EcoNet Winter Flood Leak Protection: The Definitive Canadian Guide (2025)
Canadian pro-guide to automatic shutoff • ESA/TSBC code snapshots • IBC insurance context • Last verified: • Update log & review cadence
Reviewed by
Simply Controlled Technical Team
Low-voltage specialists focused on winterization & smart water shutoff commissioning across residential, MURB, and light commercial in AB/BC/ON. Commissioning SOPs based on EcoNet manuals and Canadian AHJ practices.
Short answer (Canada): Install an EcoNet Bulldog automatic main shutoff on a healthy ¼-turn valve, place 6+ leak/temperature sensors in freeze-prone spots (garages, exterior-wall vanities, crawlspaces), and back up the controller + router/LTE on a UPS for 8–24 hours. Run a supervised wet test, simulate a power outage, and keep a dated photo log for your insurer. Shop EcoNet kits.
Key facts (Canada-first)
Sources in “Citations & Evidence.”
How EcoNet automatic shutoff works
Wireless leak/temperature sensors signal a motorized clamp-on “valve robot.” On alarm, the controller rotates the ¼-turn main to closed within seconds, stopping the leak at the source. Local shutoff works even if Internet is down; notifications require connectivity/UPS.
| Family | Radio | Form | Inputs/Relays | Typical sensors* | Best fit (Canada) | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVC200 | Z-Wave Plus | Clamp-on | Hub or dry-contact | Hub-dependent | Dealers, Panels, MURBs, Home Assistant | EVC200 — Z-Wave robot |
| EVC300 (Wi-Fi / “JW”) | Wi-Fi | Clamp-on / Starter kit | App-controlled | ≈ up to 20 | Hubless simplicity; quick homeowner installs | EVC300 Wi-Fi • JW Starter Kit (3 sensors) |
| EVC400-MW | Matter over Wi-Fi | Clamp-on | — | ≈ up to 20 | Apple/Google/Amazon mixed ecosystems | EVC400-MW (Matter) |
*Kit/SKU dependent — confirm per product page.
EcoNet Canada catalog — quick links
Starter & sensor kits
All EcoNet
B2B Dealer Playbook
How to sell & deploy resilient systems
- Qualify risk: Ask about winter outages, snowbird absences, unconditioned spaces.
- Scope the full solution: Valve + 6–12 sensors + UPS + LTE. Don’t sell partials.
- Quote value: Include “Commissioning & Insurer Documentation” as a deliverable.
- Install for resilience: Prefer EVC200 for panel tie-ins; use G.hn backhaul to reach mechanical rooms.
- Handover: Provide the photo-logged PDF + CSV maintenance schedule; offer quarterly service.
Power, backup & networks (winter outage problem)
- UPS target: 8–24 h for controller + router + LTE; include ~15% inverter losses.
- LTE failover: Use a router/gateway with cellular backup so “Shutoff” alerts still reach phones.
- Generator: Avoid brown-outs during transfer; confirm last-state behaviour per SKU.
Context: Western Canada’s January 2024 deep freeze created >$180M insured damage, largely from frozen/burst pipes (IBC). See citations.
Reference wiring/network diagram
+––––––––––+ Sensor Bus (wireless/LV) +———————+
| Z-Wave Hub / |<—————————————>| Leak / Temp Sensors |
| Wi-Fi App (HA) | +———————+
| + LTE Gateway | ^ ^ ^
| (failover) | | | |
+––+––––+——+ | | |
| | | | |
LAN | Z-Wave/Wi-Fi | | |
| | | | |
+––v––––v––+ Dry contact (optional) +–––––––+—+—+–+
| Router / Switch |—————————––> | Alarm Panel / PDK I/O |
| (G.hn backhaul) | | (NO/COM interlock) |
+––+———––+ +–––––––+———–+
|
| PoE/AC
|
+––v—————–+ Class 2 (LV) +—————————––+
| UPS (8–24 h target) |———————–>| EcoNet Bulldog Controller |
| (router + LTE + | | + Clamp-on Valve Drive |
| controller) | | (last-state fail-safe) |
+–––––––––––+ +—————————––+
Video: 5-Minute Canadian Winter Setup
Tip: Place this near the top for engagement/SERP rich snippets. Alternate short demo: Bulldog-JW “Just Works”.
