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MONITOR: How leak detectors can help prevent water damage | PEMCO
September 19, 2024
by PEMCO Insurance
"If only I had known 30 minutes sooner."
We often hear that from homeowners experiencing the hassle and heartbreak of flooding after a water leak. Whether spewing from a burst pipe, ruptured washer hose, or cracked under-sink valve, water can soak cabinets, floors, ceilings, and walls astonishingly quickly, damaging everything in its path. Even slow leaks can wreak thousands of dollars in (often uninsured) damage if not caught before rot, mold, and structural damage sets in. PEMCO’s Maintain, Inspect, Monitor roadmap can help you prevent water damage – the most common cause of homeowner insurance claims at PEMCO. Monitoring, with the help of quality water sensors, can alert you to trouble before things get out of hand.
Save on your insurance with water sensors
Water leak sensors can give you the precious minutes you need to stop a minor inconvenience from turning into a months-long calamity that can disrupt your daily life. If you install them in leak-prone areas of your home like the kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms, you may be eligible for a protective device discount on your PEMCO Homeowner, Condo, or Renter policy. If you link them to your smartphone to receive automated alerts, you may get an even bigger discount! And if you connect them to an automatic water shutoff (perfect if you’re away from home all day), you could save even more.Talk with a licensed PEMCO agent for eligibility details and discount amounts at 1-800-GO-PEMCO (1-800-467-3626).
How water sensors work to keep your home and family safer
Wireless technology (think doorbell cameras and DIY security alarms) makes protecting our homes easier than ever before -- without a big price tag for monitoring and installation.Although specifics vary among water sensor systems, the basic idea is you place a wireless water sensor near leak-prone appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, ice-makers, water heaters, sinks, toilets, and sump pumps. If a sensor detects a leak, it sounds an alarm and sends an alert to your phone so you (or a neighbor or building manager you include on your “notify” list) can turn off the water right away. Some can connect to a smart water valve and shut off the water supply automatically if a leak is detected.
Because they’re wireless, water sensors don’t require special training to install. After buying the hardware (a base, sensors, and sometimes optional probes you can snake under appliances), you usually download an app, create an account, and do a wireless setup.
Water sensors can complement smart thermostats, which not only adjust the temperature of your home based on your schedule, but may alert you about changes in temperature and humidity in your home – another good defense against freezing pipes, mold growth, and other problems related to water damage.
Water sensors are gaining popularity as the “fourth” home protection system, behind smoke detectors, carbon monoxide sensors, and security cameras and alarms.
Under-sink waterproof mats protect cabinets
Don’t overlook the instant, low-tech protection you can get from placing waterproof silicone mats (sometimes also sold as “trays” or “liners”) under sinks, refrigerators, and washers. Their raised edges offer a good first line of defense by containing water, usually to a depth of about an inch, until you can shut off the water from a leaky hose or pipe. They also stainproof your cabinets against spills from cleaners and cosmetics that might be stored there.You’ll find an inexpensive array of waterproof mats available at hardware stores and online. Most are made to fit standard-depth cabinets, but some are trimmable with scissors if you need to customize them.
Ready to take the next worry less, live more steps to keep your home safe and dry? Check out more tips to Maintain and Inspect the water systems in your home.
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