As we all know, time is of the essence when dealing with a gas or water leak. In just a few seconds, a small leak can grow from a slight annoyance and a minor mess to a significant headache that can impact the health of your loved ones—or your wallet.
For the ultimate preventative measure, consider a Matter-compatible shutoff valve. With just a little effort—and small upfront cost—you can stop the flow of water or gas lines from the palm of your hands, either on demand, or automatically via routines and scenes.
Of course, there are multiple brands and wireless technologies to choose from, so we've rounded up the best of the best to help you pick the best for your home.
What to look for in Matter-compatible smart shutoff valves
With varying pipe sizes, valve types, and networking options available, purchasing a Matter-compatible shutoff requires some careful consideration. To start, we suggest having a close look at your existing supply lines to determine if you have either a ball valve or a butterfly valve—look for a long or short handle.
The current crop of Matter shutoff devices employ a small motorized arm that physically pushes the handle of these valve types, which, in turn, opens or shuts off the water or gas supply. If your valve has a rotating knob, then you'll unfortunately have to wait for other solutions to hit the market.
You'll also want to check the pipe sizes for your supply lines. Most Matter-compatible shutoffs are capable of handling pipes up to 1 inch in diameter. Although they technically might be able to push the handle on valves installed on pipes over an inch, the shutoff housing clamp or ring may not support the larger size.
Finally, consider your home's existing network infrastructure. Just as you see with smart sensors and lights, available Matter shutoff valves can differ in their wireless transport technologies, with Thread, ZigBee, and Wi-Fi all at play.
Wi-Fi is the most ubiquitous hub-free offering, but may suffer from range and reliability issues depending on the size of your home and the location of your incoming supply lines. ZigBee—while typically rock solid with mesh networking—requires a vendor-specific hub, and the same goes for Thread, although they are usually referred to as a Border Router.
The best Matter-compatible shutoff valves
Aqara Smart Valve Controller T1 - requires Aqara hub
While it requires an Aqara hub—like the recently released G5 Pro Camera—for operation, the Smart Valve Controller T1 provides extra peace of mind as it is from one of the most trusted IoT vendors around. Aqara's shutoff is one of the most reliable, too, thanks to its utilization of the tried and true ZigBee 3.0 wireless protocol.
Aqara Valve Controller T1
A retrofit smart valve controller that enables automated and remote water shut-off, integrates with major smart home platforms, and offers up to two years of battery life.
Aqara's shutoff works with standard lever and butterfly ball valves and slips easily on the most common pipe sizes—1/2, 3/4, and 1-inch. The only downside with the T1 is that it runs on 4 AA batteries, but with an expected life of two years and an easily accessible battery compartment, it really isn't too big of a hassle.
Jinvoo Matter Smart Valve
At less than $30, the Jinvoo Matter Smart Valve is an excellent way to protect your home from leaks without breaking the bank. Jinvoo's shutoff keeps costs down with built-in Wi-Fi so you won't need a hub, and it comes with a hardwired power supply, eliminating the need for battery replacements.
As with other shutoff devices, Jinvoo's offering is DIY-friendly with a simple installation process that fits over existing ball valves. Once installed, this shutoff can stop gas or water flow within 5-10 seconds with 30-60kgf.cm of torque and 1.6MPA valve pressure, either manually on-device or via your favorite smart home ecosystem.
SmartSetup Shutoff Valve MS01V
SmartSetup's MS01V is the only shutoff valve on the market that supports Matter-over-Thread connectivity. In addition to hub-free pairing, Thread enables speedy response times—which is crucial when disaster strikes—and expanded wireless range with its mesh networking technologies.
The SmartSetup shutoff works with most gas and water handle-based ball valves, with its torque power of 30-60kgf.cm. Its housing also features IP65 weather resistance, so you can use it for sprinkler systems and more outdoors as long as you have a cover for its wired 12-volt power connection.
Stop the flow with the best Matter-compatible shutoff valves
With their ability to completely stop water or gas from flowing, the best Matter shutoff valves undoubtedly play an important role when it comes to keeping your home safe and secure. With a Matter shutoff, you can prevent major damage with just a tap or voice command—and more importantly, from anywhere in the world.
To bolster your home's protection against floods, we recommend pairing one of the available shutoff valves with a Matter-compatible water leak detector. If gas leaks are your primary concern, you can limit potential health and safety hazards with an air quality sensor or even an air purifier—like the AiDot WELOV P200 Pro.
