Protect your home with highly rated water leak detectors
How do water leak detectors work?
Water sensors detect and prevent excess moisture and flooding caused by broken pipes and faulty appliances. A leak detection system is made of sensors, shut-off valves and a centralized hub. The sensors are placed in areas where leaks are common, such as near faucets and beneath water heaters.
Home water leak detector systems trigger a water sensor alarm if they detect moisture in a location that should be dry. Some leak detectors also monitor for changes in acoustics. Since all leaks create soundwaves, the detector gauges the severity of the leak by the frequency of the sound it produces. For example, underground water leak detectors for finding slab leaks utilize acoustic technology.
Knowing that there is a leak is one thing, but being able to stop it from damaging your home and belongings is where the real power lies. Modern water detectors that combine moisture sensors and flow-based leak detection automatically shut off valves to prevent you from coming home to a big, watery mess. Automatic shut-off valves are installed near your water main and cut off the flow if the detector senses moisture or irregular pressure — this prevents the extensive damage that can be caused by water leaks that occur when you’re away from home and can’t access the water source.
Broken seals, clogged lines, loose connections, damaged joints, corrosion and excess water pressure are just a few of the most common causes of water leaks that sensors can detect. Water leak detectors also help prevent damage caused by tree roots and rapid or extreme temperature changes, which are difficult to discover on your own before it’s too late.
Wondering how to detect a water leak underground?
Look out for pools of water or damp patches on your floor with no visible signs there’s a leak in your ceiling. Smells are a giveaway too – underground leaks tend to take longer to come through which leads to mould and mildew, both of which have a distinctive odour.
If you don’t want to have to keep looking for signs of a leak, consider using a leak detection tool. There are several on the market, and all work slightly differently. With Leakbot, for example, you attach it near your stop tap, and it uses technology to monitor the temperature of the water going through your taps.
A leak detection tool triggers an alert if there’s a leak, which gets sent to you on a mobile app, giving you a chance to take a look and see if it’s something you can fix, or get in touch with a plumber. The time and money a leak detection tool could potentially save you makes them well worth the small, initial investment.
How Can a Plumber Find the Source of a Water Leak?
When you call a plumber to find the source of a hidden leak, they will begin by doing a walk through of your home to check for any signs or clues of a possible leak. This may include checking fixtures, under sinks, irrigation, and pool systems to rule out these sources. Your plumber will likely check the water meter as well to get an idea of how much water is being used.
The Best Water Leak Detection Tool
After ruling out surface and fixture leaks, your plumber will need to look for underground leaks or leaks hidden in the walls. The most effective tool to detect these types of water leaks is professional sound detection equipment. Using headphones and a microphone, a highly skilled technician will be able to listen for the sound of running water underground as it travels through the pipes. Additionally, they may also use pipe locator clamps on the visible portions of a pipe to transmit a radar signal over the pipes. This process is known as “charging the pipes.” Once the location of the leak is identified, an experienced plumber will explain the best method(s) to repair it and prevent any water damage to your home.
How to Check a Water Meter for Leaks
The best way to find out if you have a plumbing leak is by monitoring the water meter. Here’s how to go about it:
- Turn Off All Water: Start by making sure there isn’t any water being used inside or outside your home including lawn or garden irrigation, toilets, clothes washers, dishwashers, faucets, icemakers, and automatic backflow cleaning in whole house water filters.
- Check Flow Indicator: open the cover on the water meter at the street to see if it has a flow indicator. This is a small rotating wheel on the meter that can detect even small amounts of water flow. If the flow indicator is moving, you have a leak somewhere in your house or yard.
Tub and shower: Splash leaks
Splash leaks are simply water escaping past a shower curtain or a shower door. Plumbers tell us it’s the most common type of bathroom leak. Although it may sound minor, this leak causes major damage when water seeps into the subfloor where flooring meets the tub or shower. Before long the vinyl flooring or tiles begin to loosen. Even worse, the plywood subfloor delaminates and rots, requiring a huge, expensive tearout and replacement project.
Signs of trouble:
- Curling vinyl flooring or loose tiles next to the tub.
- Peeling paint or flaking, chalky-looking wood finish near the shower.
- Water stains on the ceiling or joists below.
- Mold spots on the wall or floor near the tub or shower.
- If you use a curtain, look for standing water on the floor after you shower.
How to find the source of a bathtub drain leaking:
- If you have a shower door, splash water all around the door and frame. Leaks around the frame may take five minutes or longer to show up.
- If the door has rubber gaskets or a rubber door sweep, check them for gaps.
- Also check for any gaps in the caulk where the shower or tub meets the flooring.
How to fix a leaking tub drain:
- Be sure to overlap sliding doors correctly when you close them. The inner door should be closest to the faucet.
- If you have a shower curtain rather than a door, make sure you close it completely when you shower, or add a splash guard.
- Seal a leaking frame by running a small bead of tub and caulk around the inside of the frame. Force the caulk into any gaps between the frame and the shower surround. Quickly wipe away all the excess caulk. When the caulk dries, test for leaks again.
- Replace any worn gaskets or door sweeps. Bring the old one to a home center or plumbing supply store and look for a matching replacement (be sure to get the correct size to fit).
- If the old caulk along the floor shows gaps, scrape it out and run a new bead.