Calculators & checklists
UPS runtime (hours)
Target ≥ 8 h winter coverage; include LTE if remote alerts matter.
Freeze degree-hours (risk)
FDH ≈ (0 °C − Temp) × hours; ≥80 suggests higher freeze risk (uninsulated).
Cost-of-failure (water, CAD)
Rate uses Toronto 2025 Block 1 as example. Excludes remediation (often $10k+). Sources: City of Toronto; Calgary rates linked below.
Commissioning & insurer documentation (SOP)
- Map freeze zones: garages, crawlspaces, exterior-wall runs, slab penetrations.
- Mount Bulldog: verify healthy ¼-turn valve, 90° travel, manual override clearance.
- Place & name sensors: WH pan, laundry, kitchen sink (exterior wall), dishwasher, fridge line, basement low point; add crawlspace/garage. Photograph each.
- Connect UPS/LTE: power controller + router/LTE; target 8–24 h runtime.
- Supervised wet test: trigger each sensor; record notification & close times.
- Outage simulation: kill AC; confirm local close + LTE alert delivery.
- Create insurer log: photo log with dates (valve, sensors, PSU labels, UPS status). Provide to broker.
Use CSV generator below for quarterly schedule.
Video: Full Walkthrough — SmartThings Starter (Z-Wave + sensors)
Canada snapshot — codes & winter insurance notes
| Province/Territory | CEC/OESC 2024 Status | NPC/Plumbing | Insurance/Utility Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ON | OESC 2024 in force May 1, 2025 (ESA) | NPC via OBC | Insurers may ask for routine checks during absences |
| BC | CEC 2024 adopted; effective Mar 4, 2025 (TSBC) | NPC via BC code | Interior cold snaps → UPS + sensors priority |
| AB | CEC 2024 — confirm AHJ | NPC 2020 in force Apr 1, 2023 | Snowbird absences → shutoff + checks |
| SK | CEC 2024 adoption/enforcement per TSASK | NPC per SK regs | Plan for rural outages; LTE |
| MB | Confirm CEC 2024 adoption status | NPC via provincial regs | City of Winnipeg advisories |
| QC | CEC alignment — verify RBQ | NPC 2020 with QC mods | Water damage = large share of claims |
| NS/NB/PE/NL | CEC 2024 adopted per province | NPC via province | Atlantic storms → consider ≥24 h UPS |
| YT/NT/NU | CEC 2024 — verify adoption | NPC via territory | Extreme cold → extra sensors & heat trace |
Local rates/examples: Calgary water rates, Toronto rate reference.
Bill of materials (Canada) — example kits
| Category | Example (brand) | Notes / Canadian source |
|---|---|---|
| Auto shutoff controller | EVC200 (Z-Wave), EVC300 (Wi-Fi/JW), EVC400-MW (Matter) | Simply Controlled — EcoNet |
| Z-Wave leak sensors | Zooz 800 LR, Jasco/Enbrighten | Pair with EVC200 projects |
| Network backhaul | G.hn Powerline/Coax | Reach mechanical rooms cleanly |
| UPS | Line-interactive 600–1500 VA | Size to 8–24 h (use calculator) |
| Leak/Temp sensors | ELS100 (3-pack) | ELS100-3 stocked in Canada |
EcoNet vs. Flo by Moen vs. Phyn (Canada)
| Feature | EcoNet Bulldog (EVC200/300/400) | Flo by Moen | Phyn Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install | Clamp-on retrofit (no pipe cut) | In-line cut-in (plumber) | In-line cut-in (plumber) |
| Power resilience | UPS-friendly; local shutoff without Internet | Accessory options | Typically AC-only |
| Panel/automation | Z-Wave (EVC200) meshes with hubs/panels | App/cloud-first | App/cloud-first |
| Canadian stock | Yes — Simply Controlled | Often US import | Often US import |
| Best for winter | Outage-resilient design (UPS/LTE) | Strong analytics; needs cut-in | High sensitivity; needs cut-in |
“Flo by Moen alternative Canada” → EcoNet offers clamp-on retrofit plus Z-Wave/Matter options; choose by install constraints and outage strategy.
