when ice melts.
- Sump pits and crawlspace low spots: melt and groundwater after outdoor thaw.
- Exterior wall cavities: ice dams and pipe thaw that soak insulation before you see it upstairs.
Place wet contacts
- Use a water pad or probe that can POST a
flood(or leak-named) bool: see the leak contact puck accessory page for the BOM pattern. - Seat the pad where water pools first (pan, floor low point), not on a dry shelf.
- Push ingest from the same ESP device as your freeze probe when Wi‑Fi allows, or a second push device.
- Confirm the key shows Dry on Home before you trust overnight coverage.
Auto flood vs Rules
- Auto flood: once alerts are enabled, wet flood/leak contacts notify on their own. You do not need a custom rule for “sensor wet.”
- Rules → flood: use only when you want combinations (wet AND door open, wet AND cold, duration filters).
- Door / motion / power: those kinds still need Rules; they never auto-fire like flood.
Vacation and snooze still fire flood
Vacation mode and short snoozes mute threshold freeze noise while you work in a cold bay. Flood and forecast/NWS alerts still deliver so an empty house does not miss a pad going wet. Clear vacation under Alerts when you are home and want full threshold chatter again.
When a pad goes wet
- Acknowledge the alert so playbook escalations pause if you use them.
- Shut the nearest supply valve; check the water heater T&P and any ice-dam drip path.
- Photograph the wet area and export a claims pack from history if you need carrier evidence: claims pack.
- Reseat or dry the pad only after the leak is stopped so you do not clear the sensor while water is still flowing.
Product checklist
- Dashboard → Alerts enabled (freeze + auto flood)
- At least one flood/leak key reporting Dry on Home
- Test alert from Essentials while pads are dry
- Optional: household SMS/push for overnight wet events
- Optional: time-to-freeze so freeze runway and flood share the same channels
FAQ
Do I need a custom rule for leak pads?
No. Once alerts are enabled, wet flood/leak contacts notify automatically. Use Rules → flood only to combine wet with door, temperature, or duration conditions.
Does vacation mode mute flood alerts?
No. Vacation and snooze mute threshold freeze noise; flood and forecast/NWS alerts still deliver so empty-house wet events get through.
Where should I place wet contacts for thaw floods?
Water heater pans, laundry/utility low spots, sump rims, and crawlspace pools where melt water gathers first—not on a dry shelf. See the leak-puck accessory page for the pad BOM pattern.