Water Alarms

How Water Alarms Can Safeguard Your Home

There was an unfortunate incident that happened to a homeowner which underlines the need for water alarms. Upon arriving home from work, on a cold evening, the homeowner heard the rushing sound of water in his basement. When he went down, he was shocked to see water spraying everywhere. He tried to shut off his main valve but the pipe had frozen and cracked in the section between the valve and the street. There is no way of shutting out the water flow. He was forced to call the town’s service crew but it took them 45 minutes to arrive. By then, his basement was already covered with over four inches of water.

Had he come in late, there would have been even more water wastage. Even then, the damages to his ceiling, floor, walls and furniture are extensive. He had already a freeze and power failure alarm installed which notifies him whenever problems arise, but he didn’t have any water alarms. He found a monitoring device and alarm system that informs him when there is freezing, water leaks and power failure in his house. It only costs a little more than his old alarm system.

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Water Alarms Are Valuable Safety Devices You Can’t Do Without
There are many reasons why pipes break. In temperate countries like the United States, freezing is one of the common causes of busted pipes. This can happen during the cold winter season. Water alarms are relatively inexpensive considering the damage it will cost if you don’t have them installed. They are very simple instruments and you can even do the installation yourself. Oftentimes, flooding go undetected for hours resulting in expensive damages to your home, furniture and appliances. You can install water alarms that can stop water leaks the minute they are detected.

Appliances And Areas In Your House That Need Water Alarms
The modern home is equipped with all kinds of appliances that make life comfortable and convenient. But there are appliances and places in your home that uses water and therefore must be monitored for water leaks or flooding.

• Water Heaters – this equipment is constantly under pressure. With pressure coming from hot water, the possibility of pipe leaks is great. Be extra careful especially if you have been using your water heater for years. Check for corrosion in the pipes because they are where water leaks starts. Place a water leak sensor at the base of the heater. Then connect the water alarm to the automatic shut-off valve of the alarm. Once a water leak is detected, the valve will shut off and the alarm will sound. The valve will stay closed until the leak is corrected.
• Refrigerators – refrigerators have a number of small pipes where water and condensates flow. The constant running of the compressor results in repeated vibrations that cause the small pipes to develop cracks. You will have problems with leaking pipes going to the ice maker and the drainage. Connect the water alarm (with a motorized valve) to this small pipe and when there’s a leak, the valve will shut off and the alarm will sound.
• Washing Machines – statistics show that washing machines are the number one source of water damage in the home. This is where you need to install water alarms to protect your home from possible water damage.
• Overhead Water Tanks – sometimes leaks coming from the pipes of overhead water tanks occur during the night. You need to install water alarms especially if the overhead tank is in close proximity to your house.
• Septic Tanks – these tanks are dangerous when they back-up. Just consider the damage it will cause in your home if its contents flood your home. This is another place where water alarms can be effective.
• Basement Pipes – these pipes can cause severe damage to the home if leaks go undetected and not stopped. With automatic water alarms, you can prevent flooding coming from this place.

Types of Water Alarm
There are many types of water alarms in the market today, but they share some common features. Here are some of the alarms with basic features you can choose from.

• Water Alarms – this alarm detects running or standing water, moisture or condensation in the floor or carpet of your house. You can place it in any room that you want. It will sound a 110 dB warning when problem is detected.
• Septic System Alarms – they basically come in two types – high water and air pressure with differences in features. You can place it indoor or outdoor and alerts you with a warning buzzer or flashing lights. There are wireless and hardwired models of this alarm.
• Water Level Arms – you can set these types of alarm to warn you either when the water level is low or when water level is high. Many manufacturers have units that can be installed in water heaters, sump tanks, washing machines and total main water sources.