Water Leak Detection

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Water Leak Alarm Detector

Water Leak Detection

Moisture Meter Guide

The complete moisture meter website

Without water, we as a species simply would not survive. Our homes would not function without water. Bathing, having heat and washing would simply not be possible. But boy o boy when water turns against us it can be a wallet buster and emptier of many a bank account.

Such a small thing as a tiny leak or seepage can snowball over time in to a semi catastrophe in the home. Water pipes can spring a leak which remain undetected over time and are usually only discovered when serious damage has been done. The sea and waves have extreme force and power, but so does dormant and passive water. Under floor piping for example can leak for months and months and it is only when your flooring and even the foundations of your home are affected and virtually ruined, is the effect of passive water realized. Washing machines, fridge freezers and shower units can all sprout small leaks. This water will slowly work it’s way in to flooring and walls and in time cause havoc to the affected areas.

Using a moisture meter in the home will alert you to any moisture and water issues that are present. But the damage may well have already been done. Pipes leak and house appliances leak and there is no getting away from that. But being aware of a water issue, detecting a water leak as soon as it occurs will save you a lot of time, stress and money. That is why having a water leak alarm in the home is so important. Cheap to buy and set up, they may never be called upon, but if they are they pay for themselves 1000’s of times over.

Zircon Leak Alert Electronic Water Detector With Alarm

With this water alert alarm from Zircon you are in a position to prevent serious water damage to your home. It is a battery powered unit which will emit a loud alarm as soon as it get wet. You need to place it in any place where there is a potential for flooding or water leakage. Ideal places are near water heaters, in basements or home white utensils. Although they will not deal with any water problem, they do however alert you to any impending problem. What is to like about the device is that it is small and inconspicuous allowing you to situate it literally anywhere in the home.

EnuSens Water Overflow Alarm with Relay Output

This Medpage device is a water overflow alarm. Powered by batteries it can be fitted on any wall with a sensor lead extending from it. It will give off an alarm at the first sign of water build up. It is a versatile water detector alarm and can be used for bath water levels, plumbing leaks, system water overflows and wet flooring. It even has the capabilities of being linked to a universal transmitter and pager.

There are several ominous signs that you have water leakage and it is time for you to become Sherlock Holmes and concentrate on water leak detection. More often than not you can have a water leak in the home and not even realize it. You may have suspicions and a moisture meter will confirm your suspicions if there is an issue. But special attention and detective skills are often required to notice a water leak. But there are certain signs which should make you put your detective hat on.

Soggy Ground

If the ground in your garden or yard is soggy and mushy and it has been sunny for many days, then there is a strong possibility that there is a broken water main in the vicinity of your garden. Now this could turn in to a very serious problem as the earth around your home could shift and affect the foundations of your home. You can test the soil around your home with a soil moisture meter, but the fact that the ground is soggy is indication enough. For something as serious as this though you should really get in a professional water leak detection service to locate the problem.

Your Water Bill

By checking and keeping an eye on your water bill will notify you of any water leakage. If the bill suddenly and dramatically increases, then your water consumption has obviously increased. But if there is not explanation for this increased water consumption then it is highly likely that you have a water leak somewhere. You can start yourself to find the leak problem with a moisture meter but if your search is fruitless then again you should really call in an experienced water leak detection company.

Can You Hear Running Water

When you home appliances are not being used you may actually hear the sound of running water. It is easy enough to ignore this sound as it is a normal sound in the home with such things as a washing machine and the toilet. Now if the toilet is not being used and the washing machine off and you can still hear running water then you have a water leak under your home or in the walls.

Check The Water Meter

You may have suspicions that you have a water leak somewhere in your home. If you do it is a good idea to turn everything off that uses water. Wait an hour or so and then check your water meter. If the water meter is still running then your home is taking in water somewhere and using it. As everything is switched off, then it points to you having a water leak.

Damp Or Wet Spots

If you notice wet spots on the walls or floors in your home that are discoloured and don’t go away, then it is likely that you have a hidden water leak.

Smells

A musty odour in the home signifies that there is water present somewhere. As well as being an unpleasant smell, this moist air can be uncomfortable to breathe and spark up any allergies you suffer from.

Water Leak Sensor

Rapitest - Damp Test Meter

The damp test meter from Rapidtest can be used as a moisture meter to test brick, wood, plaster and concrete for moisture levels. It can also be used to detect any traces of water leakage and seepage. Being a versatile tool it can also be used in home decorating for checking that surfaces are dry before painting and decorating. Runs on batteries and works well being extremely accurate and trustworthy. Comfortable in the hand and easy on the eye with a very readable display. A nice little tool to have if you are an avid DIY enthusiast or a home owner.

To Care Is To Share

Plumbing Leaks In The Home

Many water leaks in the home are easy to locate and show themselves up. The leaks which are hard to locate and identify are the ones you need to act quickly with as they can cause more damage. Plumbing issues are notoriously difficult to locate. But there are signs. Look out for

Peeling paint

Sagging wood

Bulging drywall

Mold

Loose floor tiles

Increased insect populations

Deposits of minerals

It is possible that leaks that cause these symptoms do not originate from obvious points such as drains or sink faucets. They could be from shut off valves under or behind home utensils. Check your drains as well for rust. This could be a sign of moisture going where it should not.

The bathroom and kitchen are strong culprits for water leakage and plumbing issues. Sinks, washing machines and showers are obvious candidates and if you are not capable of carrying out any repairs yourself, then get in a plumber.

