# How to detect a toilet flush with Homey? **URL:** \ **Category:** Devices\ **Tags:** zigbee\ **Created:** [January 30, 2023, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785 "2023-01-30T12:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/1 "2023-01-30T12:12:50Z")
Hi I am searching for a smart device that I can use to detect when a flush in the toilet has been “issued” that can send a signal to Homey so I can trigger a flow … My first idea was to use a water leak sensor (Like the Aqara water leak sensor) and place it in the toilet bowl, but I would have to fix it with silicone or something, which makes it hard to change battery, second issue is that over time it will become nasty. Does someone have an idea on how I can achive this? BR Stig 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SortOfSmart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@SortOfSmart](https://community.homey.app/u/SortOfSmart)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/2 "2023-01-30T12:21:15Z")
Er… Just thinking out loud here: depending on your flush button, a (small) contact sensor on the button itself might be able to do this? Does clutter up said button though, so definitely not the most sleek option. Another idea might be a water usage meter, if you fiddle enough with it to find out how much water you use when flushing. That probably wouldn’t work in bigger households though, if e.g. another person is taking a shower at the same time you are using the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Ubels](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_ubels/32/18860_2.png) [@Marcel\_Ubels](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Ubels)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/3 "2023-01-30T12:23:41Z")
Maybe a tilt sensor, behind the button for your flush. I don’t have experience with the tilt sensor although i have one from aquara. Tried it on the door for the cat, but never got the angle for the flow to work properly . But probably the tilt could work for this. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/4 "2023-01-30T12:29:38Z")
Perhaps place a water leak sensor in the cistern? I believe that you can also attach two wires to the sensor ([see “option 2” on this page](https://smarterhome.sk/en/blog/aqara-water-leak-sensor-quick-start-guide_150.html)) so it doesn’t have to always be submerged and might be placed at a more accessible location. ---
**Author:** ![Gruijter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gruijter/32/1973_2.png) [@Gruijter](https://community.homey.app/u/Gruijter)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/5 "2023-01-30T12:53:21Z")
> [@SortOfSmart](#): > > water usage meter, if you fiddle enough with it to find out how much water you use when flushing. That would also be my idea. I use a Youless with pulse meter on my water meter. A toilet flush has a pretty distinctive usage profile. In most cases an advanced flow should be able to detect if a toilet was flushed. Downside is you have to wait untill the flushing/water flow has ended. So that could take a minute. Secondly ‘noise’ from other water use could lead to sometimes missing a trigger, or to get false triggers. Upside is that you do not need to mess around a toilet😉 ---
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/6 "2023-01-30T13:16:53Z")
Thanks @SortOfSmart , @Marcel_Ubels and @robertklep , those are all very good ideas … I went to see on youtube how to disamble the model of toilet I have ([Afmontering af Ifö Sign cisternekappe - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb-H4-t_9IM)) and after that I think the idea of putting a water leak sensor with 2 wires inside could work … but will the Zigbee signal be strong enough to go through the porcelain!?! … The idea regarding tilt sensor is also a really good, idea I have one of these from Aqara, but they are to big to hide under the button on my toilet. The idea regarding contact sensor, got me thinking … I do not think that a contact sensor like the Aqara (even though it is one of the smallest) will fit, but the idea is actually good … if I could get an “old time” push button (like this [Mom. Switch SPDT 20VDC 20mA Vertical Lug | Elektronik Lavpris Aps (elektronik-lavpris.dk)](https://elektronik-lavpris.dk/p88495/mdt8701s-mom-switch-spdt-20vdc-20ma-vertical-lug/) and get it connected to a zigbee transmitter perhaps ---
**Author:** ![SortOfSmart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@SortOfSmart](https://community.homey.app/u/SortOfSmart)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/7 "2023-01-30T13:32:29Z")
I’m assuming you already thought of alternatives? I’m not sure what your exact use case is, but if you’re trying to determine if someone used the toilet, a simple pressure sensor under a mat might do. Maybe even a strategically placed pir sensor. ---
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/8 "2023-01-30T14:25:58Z")
