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Which Water Leak Detector Do You Need?

May 16, 2022

The annual loss of water in pipeline transmission continues to skyrocket at an alarming rate causing the government to spend millions of dollars on repairs and maintenance of water pipelines.


This issue is also consistent in the domestic setting. Tons of litres of water are being unaccounted for yearly. The cost of this loss of water is not the only challenge of water leakage. 


Excessive water leakage that has gone unnoticed has led to damages to properties, costing a lot of money. Due to this reason, many homeowners are choosing to invest in leak detectors to get ahead of this problem.


However, before selecting a water leak detector, some decisions need to be made. But before then, we need to establish the purpose of a water leak detector system. 


Apart from a water detector’s ability to detect leaks, there are three other essential boxes that it may check; narrowing down the leak to a specific portion, locating a radius where a leak has happened, and pinpointing the particular point of the leak.


Some devices can perform one or two of these functions, while others perform the three simultaneously. In this article, we will be classifying the best water leak detector based on their sensor type.

Spot Leak Sensors

This leak sensor can be found in several kinds of water leak detection equipment and is helpful for homeowners who have consistently had leaks in certain places.


These leak detectors are designed to monitor the conditions (temperature, humidity, depending on the type of technology) in a specific location where there is a high risk of a leak. 


These devices usually work through direct contact with water on the sensor’s probes or electrodes which would then generate a signal that can be used to trigger an alarm or some sort of action to warn the homeowner.


The spot leak sensor is suitable to monitor leaks mostly in confined areas that are not too large. They can be connected to the laundry room, washing machine, or water heater.


There are many leak detection devices designed with spot leak sensors, but the most suitable one for your needs would be one that can be attached to your perceived leak location without much stress, a device with a sturdy sensor, and a kind of alarm that works best for you.

Flow Leak Sensors

These are more common and by far the most preferred leak detectors. It works by monitoring the flow rate and water pressure to determine if there is a potential leak.


Devices outfitted with these sensors are usually installed on the water mains of a home or facility. Some flow leak detectors may contain a shut-off valve that can be triggered using a smartphone or through the home control panel. The shut-off valve can turn off the water supply if it is set to do that when there is a leak. 


For those who have experience with frozen water pipes and burst pipes due to low temperatures, a flow leak sensor is most suitable as it can monitor the temperature of water pipes in different locations.


Since the advancement of leak detector equipment, many flow leak sensors now work with smart home systems, which enable direct alert messages to be sent to the homeowner's smartphones. 


Before deciding on the best flow leak sensor water detector, ensure that the device is easily mountable and determine if it would require professional installations.  Also, if you are interested in the smart alerts, make sure you check out the device app. If the application does not work correctly, you may not be getting your money’s worth.

Acoustic Sensors

Some have argued this sensor is the best at detecting leaks. Acoustic sensors make use of electrical and mechanical hydrophones to listen for leaks. Devices with acoustic sensors rely on high-frequency sound signals sent by the release of pressurised fluids to detect a leak's existence and location. 


Acoustic sensors are usually positioned along the water distribution line, and because of this, they are
highly accurate. One of the significant advantages of an acoustic sensor is its ability to pinpoint leaks accurately, even when there are multiple leaks.


Acoustic sensors are usually employed commercially, unlike the flow rate and direct contact sensors. They are incorporated during the pipe installation and may require professional installation.

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