I already use a Room Alert 3S to monitor temperature and humidity in a server room, and it has been very reliable. The room is cooled by a mini-split, but its condensate pump occasionally fails and leaves a significant puddle beneath the unit. I'd like to add a water or leak sensor so I can be alerted immediately instead of discovering the problem later. The existing RJ11 input is already occupied, so I may need to expand to a larger Room Alert model or use a separate monitoring system. I'm looking for recommendations that provide a cloud dashboard, configurable temperature and humidity thresholds, email alerts, and preferably text-message notifications.
5 Answers
If you want a cloud-based system with no local server, Ubibot, SensorPush, Monnit, and Sensaphone are worth comparing. They offer temperature and humidity monitoring with configurable alerts, while the more capable systems can add water ropes, door contacts, and other sensors. Check the subscription and cellular requirements carefully, since the ongoing cost varies a lot.
Don’t rely on only one alert path. Use at least email plus text or phone notifications, and consider an independent check that tells you if the monitoring device or internet connection stops reporting. A local audible alarm and a visible leak cable are also worthwhile. Whatever system you choose, place the sensor where water will collect first and test the alerting regularly.
For a more traditional data-center setup, APC NetBotz, RLE, ServersCheck, or Vutlan can handle leak cables, temperature, humidity, doors, and other facility inputs. Some can integrate with monitoring platforms such as Zabbix. They cost more than a basic room monitor, but they’re better suited to multiple rooms and historical data.
APC equipment works well if you already have compatible UPS hardware, but I wouldn’t choose it solely to avoid buying a separate sensor system. The support experience and licensing should be evaluated before standardizing on it.
You can also use sensors connected to the UPS network-management card, a building-management system, or a site PLC if those are already installed. That avoids adding another standalone platform, though the sensor compatibility and alerting options can be limited. A dry-contact input is useful if an existing controller can accept the leak alarm.
Room Alert is probably the simplest path since you already have one. Moving to a model with more inputs would keep the sensors and interface together, and it should support leak detection, temperature thresholds, and email notifications. For the condensate problem, a leak-detection cable is often better than a single point sensor because it can cover the whole area beneath and around the unit.
We’ve used Room Alert units for years. They’re not flashy, but they’re inexpensive, straightforward, and reliable for temperature, humidity, doors, and water sensors.
I’ve had good results with a cloud sensor that provides email alerts and threshold settings without requiring a separate monitoring server. Make sure the gateway has a backup connection if losing the site network would prevent alerts.