DWalt
Member
Has anyone else seen the TV ads for this device? I can't think of anything I would want to install less in my home's water system. Just a moment...
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Moen smart water leak detector
- Thread starter DWalt
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Yes, I have seen the ad.
I'm dealing with a water leak that occurred behind a wall in my newly renovated kitchen.
Having such a device might have saved the time, hassle and cost of removing and replacing the drywall and brand new cabinets.
So, to me, it would have been a good thing if I had of had it installed.
Looking forward, I will add this because I can see the condition of the copper pipes now (not good, the leak was a pin hole maybe caused by age). 2 of the plumbers said that it might be a good thing since if it happened once, it is a sign it will happen again - they just couldn't say when).
I don't know how much this costs, but if it can help me avoid $10's thousand in repair costs, it is cheap insurance.
BTW, I have something similar with an inline earthquake gas shut-off device since I am in earthquake territory.
I'm dealing with a water leak that occurred behind a wall in my newly renovated kitchen.
Having such a device might have saved the time, hassle and cost of removing and replacing the drywall and brand new cabinets.
So, to me, it would have been a good thing if I had of had it installed.
Looking forward, I will add this because I can see the condition of the copper pipes now (not good, the leak was a pin hole maybe caused by age). 2 of the plumbers said that it might be a good thing since if it happened once, it is a sign it will happen again - they just couldn't say when).
I don't know how much this costs, but if it can help me avoid $10's thousand in repair costs, it is cheap insurance.
BTW, I have something similar with an inline earthquake gas shut-off device since I am in earthquake territory.
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
Nobody's pipes are improving on their own!
About 12 years ago my son's house had to have all the water lines replaced. He was lucky, he lived in a Ranch on a slab. Took the plumbers 3 man crew 1.5 days to run all new lines in Pex. Only cost $5000 then.
It took me 4 days to cut out and replace the water lines in the basement of an 1813 built house. Using about 120' of 3/4" CPVC. That was about $3500. (6 or 7 years ago)
My farm house had been plumbed sometime in the 1940's 0r 50's and the galvanized pipes would never have leaked, They were too full of lime scale to have enough water in them. Every time we had a sub-zero cold snap we had a burst copper line somewhere! This brings me to:
Pex, The best thing in plumbing since the Romans invented the Aqueduct! This is a flexible tube that is reinforced. 1/2" size can make 90 degree turns in as short at 4" (there are fitting for tighter turns) You can fish it similar to electric lines! When exposed to cold temperatures, it will expand up to 3x original dia. without bursting...REPEATEDLY! There are 3 different ways to connect it: crimped bronze ferals, stainless steel bands and shrink fit. (I prefer the ferals!!!) Fittings come in plastic or brass (brass has better water flow). Material and labor cost is close to or below copper for total job for new work, and way below for replacement!
Adding a $600 shut off that fixes nothing won't cure any of the problems! Use the money to pay for the pipe replacement!
Ivan
About 12 years ago my son's house had to have all the water lines replaced. He was lucky, he lived in a Ranch on a slab. Took the plumbers 3 man crew 1.5 days to run all new lines in Pex. Only cost $5000 then.
It took me 4 days to cut out and replace the water lines in the basement of an 1813 built house. Using about 120' of 3/4" CPVC. That was about $3500. (6 or 7 years ago)
My farm house had been plumbed sometime in the 1940's 0r 50's and the galvanized pipes would never have leaked, They were too full of lime scale to have enough water in them. Every time we had a sub-zero cold snap we had a burst copper line somewhere! This brings me to:
Pex, The best thing in plumbing since the Romans invented the Aqueduct! This is a flexible tube that is reinforced. 1/2" size can make 90 degree turns in as short at 4" (there are fitting for tighter turns) You can fish it similar to electric lines! When exposed to cold temperatures, it will expand up to 3x original dia. without bursting...REPEATEDLY! There are 3 different ways to connect it: crimped bronze ferals, stainless steel bands and shrink fit. (I prefer the ferals!!!) Fittings come in plastic or brass (brass has better water flow). Material and labor cost is close to or below copper for total job for new work, and way below for replacement!
Adding a $600 shut off that fixes nothing won't cure any of the problems! Use the money to pay for the pipe replacement!
Ivan
taz666
Member
This is a good idea fellas ... beats coming home to a house full of water.
Earthquake valves rely on a disturbance great enough to displace a steel ball to fall in the path of gas at 1/4 lb pressure. If the quake happens to break the pipes before the valve it isn't a protection. Really functional and helpful if the meter is outside, not much if it isn't in a well vented area.
This appears to shut off on low flow. I have a stainless line running to my refrigerator with these inherent to the line. Also on the dishwasher, kitchen and washer. They added $10 or so to the cost of the line. The advantage of doing this for the whole house is protection. The disadvantage may be a failure to function with low flows. Do you run water when it's -20 to prevent freeze up? Not any more, It may not allow you to run a trickle while you shave. Is there a mechanical reset you have to work when the toilet tank get down to the last trickle? Still a lot of questions for me before this becomes an industry standard.
How about the electric voice activated faucets
Save all that work of pulling the handle or turning the knob, 8 oz of water please, no not 7.5 oz!!
The 7 Best Smart Faucets of 2024
Save all that work of pulling the handle or turning the knob, 8 oz of water please, no not 7.5 oz!!
The 7 Best Smart Faucets of 2024
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Just a detector is a lot cheaper. OK I guess if you're not home that's a problem. GE keeps trying to sell me this..
SPLK30N01A | UNIVERSAL 3-1 SMARTHQ™ LEAK DETECT KIT | GE Appliances Parts
It has a phone app that will notify you 24/7.
SPLK30N01A | UNIVERSAL 3-1 SMARTHQ™ LEAK DETECT KIT | GE Appliances Parts
It has a phone app that will notify you 24/7.
No, thanks. I have cats. Wet paws on my chest are a surefire indicator that I need to familiarize JR with the work of Hans Brinker.
DWalt, other than the $500 price tag, why do you not like the device?
That water leak detector would have saved my sister's insurance and her a lot of money. I think a toilet fill water line went while they were on vacation. Bummer.
twodog max
Member
A plumber friend told me that Pex is definitely the way to go these days. He also told me that new technology is out there that can line leaky copper water lines in slabs with a sprayed polymer a small as 1/2 inch. Expensive but perhaps a better alternative to jackhammers and mess.
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I had a co-worker whose washing machine hose burst while she was on vacation. The laundry was on the second floor. She came home and there was a little waterfall on the front steps, running out under the front door.
Most of the ceiling sheetrock was down on the first floor. They had to gut the first floor.
I learned from this.
1. Turns out, washing machine hoses bursting is one of the biggest causes of insurance claims.
2. Don't buy the cheapest hose. Get the hoses that are sheathed in woven stainless steel. Not a place to economize.
3. Turn the water off to your washer if you're going to be gone for a while. Or better yet, just turn it off to the whole house. Buy yourself a meter key to make it easy. They are $10 at Home Depot.
Water gets turned off in the whole house when we go away for any number of days, just habit. Builders here make it easy, main shutoff is easily accessible.
Hope to never live in a house on a slab.
Hope to never live in a house on a slab.
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