### Under Sinks on Exterior Walls Kitchen and bathroom pipes that run along exterior walls are the most susceptible to freezing during winter storms. Placing a sensor inside the cabinet beneath these sinks allows you to monitor the air temperature immediately surrounding the pipes. ### Basements and Crawlspaces Unheated basements and crawlspaces are common trouble zones. If your water main enters the home through an unheated basement or crawlspace, mount a sensor nearby. This ensures you are alerted if the ambient temperature in these utility spaces drops to dangerous levels. ### Utility Rooms and Laundry Rooms Utility rooms often house water heaters, water softeners, and washing machine connections. Because these rooms are sometimes located on the periphery of the home or in garage-adjacent spaces, they can get significantly colder than the rest of the living space. ### Near the Main Thermostat If your primary goal is to monitor your home's heating system while you are away, place the sensor near your main thermostat. If your furnace fails, the temperature sensor will detect the drop in room temperature and trigger an alert before the entire house freezes.
## Where to Avoid Placing the Sensor To prevent false alarms and ensure the device functions correctly, avoid placing the sensor in the following locations: * **Directly on Metal Surfaces:** Do not tape or mount the sensor directly onto metal pipes or metal beams. Metal can conduct cold temperatures directly to the sensor's housing, causing a premature freeze alert. Metal can also block the wireless signal traveling to your SimpliSafe Base Station. * **Directly on Concrete Floors:** Concrete holds cold temperatures and can transfer that cold directly to the sensor. Always mount the sensor on a wall or place it on a wooden or plastic shelf. * **In Direct Drafts or Near Vents:** Avoid placing the sensor directly in front of heating vents, air conditioning registers, drafty windows, or exterior doors. Constant airflow will prevent the sensor from reading the true ambient temperature of the room. * **Outdoors:** The SimpliSafe temperature sensor is designed for indoor use only. Exposing it to outdoor humidity, rain, or extreme weather will damage the internal electronics. ## How to Install and Mount the Sensor
Setting up the sensor takes only a few minutes. Follow these steps to ensure a secure installation: 1. **Clean the Surface:** If you are mounting the sensor to a wall or cabinet interior, clean the surface with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely. This helps the adhesive strip bond securely. 2. **Pull the Battery Tab:** Remove the protective plastic tab from the battery compartment to power on the device. 3. **Add the Sensor to Your System:** Use your SimpliSafe keypad or the mobile app to add the new sensor to your system. 4. **Mount the Device:** Use the pre-applied adhesive tape on the back of the bracket to press the sensor firmly against the wall for 30 seconds. Alternatively, you can slide the sensor off its bracket and use the included screws to secure the bracket to the wall. 5. **Verify the Connection:** Ensure the sensor is within range of your Base Station. You can verify this by checking the device status in the SimpliSafe app. ## How the Sensor Operates The SimpliSafe temperature sensor is pre-programmed to trigger an alarm if the temperature drops below 41°F (5°C). This threshold is designed to give you ample time to drip your faucets or turn up the heat before water inside your pipes actually reaches the freezing point (32°F).
The sensor can also detect extreme heat. It will trigger an alert if the temperature rises above 95°F (35°C), which is highly useful for identifying air conditioning failures during the summer, especially if you have pets at home. You can monitor the real-time temperature of the room where the sensor is placed directly through the SimpliSafe mobile app. If an alarm is triggered, you will receive a push notification, and the monitoring center (if you have an active subscription) will contact you.
