A smart sensor assessed my home's risk of electrical fires, and I was impressed

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

I've had the Ting smart sensor monitor my home's electrical system and assess the risk of electrical fires for months, and I've been pleasantly surprised by how informative the process has been. 

The Ting features an easy installation -- no wiring or electricians involved. You only need to plug it in to get it started. Once you download the Ting mobile app, you can connect the sensor to Wi-Fi. You have to wait a few weeks for the Ting to familiarize itself with your home's electrical system before it gives you consistent status updates. 

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After learning your home, the Ting sensor monitors the electrical current 24/7, looking for issues in wiring, outlets, and even appliances. Basically, the Ting monitors all the electrical in your house that could spark an electrical fire, including incoming power. It also watches your home's voltage, power outages, and upcoming storms that may cause you to lose power.

Ting detects electrical issues that you would otherwise not know about, which could potentially start a fire. These could include loose or damaged connections, like frayed cords, worn insulation, overloads, and faulty equipment.

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Aside from detecting significant issues in electricity, Ting can detect arcing, tiny electrical sparks that can happen due to age, poor installation, or bad construction. These scintillations are early warning signs that turn into bigger issues down the road, like tripped breakers or electrical fires. 

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Why I recommend this product

The Ting smart sensor is one of the easiest ways to gain extra insight into your home's electrical status. It alerts you when changes occur, including when the risk of an electrical fire increases. 

Even if a Ting sensor does not replace a smoke alarm, an alarm only alerts you after a fire has started and smoke has been detected. In contrast, a Ting alerts you of the possibility of a fire before it ignites. However, not all fires are caused by electrical issues, so having reliable smoke alarms is still imperative, Ting sensor or not. 

Beyond monitoring electrical safety, I love that Ting keeps me notified of power outages and even provides insight into nearby outages and potential risks for one happening in my home. When I'm away, Ting also tells me of severe weather alerts and a detailed log of when the power went out and when service was restored.

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