An escape of water claim might not have the same emotional impact as a loss resulting from a fire or a burglary, but from an insurance industry perspective, these types of claims are a major concern. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that its members pay out around £2.5m every day for the escape of water claims (in residential buildings) and this cost is rising. The latest ABI figures show that, in 2017, domestic escape of water claims cost 24% more than in 2014. Worried about your business? You can expect more costly damages to occur. Compared to the average cost of residential claims (£2,638), the average cost of each commercial claim is roughly £4,000! What’s more, on average, you will lose £1,700 for each claim due to paying for excess and/or lack of insurance coverage.
Taking into consideration the different ways we use water around our homes (underfloor heating, en-suites, wet rooms) and the reduction is using copper pipes in the plumbing industry. You can only react when you have actually noticed the leak in the first place. What if the leak starts whilst you are away on vacation? The amount of damage a property would sustain from escaping water will dramatically increase the longer it’s not addressed.
Naturally, there is a solution to every issue, Leak detection devices are available to alert property owners to an escape of water and, in many instances, shut off the supply of water. Flow-based technology is widely used. This analyses how much water is flowing through the system, with many devices triggering an alarm, sending an alert and shutting down the supply if the flow deviates from what’s expected.
Are you for Traditional or Internet-Enabled?
Products for detecting leaks can be split into 2 categories, traditional and internet-enabled. Internet connectivity is a major benefit for leak detection because customers can receive remote alerts to their mobile devices wherever they may be, and more advanced diagnostics can be used. With the development of intelligence and pattern recognition, a user’s unique water usage profile can be learnt, which means alerts are bespoke to each building/floor/room.
For internet-enabled devices, an online app gives the user flow visualisation, so they are able to see the water usage before the leak occurred in order to understand exactly what happened. Sometimes it is difficult to know where a leak might be, so splitting the building up into zones can offer a great deal of insight than single-zoned variants. Keep up the pace with real-time monitoring which will give immediate alerts and feedback on usage, especially useful in time-critical environments or simply to test the water-saving tap/shower you just installed!
What about AMR or BMS?
If you have a large commercial site, you may have a Building Management System (BMS) with the ability to read water meters. Or you may have a datalogger connected to your water meter giving you Automatic Meter Readings (AMR).
These tools are great for supplying monthly billing information, but infrequent readings and unsophisticated software mean customers often suffer from data overload before being able to spot leaks. The data is time-consuming to sift through and does not immediately give any useful insight. Because the data often comes from a revenue meter supplying the whole building (or multiple buildings), it is even more difficult to understand where exactly your water is going.
Furthermore, BMS and AMR do not shut the water off automatically, so you are still prone to significant damage from a catastrophic leak before anyone can get on site and find the stop tap. That’s assuming the stop tap still works!
Now you know what you need to survive a water leak! Where can you go from here? Well look no further, we have listed all of the known products available in the UK and compared their main benefits allowing you to see which device would be right for you and would give you the peace of mind you have everything under control.
Compare solutions in detail
LeakNet
Using state-of-the-art smart metering technology, LeakNet enables internet connectivity for up to 4 water meters, and 1 valve. By using the latest in WiFi technology, high-resolution data is obtained frequently and reliably.
Real-time data analytics are used in the cloud to detect anomalies and diagnose faults. The dynamic web dashboards allow users to monitor their water usage in real-time and engage more with their water consumption habits. Email, SMS and app alerts allow users to be notified as soon as they have a leak, automatically turning the water off and allowing user control from anywhere in the world to avoid serious water damage, whilst also saving otherwise wasted water.
Pros
FlowReporter app available on web, Android and iOS
Good all-rounder for any deployment
Excellent service
App subscription has a free tier
Also monitors temperature
Can connect to external water sensors
Cons
Requires a plumber to install
Flowless
Flowless uses machine learning to understand how your building uses water and detects any changes, and uses the internet enabling you to control your water.
Flowless can alert facilities managers or can shut off the water itself in an emergency. It can detect and stop wastage and leaks saving your business money and preventing damage.
Pros
App available on web, Android and iOS
Available to fit many pipe sizes
Cons
Requires a plumber to install
Expensive service fees
Grohe Sense Guard
GROHE Sense and Sense Guard offer a complete leak detection/water security system that monitors temperature and humidity to alert you of the tiniest leaks, all via the GROHE ONDUS app. And with Sense Guard, you can also shut off your water supply automatically in case of detected leaks, or even remotely when travelling, giving you total control of leaks and flood damage in your home.
Pros
Ondus app available on Android and iOS
Looks good on the pipe
Also monitors temperature and humidity
Can connect to external water sensors
Cons
Requires a plumber to install
Limited to small pipe sizes
LeakBot
LeakBot’s patented Thermi-Q technology accurately measures both the air and water temperatures in your home. If you have a leak it will continually draw colder water from outside into your home, creating a consistent drop in your water temperature. LeakBot can sense the prolonged and consistent drop in temperature and alerts you to the problem. The device is easy to fit over a pipe, but cannot turn the water off.
