Keeping our home safe is a priority, but we know that electrical fires can start without warning. As smart home technology continues to evolve, we've had our eye on products that enhance home safety. Ting is one of those products. This FCC-certified smart sensor monitors a home’s wiring and detects potential hazards in its electrical system, preventing ~80% of electrical fires.

"Electrical fires are among the most devastating, yet their warning signs are often invisible until it’s too late," shared Bob Marshall, CEO and co-founder of Whisker Labs. "Every day, the Ting Fire Safety team engages with more than 25 families to help them address Ting-detected fire hazards like failing outlets, deteriorating wiring, faulty appliances, even dangerous power from the utility. To date, Ting has helped prevent more than 16,000 potentially devastating electrical fires and we’re committed to protecting even more families every day."

How Ting Works in Your Home

Ting is a small, $99 smart device that plugs into any outlet. They sent me one to try in my home, and I must say — very nice. Like other smart products, it syncs to an app for ease of use. Day and night, it's prepared to report on changes in your home’s electrical system. 

Unlike traditional smoke detectors that alert you after a fire starts, Ting detects hazards before they become a problem. Not only does it look for wiring issues within your home, but it can predict changes to your power supply is a risk.

A single sensor continuously analyzes electrical activity. Based on the weekly emails I've received, I know it's looking for signs of arc faults, overheating, power grid surges, brownouts (sags), and other issues. If Ting detects something unusual, you’ll get a notification on your phone, along with guidance on what to do next. If it requires a licensed electrician, in some cases Ting even helps coordinate professional repairs using a $1,000 service credit. 

If a utility fire hazard is detected, Ting offers the instructions and script to help you escalate evidence of the dangerous power quality directly to your utility company.

This solution is great for single-family homes, but important for apartment and condo-dwellers, too. While the company notes some risk of the product detecting signals in neighboring units, it's great for units with their own dedicated electrical panel that control all lights, appliances, and home systems (like HVAC).

For the first year, Ting Fire Prevention service is included with the purchase. Afterwards, the service costs $49/year. Be sure to ask if your insurance company or electric company will waive the service costs; according to Ting, some insurance providers will!

Real-Life Cases of Ting Preventing Fires

Ting's testimonials speak for themselves. Here are a few shared from my weekly monitoring reports:

• "We live in a wooded area and with recent storms, power outages happen a lot. Recently we noticed flickering and dimming lights. Ting alerted me to a fire hazard with a loose neutral line. Our utility provider isolated the issue and made the repair. They were VERY impressed with Ting. Best device to have in your home, period." — Sheryl, Carmel, CA
• "Corroded wires and panel box were causing power surges and brownouts while using appliances in the house. Ting was right on top of everything and we would get notifications whenever the power went out of range, went out completely, or brownout. I don’t ever want to be without Ting." — Craig, Dallas, PA
• "We had faulty wiring coming into our home from our utility provider which caused numerous power surges. Ting discovered the problem as soon as it was plugged in. When our utility provider arrived, they discovered there were several loose wires and complimented us for requesting a service call. Thank you, Ting, for our much-needed fire prevention." — Janice, Florissant, MO
• "We installed the Ting device in our home in June. After a couple of months of no issues, Ting detected a clear and present electrical fire hazard inside the radon pump in my attic. Ting even covered the cost of getting it replaced; the Ting technician worked with our electrician to resolve the problem. Without Ting, this would likely have led to a catastrophic fire and loss of our home ? or even worse. Thank you, Ting! We are big believers!" — Undisclosed

You'll Appreciate How Simple It is to Set Up

Ting is not a complicated setup. They told me it was easy, but I was still surprised that it took me just a couple of minutes to complete:

1. Plug Ting into a standard wall outlet. It recommends using an outlet in a lesser-used area of your home, not in your main living area or kitchen. It also advises against your garage, outdoor outlets, power strips, smart plugs, or switched outlets. Mine is in an unused outlet behind the bed.
2. Download the Ting app and follow the setup instructions.
3. Connect Ting to Wi-Fi and let it start monitoring. Learning mode takes approximately seven days, but that's it.

Once it’s running, there’s nothing else to manage. If an issue comes up, you’ll get an alert on your phone with clear steps to take. The app also provides ongoing system health reports to guide predictive maintenance, and I get weekly emails with daily voltage reports, so I'm always assured that the house is okay, whether I'm at home or traveling.

This is a Great Addition to Your Smart Home

I was drawn to Ting because of its simplicity, but sold on it by its service. The setup took just a few minutes, and the weekly emails and notifications are clear and helpful.

For anyone living in an older home, where wiring may be outdated, Ting is an especially smart investment. But even in newer homes, electrical faults can happen. Ting gives you extra peace of mind without adding complexity to your life.

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FAQ

Is one sensor enough for my whole house?

For me, yes. And, for the majority of homes, yes. Ting does note that if your home has more than one electrical breaker panel, you'll want one for each electrical panel. If you have a sub-panel in a separate building (like your barn or shed), you should also get a second Ting. You can learn more about different sensor scenarios on the website.

Does Ting require any maintenance?

No, once Ting is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi, it works automatically. The app will notify you if anything needs attention, but there’s no ongoing maintenance required.

Can Ting prevent power surges from damaging electronics?

Ting detects irregularities in your home’s wiring and can alert you to potential hazards, but it doesn’t function as a surge protector. You still need good surge protectors in your home to protect products.