Alert Labs

IoT water leak detection and property damage prevention for commercial buildings and the insurance industry

Underwriting & Risk Established Acquired

Overview

Alert Labs is a water monitoring and leak detection platform serving insurance carriers, brokers, MGAs, and property managers across North America. Founded in 2015 in Kitchener, Ontario, the company was acquired by Watsco Inc. -- a Fortune 500 HVAC/R distributor -- in October 2018 and now operates as a Watsco subsidiary.

The company offers cellular-connected IoT sensors paired with the AlertAQ cloud platform, which uses AI-based algorithms to detect surge patterns, continuous leaks, and abnormal water consumption in real time. Devices operate on cellular networks without Wi-Fi dependency, providing continuous monitoring even during power or internet outages.

Alert Labs reports deployment in over 12,000 buildings and estimates its solutions have prevented more than USD 100 million in property water damage claims, conserved over 8 billion gallons of water, and avoided 180 million pounds of carbon emissions. Customers include major insurance carriers such as CNA Insurance and Northbridge Insurance, property managers such as BGIS and Cushman & Wakefield, and insurance intermediaries such as USI.

Products & Services

AlertAQ Platform

AI-powered centralized analytics platform for water and HVAC intelligence across multi-property portfolios. Aggregates data from all connected sensors and delivers automated reporting, real-time alerts, and consumption trend analysis.

Key Features

Real-time leak detection using proprietary AI surge and pattern analysis
Multi-property dashboard for portfolio-wide visibility
Automated reporting and alert management
API access for integration with property management and insurance systems

Target Users: Insurance carriers, brokers, MGAs, property managers

Floodie

Flood sensor and point-of-leak detector providing 24/7 automated alerts via phone call or digital notification. Connects over cellular with battery backup; no Wi-Fi required.

Key Features

Cellular connectivity with battery backup
Instant automated phone and app alerts
No Wi-Fi or building infrastructure dependency

Target Users: Property managers, building owners, insurers

Flowie / Flowie-O

Water flow sensors that attach to indoor or outdoor water meters to track minute-by-minute consumption and detect leaks without cutting pipes or requiring tools.

Key Features

Non-invasive strap-on installation
Minute-by-minute flow monitoring
Cellular-connected with no Wi-Fi dependency

Target Users: Property managers, facilities teams, insurers

Shuttie

Automatic water shut-off valve for pipes up to 6 inches in diameter. Activated remotely or automatically upon leak detection to stop water flow before major damage occurs.

Key Features

Supports pipes up to 6 inches
Remote or automated activation
Integrates with AlertAQ platform

Target Users: Property managers, building operators

Humie

Humidity and temperature sensor for monitoring indoor environmental conditions that can indicate moisture accumulation or HVAC issues.

Key Features

Continuous humidity and temperature tracking
Cellular connectivity
Integrates with AlertAQ dashboards

Target Users: Property managers, facilities teams

Float Switch Alert System

Smart condensate switch for HVAC systems that sends automated alerts when condensate drainage issues are detected.

Key Features

Monitors HVAC condensate pans
Automated alert on overflow risk
Cellular-connected reporting

Target Users: Facilities managers, HVAC technicians, property managers

At a Glance

Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Kitchener, ON, Canada
Employees: 51-200
Funding: Acquired

Category & Focus

Category: Underwriting & Risk
Subcategories: IoT Risk Monitoring Water Leak Detection Property Damage Prevention
Insurance Verticals: P&C Commercial Specialty/E&S
Target Customers: Carriers, Brokers, MGAs/MGUs