How smart water shutoff valves prevent leaks and save you money

If a water leak occurs in your home, you may not notice it right away because some leaks are in remote locations. A tiny water leak may seem like nothing major, but over time it can actually cause significant damage to your home. A pipe that drips ten times per minute can spill up to a gallon of water per day, which if ignored can ruin flooring and drywall. If you have a major leak, such as a small crack in a pipe, it could cost up to $600 more per month on your water bill. Conclusion: You should never ignore water leaks in your home.

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How can you detect a leak without constantly checking your pipes? Better yet, how can you Receive a leak notification and have your plumbing system automatically shut off the water until you can fix it? Look for a Wi-Fi connected monitor with an auto-off sensor that can detect the leak.

Some of these models, like the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor (currently $496 at Amazon), give you real-time notifications of possible leaks using a free smartphone app. You can also turn your main water line on or off manually via the app. If you receive a report of a leak while you are away, you can use the app to prevent further leaks until you can return home and determine what happened.

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To install a typical smart water device that monitors leaks, install it on the cold water line of your home’s plumbing system, after the water meter and the main shutoff valve. Unless you are particularly knowledgeable about plumbing, you will need to have the installation done by a professional as you will need to cut open the plumbing pipes. You also need a power outlet near the device. You will need to match the diameter of your pipe to the diameter of the smart water leak monitor, which is between ¾ inch and 1¼ inch for the Moen device.

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The intelligent water sensor measures the flow or pressure in your supply line. If anything unusual is detected that could indicate a leak, you will receive a notification. Depending on the settings you use, the software may turn off your water supply or simply notify you of the situation and let you decide whether to turn off the water. Of course, you can’t just leave your water turned off indefinitely. You may want to quickly repair a leaking pipe using tape or epoxy putty to fix the problem until a plumber arrives and creates a permanent solution.

It is worth noting that these devices are not perfect. You may not be able to catch a very small leak because it doesn’t noticeably change the water pressure, for example. But they can still be worthwhile to protect yourself from flooding caused by a burst pipe.

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