FAQ & troubleshooting
Will this help with insurance discounts in Canada?
Often yes. Many insurers recognize automatic shutoff. Your dated commissioning log and quarterly wet-test photos are key. See IBC context in citations.
Will it work without Internet or Power?
Without Internet: Yes — local shutoff still occurs; phone notifications may not.
Without Power: Only if you have a UPS. Power is required for actuator/hub/router.
How many sensors do I need?
Minimum six: WH pan, laundry pan, kitchen sink (exterior wall), dishwasher, fridge line, basement low point — add crawlspace/garage/risers as needed. See ELS100-3 Pack.
The valve won’t close when a sensor trips — what’s wrong?
1) Check controller power/UPS. 2) Use clutch to manually rotate valve — if stiff, the plumbing valve is seized. 3) Re-pair sensor and re-run wet test.
I didn’t get a notification during an outage — what failed?
Notification chain needs: Controller → Hub/App → Router → LTE Gateway → Cell Tower (all on UPS). Local close still happens even if alerts fail.
Maintenance schedule (for your insurer)
Quarterly (on-site)
- Exercise valve (app + manual).
- Wet-test each sensor; confirm alerts.
- Update dated photo-log.
Annual
- Replace all sensor batteries.
- Apply firmware/app updates.
- UPS self-test; replace battery if needed.
Generate schedule
Réponses rapides (fr-CA)
Fonctionne sans Internet ? Oui — la fermeture locale reste active. Pour recevoir des alertes pendant les pannes, utilisez un onduleur (UPS) et un modem LTE.
Rabais d’assurance ? Souvent oui. Conservez un journal photo daté des tests trimestriels pour votre courtier.
Free download: Pro-Installer’s Winter Commissioning Pack
BOM template, 10-point commissioning checklist, and insurer photo-log template.
Canadian regional context (risk & practice)
Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton)
Deep freezes and wind chills; plan ≥24 h UPS and LTE. See Calgary water billing. Query terms: “Automatic water shutoff valve Calgary”, “EcoNet Edmonton winter shutoff”.
Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa)
Ice storms & power outages; OESC 2024 effective May 1, 2025. Query: “Insurance discount leak sensors Toronto”.
Quebec (Montréal)
Require bilingual docs for many projects; add fr-CA notices. Query: “Vanne d’arrêt d’eau automatique Montréal”.
Citations & evidence
- Ontario OESC 2024 (effective May 1, 2025): ESA overview & newsroom. ESA OESC page; Nov 15, 2024 ESA news; Dec 12, 2024 ESA news.
- BC CEC 2024 adoption (effective Mar 4, 2025): Technical Safety BC information bulletin. TSBC bulletin (PDF link inside).
- Insurance context (freeze/ice storms & outages): IBC reports. Western Canada deep freeze >$180M; ON/QC ice storm $342M; 2024 record losses.
- Climate normals: Environment & Climate Change Canada climate normals (1991–2020 & 1981–2010). ECCC climate normals.
- Water rate references: Toronto 2025 rate example; Calgary rates.
Always verify local adoption with your AHJ before quoting. Provincial/municipal amendments apply.
Review & update discipline
Living document
Last technical review: 2025-11-07 • Next scheduled review: 2026-01-15 • Request a correction/update
In summary: EcoNet winter leak protection pairs automatic shutoff with cold-weather resilience (sensors, UPS/LTE, and SOPs). This guide provides Canadian citations and processes to pass inspections and accelerate insurer discussions. For SKUs and support: Simply Controlled — EcoNet Canada.
Informational only. Follow provincial/municipal codes and use licensed trades as required.
