Best DIY shut-off in water alarms and leak sensors
A clamp-on motor that turns your existing main ball valve, so a leak sensor or the app can shut off the water without a plumber cutting the pipe. The valve must already work well.
Our score: 7.6/10 out of 10Researched, not lab-tested
- Connection
- Long-range radio to a hub
- Warranty
- 1 year
- Water resistance
- IP55 (Bulldog)
Is it right for you?
Pros
- Clamps onto an existing 1/2 to 1-1/2 in ball valve
- Shuts the water off from the app or a paired leak sensor
- About 15 Nm of torque to turn the valve handle
- Runs on 4 AA batteries or the included 9 V DC adapter
Cons
- Hub not included in the base kit
- Only works if the existing ball valve turns freely and closes fully
- Bulldog robot has a 1-year warranty (controller 2 years)
- Rated 32 to 122 °F and must never be submerged
- Best for
- Homeowners with a working quarter-turn main valve who want leak sensors to shut off the water while they're away.
- Not for
- Homes with a gate valve or a stiff, corroded main valve, or anyone without a YoLink hub.
Our verdict
Automatic water shut-off usually means a plumber cutting a motorised valve into the main. YoLink’s Bulldog Valve Robot avoids that: it clamps onto your existing ball valve, and a geared motor turns the handle, driven by the Valve Controller 2 on a nearby wall. From the YoLink app, or automatically when a paired leak sensor finds water, it closes the main.
YoLink lists support for 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 in ball valves and about 15 Nm of torque. The guide is clear that the valve must be in good order, turning smoothly and shutting off completely, because the robot can’t fix a stiff or leaking valve. The base kit has no hub, which app control needs; pair it with sensors such as the YoLink leak sensor kit. YoLink’s store sells it in Canada and the US.
Fitting it
First check that your main valve is a ball valve that turns easily and closes fully. The brackets clamp to the valve body, not the pipe, with the motor shaft lined up on the valve’s pivot; turning the handle 180° can help it fit. Power the controller with four AA batteries (new alkaline or lithium, never rechargeable or zinc) or the included 9 V DC adapter; either alone is enough. It is rated for 32 to 122 °F; outdoors it needs cover from sun and rain, and it must never be submerged.
Close and reopen the valve from the app now and then, so a seized valve is found before a leak. The Valve Controller 2 has a two-year warranty and the Bulldog robot one year.
Specs
YoLink Valve Controller 2 Kit with Bulldog Valve Robot
Alerts
| Connection | Long-range radio to a hub |
|---|---|
| Phone alerts | Yes |
| Shuts off the water | Yes |
| Freeze alert | No |
| Hub needed | Yes |
| Alarm | No |
| Water resistance | IP55 (Bulldog) |
| Valve sizes | 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 in ball valves |
Other details
| Battery | 4 × AA, or 9 V DC adapter (included) |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 1 year |
Maker’s figures, checked 3 Nov 2026.
YoLink Valve Controller 2 with Bulldog questions
Will the Bulldog fit my main water valve?
It fits 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 in ball valves. The valve must turn smoothly and shut off completely; it is not for gate valves or valves that are stiff or leak.
Do I need a hub?
Yes, for app control, and the base kit doesn’t include one. A YoLink leak sensor can also be paired directly with the controller so it closes the valve without the internet.
What happens in a power outage?
The controller can run on four AA batteries as well as its 9 V adapter, and either one alone is enough, so keep fresh batteries in it.