Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make and ensure that you maintain this valued possession is of the utmost importance for its longevity, as well as your property value. This typically includes maintenance or service for your various items or systems in your home, such as appliances, the roof, and your plumbing systems, among others.
A common concern for homeowners regarding the safety of their homes is undetected leaks due to damaged pipes. This fear may stem from an experience with a flooded basement, replacing moldy sheetrock, or a hefty water bill-or others’ stories of the same. Regardless of the source of your concern, leak detection offers peace of mind with a reliable alert system for broken pipes or leaky connections.
Dangers Due to Water Leaks
Not only can leaky pipes cause physical damage to your home, but they can also be detrimental to your family’s health. The longer a leak goes undetected, the higher your risk of a small issue turning into an astronomical one. Growth of mold and fungus in your home can cause respiratory ailments and severe allergic reactions. Additionally, a water leak in the attic can put you in danger of a weakened roof collapsing, or a leak at the foundation level can affect the stability and value of your home.
What Is Leak Detection?
A leak detection system functions on the principle that leaks produce sounds and the system is designed to pick up acoustics via an electronic machine attached to your home’s security system. The device registers sound waves made by leaks and transmit information regarding their location and type.
Different Frequencies, Different Leaks
Depending on the type of leak, such as a pipe under great pressure or one under lower pressure, your leak detection system will transmit pertinent data about the leak to trained workers who also have other information about the location of a leak. Put simply, the system detects how different sounds indicate different types of leaks.
How Leak Detection Works
In more technical terms, an electronic leak detector has what is known as a transducer, which is highly sensitive to different sounds coming from your pipes. For instance, when the system registers a sound indicating a high-pressure leak, it transmits it to your security system at a higher frequency. This type of ‘amplified’ leak can then be addressed immediately upon detection. Although the technology behind leak detection is somewhat complex in detail, its purpose is straightforward in application: It protects your home from water damage by detecting abnormal water usage or leaks. It stops the water flow before major damage happens.
Protecting Against Water Leak Damage
One way to protect against water leaks is to check your water meter periodically, or when you feel there might be a leak. If you see the dial moving, there’s a good chance you have a leak, and you should first determine if it’s located inside or outside. Then, cut off the water main until it can be repaired. Also, be aware of toilets that continually run. The problem could be where you can’t see it, instead of the toilet itself. Wastewater leaks are harder to detect because wastewater is typically moved by gravity and not under great pressure.
The best way to fully protect your home’s water system is to be one step ahead of corrosion, damage, and leaks that can cause extensive damage. A leak detection system can not only detect any water leaks but can also save you the extra stress of detecting leaks yourself and save you plenty of money in the long run.