The use case is that I have a Rituals Genie ([https://www.rituals.com/en-gb-dk/the-perfume-genie-2.0-1113375.html](https://www.rituals.com/en-gb-dk/the-perfume-genie-2.0-1113375.html)) that I wish to start whenever someone have been on the toilet to get a better smell in the bathroom … the presure sensor under a mat will not work since I do not have a mat 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SortOfSmart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@SortOfSmart](https://community.homey.app/u/SortOfSmart)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/9 "2023-01-30T14:35:27Z")
Ah, I thought it to be something like that 😉 Still, detecting a flush might be the more complicated trigger for that use. Are you talking about a bigger bathroom (where one might also go to shower, shave etc.) or a smaller with just a toilet? If it’s the latter, detecting someone leaving the room might do as well. Though I assume there’s a reason you went with flush-detection? Maybe it helps if we know your reasoning? ---
**Author:** ![Henrik\_Johnsson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henrik_johnsson/32/13707_2.png) [@Henrik\_Johnsson](https://community.homey.app/u/Henrik_Johnsson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/10 "2023-01-30T14:38:33Z")
Use a [methane detector](https://www.expert4house.com/en/smart-home/zigbee-devices/tuya-methane-gas-sensor-smart-zigbee) to handle the use case when someone fails to flush 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/11 "2023-01-30T14:47:00Z")
🤣 the thought has crossed my mind 😅 ---
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/12 "2023-01-30T14:48:45Z")
Its a smaller bathroom, but it has both Shower, toilet and Washing maschine and Tumbler, so there could be several reasons why they are at the toilet. which is why I need the flush to trigger the flow 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tapio\_Felldin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tapio_felldin/32/68554_2.png) [@Tapio\_Felldin](https://community.homey.app/u/Tapio_Felldin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/13 "2023-01-30T15:11:06Z")
Fun idea. Could you have a sensor for closing the lid. Because you DO close the lid? 😀 Or motion sensor behind toilet, close to the floor so it only detects when you are really near the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Hamster](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hamster/32/16580_2.png) [@Hamster](https://community.homey.app/u/Hamster)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/14 "2023-01-30T18:12:55Z")
Can’t you build a doorsensor on the inside of the flushing plates? ---
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/15 "2023-01-30T18:29:47Z")
I do 😇 … not all do 😅 ---
**Author:** ![Stig\_Kolbaek](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stig_kolbaek/32/51393_2.png) [@Stig\_Kolbaek](https://community.homey.app/u/Stig_Kolbaek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/16 "2023-01-30T18:31:33Z")
Ahhh yeah that could be a Solution, I have to Think that through 🤔 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inunekko](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/inunekko/32/13815_2.png) [@Inunekko](https://community.homey.app/u/Inunekko)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 7:58am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/17 "2023-01-31T07:58:18Z")
Just connect two wires to the water leak sensor and put wires in toilet ---
**Author:** ![Domotica-blog.nl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/domotica-blog.nl/32/69291_2.png) [@Domotica-blog.nl](https://community.homey.app/u/Domotica-blog.nl)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 9:02am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/18 "2023-01-31T09:02:10Z")
You could use this solution: > **[Guide: Waterreservoir/Vlotter - domotica-blog.nl](https://www.hellosmarthome.nl/post/guide-waterreservoir-vlotter/)** > > Domotica-blog - Informatie over smart homes, zwave, homey, fibaro, regels maken, geo tracking en nog veel meer. ---
**Author:** ![Damien\_Ferris](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/damien_ferris/32/40033_2.png) [@Damien\_Ferris](https://community.homey.app/u/Damien_Ferris)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/19 "2023-01-31T23:01:22Z")
![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/5/c/5c8c3359e16e859307d1b34adb338e8e1c7ccb07.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Tore\_Andersen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tore_andersen/32/56303_2.png) [@Tore\_Andersen](https://community.homey.app/u/Tore_Andersen)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785/20 "2023-02-01T17:36:25Z")
Not sure if it work but have you considered to use a vibration sensor? [https://www.elektroimportoren.no/aqara-vibration-sensor/94286/Product.html](https://www.elektroimportoren.no/aqara-vibration-sensor/94286/Product.html) Tore [Next page](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-detect-a-toilet-flush-with-homey/75785.md?page=2)