Pros
Very easy to fit
Cons
Does not give consumption information
Limited to small pipe sizes
App has limited functionality
Does not turn the water off
Non-intelligent solutions:
LEAKSAVER
The LeakSaver Panels are designed to work alongside their range of Water Meters in order to detect possible leaks in a system and create a more efficient supply of water into properties. By utilising either a single Pulsed Input on the LeakSaver 1 or two separate Pulsed Inputs for the LeakSaver 2, the amount of water that has passed is monitored over set periods of time. Should the volume surpass pre-set flow limits then the alarm will trigger both visually and through an audio output and the source of the possible leak can be picked up on much earlier than if the system was not present. The LeakSaver units are 230vac mains powered or a 12v Battery can be supplied to power the unit internally. The LeakSavers also have Pulsed Outputs in order to relay the Water Meter data further to BMS Systems or other data logging facilities.
https://www.dmsltd.com/article-46_dms-leaksaver-1-2-breeam-water-leak-detection
AQUILAR
System features:
- Separate systems for installation at the site boundary or within the building
- Mains water pipes ranging from 22mm to 200mm
- Programmable for different flow (leakage) rates
- Two levels of monitoring (e.g. occupied and unoccupied building)
- Programmable time periods to determine alarm levels
- Automatic setting of alarm levels via a door entry or intruder alarm
- Meets BREEAM Wat 03 requirements
SAFE T LEAKAGE PROTECTION SYSTEM
- Monitors system flow rates and times to identify leaks and isolates the system
- Holiday mode intensifies monitoring
- Multitude of programming options to suit all applications
- Optional floor sensor to detect even small leaks
- Docking point allows connection of other controls such as water filters, quickly and easily
- Minimises water damage if a leak occurs
- The alarm can be set up for an audio alert
- Battery or mains supply (with battery backup)
http://www.rwc.co.uk/product/safe-t-leakage-protection-system/
LEAKSAFE
Water shut off system to turn water off when the property is unoccupied. Install a Leaksafe WRAS approved motorised ball valve and Valve Control on the incoming water mains, and a wireless on/off switch by the main entry/exit point and turn the water off each time you leave the property. Turning off the water is as easy as turning off a light.
- Localised leak detection to immediately shut off water when a leak is detected
- Turns off mains water supply from a Water Valve Control panel or wireless On/Off switch
- Optional on/off timed delay
- Mains or battery operated
- High quality stainless steel WRAS approved motorised valve
- Additional valves can be installed for extra protection or where zoned control required
- Automatic water shut off if a leak is detected with up to 16 wired or wireless leak detectors and tapes *
- Automatic decalcification routine
* Additional products need to be purchased for this feature.
AQUALEAK
Inline leak prevention for domestic use.
The AquaGuard is designed to prevent excessive escapes of water by monitoring excessive flow rates and unexpected flow over time. When either of these situations are detected the AquaGuard will automatically switch off the water supply.
- Adjustable flow and time settings to allow for different properties water use
- Operates via a roving hand set and requires only 4 x AA batteries (Mains version available)
- Can be manually over-ridden to provide water for longer periods
- Will shut off the water after a user defined amount of time in hours if no flow has been detected (between 0 ((off)) and 127)
https://www.aqualeak.com/32/flow-based-water-leak-detection/
AUTOSTOPCOCK
The Autostopcock is a patented product dating back to 1993 and offers a quality brass bodied valve connected to a battery-operated control unit offering the following flood prevention benefits: –
- Fully automatic features
- Shuts off water supply in the event of adverse waterflow
- Shuts off water supply in the event of freezing
- Shuts off water supply in the event of vacant property
- Available in 15mm or 22mm valve options
- Conserves Water
- Control box can be located anywhere in your property
- Made in UK with 3-year guarantee
WATERGUARD
The Waterguard Home system protects your property by timing the water flowing through your pipes.
Each time you stop running the water, the time is reset to zero. The user sets the maximum time of continuous water flow allowed when the property is occupied. This is known as Low Guard and ranges from 1 – 40 minutes. And the same for when the property is unoccupied, known as High Guard which ranges from 0.1 – 5 minutes. If the maximum time is exceeded on either guard level, the stop valve is automatically activated to shut off the water supply, protecting your property from the damage caused by burst and leaking pies.
http://www.waterguard.co.uk/product/waterguard-home-system-including-22mm-valve-assembly/
HOME FLOODCHECK
The Floodcheck ‘Auto’ valve is a water leak detection/prevention device which minimises internal water damage and protects a property from internal flooding, by monitoring the water supply 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Floodcheck ‘Auto’ valve can be purchased on its own or with optional extras like the ‘Water Control Switch’ and ‘Wetpads’, both of which are designed to work with and further enhance the product. (See below for details).
The Floodcheck ‘Auto’ valve is available in UK and EU 15mm & 22mm fittings as well as USA 1/2″ and 3/4″ sizes.
