The hierarchy of credits
| Device | Carrier view |
|---|---|
| Central-station fire/burglar alarm | The classic top-tier credit — monitored dispatch beats noise |
| Automatic water shutoff valve | The rising star; water is the most frequent homeowners claim |
| Leak sensors (monitored) | Meaningful, especially paired with shutoff |
| Local (siren-only) alarm | Smaller credit — deters, but nobody's coming |
| Deadbolts, extinguishers, smoke detectors | Table stakes — expected, asked about, modestly credited |
| Cameras & video doorbells | Weakest direct credit — useful, rarely rated heavily |
Exact credit structures vary by carrier and filing — we won't invent percentages — but the ordering above is remarkably consistent across the market. Note what tops the list: the boring, monitored, plumbing-adjacent stuff, not the gadgets.
Why water devices jumped the queue
Ask any adjuster what actually damages California homes year in, year out: water discharge — failed supply lines, water heaters, washing machine hoses. It's the most frequent claim on the book, it happens while you're at work or away for the weekend, and it's almost perfectly preventable by a device that notices flow when nobody's home and closes the valve. Carriers increasingly reward automatic shutoffs, and on older plumbing the pairing is even stronger: aging supply lines plus a shutoff device is a materially better story than aging lines alone.
Where it matters most
Seasonal and second homes — where water runs undetected for days — and vacancy situations are where monitored sensors and shutoffs earn their keep several times over. Some carriers effectively expect them for remote properties.
Making the credits actually apply
Answer the application precisely. "Central station" means a monitoring company dispatches; don't call a siren central. Our wizard asks about locks, alarms, and devices in carrier language for exactly this reason. Keep certificates. Alarm companies issue monitoring certificates; device makers provide installation confirmations — carriers ask for them at binding or audit. Tell your broker when you add something. Mid-term device installs can often be credited at endorsement or at renewal — free money left behind if nobody mentions it. Stack deliberately. Alarm + shutoff + smoke/CO + deadbolts all coexist; the combination also reads as a well-run home, which helps the parts of underwriting no discount table shows.
Answer once, credit everywhere
The wizard captures your alarms and devices so every carrier quote prices them.
Four minutes to a live indication — independent broker, whole market, no fee.
Get a pricing indication →Keep the discounts in perspective
Device credits are real but they're the small levers. The big four remain carrier choice (a 20–40% spread on identical homes), deductible strategy, wildfire hardening where brush is the issue, and claim discipline. Install the shutoff valve because it prevents the claim; enjoy the credit as the bonus. The full ranking lives on the lower-your-premium page.
Frequently asked
Do smart locks count as deadbolts?
Generally yes when they're deadbolt-grade hardware — the application cares about the bolt, not the app. Our wizard's lock question includes smart locks as an option.
Will a security system claim discount survive a carrier switch?
Credits don't transfer automatically — each carrier rates devices its own way. When we remarket, the device list rides along in the application so every quote reflects it. Switching guide →
Are cameras worthless then?
Not worthless — useful for documentation and deterrence, and occasionally credited. They're just not where the rating money is. If you're choosing one purchase for premium impact, the water shutoff wins.