Statistically, you are more likely to suffer expensive water damage in your home than a fire or burglary. Each year homeowners file more than $10 billion in water damage claims with insurance companies. Advancing technology offers monitoring and leak detectors that can sense and stop a leak quickly and spare your home big damage. Here’s how they work.
How leak detectors work
Leak detection systems work in one of two ways.
The simplest and least expensive systems involve placing small electronic devices a little larger than a deck of cards near places where water is used: beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks, behind toilets, in the leak pan under the water heater. These devices have sensors that detect the presence of moisture and set off an alarm. Prices range from around $50 to around $80 per device.
Whole-house leak detection systems come in two types. Both are installed at the point where the water supply line enters the house and monitors water flow. One type shuts down the water valve if it detects abnormal water usage that indicates there’s a leak. The other type monitors flow and notifies you of a leak but requires you to take action to shut it down. These systems start at around $500.
Some systems monitor for freezing temperatures and alert you so that you can protect pipes from freezing.
Related – Prevent Flooding in Your Home