How Water Sensors Can Help Prevent Costly Water Damage
If the rubber hose on your washing machine fails, it can cause significant damage to your home. If that leak goes undetected in the basement or another room that you might not regularly visit, the accumulated water can cause potentially catastrophic damage, from moldy walls to warped floorboards. The smart technology in water sensor systems can help quickly alert homeowners of potential leaks and prevent the need for costly and time-consuming repairs.
Water damage is a leading cause of loss in the home. Today, smart technology is helping consumers manage their personal risks. In addition to potentially preventing serious damage, water sensors can also help a homeowner avoid the loss of personal possessions and the hassle of coordinating repairs to your home.
How Do Water Sensors Work?
A water sensor can detect the presence of water, often by measuring the electrical conductivity of the water present and completing a circuit to send a signal. For installations that are not monitored by a professional alarm monitoring company, the sensor and its control module can send out a notification to the homeowner through an app that can be read on a smartphone. If you will be out of town, you can add family members, friends or other caretakers to receive notifications of a leak, so they can quickly prevent further damage.
Some water sensor systems can be programmed to shut off the water to the house to prevent a small leak from becoming a large one. If your home is heated by an older steam heating system, or if it’s protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system, check with a qualified professional before installing a sensor activated water shut off device.
Where Should Water Sensors Be Placed?
In addition to washing machines, failing hot water heaters, leaking dishwashers, damaged supply lines to automatic ice makers and overflowing toilets are some areas where water damage inside the home can occur, often without advanced warning. Performing regular maintenance and checking for rusty, corroded or damaged water supply lines and other potential problems before you have a leak is one of the best ways to help prevent water damage.
