What is A Water Leak Detection System?

A water leak detection system works by monitoring the flow of water through a pipe. If you haven't noticed, they're usually installed at the water’s point of entry into the home.

They monitor the water pipe for abnormalities in the water flow. When an abnormal flow is detected, the system automatically rings an alarm and cuts off the water.

The alarm makes it easy for you to be aware and take quick action. It could also detect when pipes are at risk of freezing and restrict the water flow until it is warm enough.

Why Do Pipes Leak?

Pipes can leak because of a variety of conditions, some of which are:

• Old or faulty pipes
• Freezing temperature
• Extreme water pressure
• Corrosion
  

Why You Should Get a Leak Detector

• It protects your property from getting destroyed by water. You could lose very important documents and items because of flooding.
  
• It prevents unexpected expenses that would have been incurred from property damage.
  
• It prevents water wastage. You could lose gallons of water if you're unavailable to stop the leak immediately.
  
• Water damage can cause the growth of mould on your items. These moulds can have serious implications on your physical health.
  

How Different Water Leak Detectors Work 

Leak detectors work by monitoring water flow. They can do this using ultrasonic wavelengths or mechanical turbines.

This device can monitor the flow of the water depending on the mechanism installed. It could count how many gallons of water is passing through the sensor.

It could also sonically record the time delay, or detect moisture on the floorboards. If any unusual condition is detected, the valve is triggered to block the water flow.

Water detectors come in different types, each with a different mechanism best suited to the needs of the buyer. Some of them are listed below.

Reverse Osmosis Water Detectors

A reverse osmosis water detector is a small device acting as an emergency shut off valve. When there is a leak, a small apparatus inside the device gets wet.

This causes the valve to block the water supply to the nearest appliances and make a very loud sound. They are usually installed behind generators or under washing machines.

Hydrostatic Pressure Test

A hydrostatic pressure test is usually installed on pressurised systems. These are systems like boilers, fuel tanks, plumbing, pipeline systems, and so on. It works by first filling up the system with liquid, and then applying pressure.

A drop in pressure or changes in liquid level in the system signifies a leak. This test, if done together with another kind of detector, can detect the precise location of the leak.

Digital Water And Electronic Leak Detectors

They make use of tiny sensors to detect the presence of water. The sensor is wired to a shut-off valve along the waterline. Once the sensor detects water, it sends a signal to the valve which in turn shuts off the flow of water.

They're usually installed on hot-water heaters and other appliances that use plenty of water. Their alarms are usually very loud too.

Thermal Imaging

This makes use of thermal cameras to locate leaks. The camera is tossed into a drain to provide visual images of the pipes. It could be an easy method of detecting leak problems without structural damage.

Smart Home Water Monitor

This is the most recent development of leak detectors. It usually has three components controlled by an app.



• Sensors are placed in specific areas of the home where leaks are possible.
• Shut off valve.
• A centralised hub integrating the sensors with the valve and sending information to the app.

They are usually installed and set up by a professional plumber. The app also allows customers to customise the settings and features according to their needs.

They can also be paired with other smart devices, a smart speaker for example, which would enable voice commands to turn on and turn off the water at your convenience.