A water leak can occur 24/7 in your home. You just don’t know so it is a good idea to be prepared for it. This is why the water leak sensor is such a good device in your home. Basically the water leak sensor is a small device, very similar in size and appearance to a smoke detector, which you can place on the floor or fix to a wall near to any places where a water leak may occur. If water comes in to contact with the sensor it will emit a loud and piercing alarm to alert you to the water leak. You can then act accordingly.

One drawback to the most common forms of water leak detector is that if you are not within earshot of the alarm you may not actually hear it and be aware of a water leak. There are more advanced models of leak detectors which have remote sensing so that you can place the sensor anywhere and the alarm will sound in another place. Even more advanced sensors can actually be programmed to call your telephone or pager.

The water leak sensor will help prevent any serious water damage to your home and can literally be placed anywhere in the home. Ideal places though to situate one are near water heaters, under sinks, in the attic or basement, near fridges and washing machines, under fish tanks and next to any plumbing such as toilets and showers.

Infrared Leak Detection

When it comes to checking the roof of a home for water leaks, it will soon become apparent that it is a tough job to do. However with an infrared detector the whole task is simplified.

Infrared leak detection is a non invasive way for checking a whole building from the outside without actually entering the building. They are effective tools and can quickly pin point any hidden dripping water which you cannot see with the eye. Moisture on ceilings, water behind walls and any leaks or dampness throughout the infrastructure of a home can be detected with an infrared detector.

The infrared detector works by using a small digital camera which scans and pinpoints defects. The user simply aims the detector at the area which needs to be assessed and pulls the trigger to start the scan. Any infrared energy released from the scanned area will be converted in to an electronic signal by the detector which in turn will be processed to work out the temperature and give a thermal image. Infrared lights can transmit info which is unseen in normal light.

The infrared detector gives fast results and proves itself to be a very cost effective method for detecting moisture, energy and air loss. One can be used to detect the origins of water leaks, plumbing blockages, pest infestations, moisture issues undetected by the conventional moisture meter, hot and cold air loss and even energy leaks such as electrical hotspots.

Problem

False alarm

Water Leak Detection Methods

Radar detection is a particularly efficient detection method for outside environments. This method can efficiently and accurately detect a water leek point and even give the size of the water leak. Radar waves will travel through most materials and parts of the waves that actually hit a material will return back to the sending device. The return time and strength of the wave can be calculated, which in turn will determine the material that the wave hit. So if hidden water is present the radar technology will inform you that there is water present.

For inside issues, an effective method of water leak detection is to use gas filling. Here industrial hydrogen can be introduced in to a pipe and then the pipe is examined using a detecting device which is particularly sensitive to industrial hydrogen. The gas will be pumped through the pipe at high pressure and if there is a leak in the pipe, the hydrogen will escape and be detected at the point of leakage. Repairs can then be carried out on the pipe.

Geophones are also used to test for leakage. They work on the same principle as a stethoscope. They will amplify sound and any leak, whether big or small, makes a sound.

Water Leak Detection Dye

An effect and cheap way of testing for a water leak is to use a water leak detection dye. This dye will change the colour of water in closed systems, plumbing, sewers, toilets and sceptic systems. By dying the water a different colour, checking for a water leak can be easily done visually.

The dye colours are usually fluorescent red or green and can be easily detected using an ultraviolet light or fluorometer. The dyes themselves are safe and non toxic as well as being biodegradable. Even sunlight will break down the colour.

The dyes can be purchased in either powder, tablet or liquid form and are simply added to water in any system. As the coloured water works it’s way around any plumbing system you can check the whole system and if a leak is present you will be able to easily identify it thanks to the coloured water. Not the most technological of systems, quite the opposite in fact, but perhaps one of the most effective and efficient ways of detecting a water leak.

Ominous Signs Of Water Leakage

The water leak sensor will be run by battery and be able to float in water for several days whilst giving off the alarm. Metal strips will have an electrical current running through them and if both strips get wet an electrical circuit will be completed and an alarm will sound.

To use a water leak detector you must first ensure that you have the correct batteries for it. Once the battery or batteries have been inserted you can test the unit to see if it works properly by touching the metal strips it has with wet fingers. The alarm will sound if the unit functions correctly. When situating a water leak sensor, do so with it facing upwards and flat against a surface, ensuring that the metal contacts are down.

Water Leak Sensor Troubleshooting

Possible Cause

Battery weak

Detector is on a conductive surface

Ambient moisture on the contacts

Solution

Change battery

Place paper or plastic between the sensor and conductive surface

Clean the contacts

Alarm not work when in contact with water

Unit does not float

Contacts are up and not touching the water.

Dead battery

Contacts must be flat on surface where water has to be detected.

Replace the battery

Battery not situated correctly in the case

Open up the device and place the battery in the correct position it is meant to be in.

Water Leak Detection Technology

Technology for water leak detection has improved steadily over the years. Apart from having regular inspections in the home, homeowners are now in a position to install a complete water detection system throughout their whole home if they so wish.

Basically for the homeowner there are 2 systems they can employ in their home. The first is the passive water detection system which comprises of alarm devices that will be set up on the floor in the vicinity of places where a water leak could possibly occur. Such areas are under sinks, next to toilets and near to white goods in the home. They are battery operated units and once they detect water they will give off an alarm. As effective as they are, they still rely on someone actually hearing the alarm and turning the water supply off.

The second system is the active sensor detection system. This will be more expensive and require professional installation. These systems will have valve in lines to all appliances and pipes in the home and will detect any leak. Once a leak has been detected the detector system will also shut of the water supply to the leak area. The whole system will work using a wired or wireless sensor throughout the home which talk with a central brain that is connected to the main water shut off valve in the home. The whole system will be installed in a similar fashion as a home security system and can also be connected to your alarm system if you have one.