I’ve been exploring ways to integrate smart home technology into every corner of my house, and one area that’s always intrigued me is detecting toilet flushes. While it might sound a bit quirky, there are practical reasons for wanting this functionality—whether it’s for monitoring water usage or triggering automated routines after a flush.
My initial thought was to use a water leak sensor, like the Aqara model, placed inside the toilet bowl. However, this approach has its drawbacks. Installing it would require some DIY skills, and maintaining it over time could be messy—not to mention the hassle of battery changes. Plus, there’s always the risk of leaks or damage if not installed properly.
I started researching alternative solutions and stumbled upon some creative ideas in the community. One user mentioned using motion sensors strategically placed near the toilet. While this could work, I’m concerned about false triggers from nearby movements or pets. Another suggestion was to use acoustic sensors to detect the sound of flushing. This seems promising, but I’m not sure about the accuracy and whether it would be sensitive enough without causing too many false alarms.
I also came across discussions about using smart plugs connected to the toilet’s water supply. By monitoring the electrical current, you could potentially detect when the toilet is flushed. This method would avoid the need for physical contact with the toilet itself but would require precise calibration to distinguish between different water usages.
I’m curious to hear if anyone has successfully implemented a toilet flush detection system. What devices or methods did you use? Were there any challenges, and how did you overcome them? I’d love to explore this further and maybe even experiment with some of these ideas myself. Let’s see if we can turn this bathroom chore into a smart home triumph! 
