When it comes to leaks or floods, you can see two different pictures.
The first one: damaged walls, parquet flooring, furniture and electronics.
The second one: mobile notification. The automatic water leak detection system based on a leak detector LeaksProtect and a smart water shutoff valve WaterStop detected the flooding in time and shut off the water, notifying the owner of the incident.
Read the article to learn how to implement the Ajax anti–flood system in your home, office, store or production facility.
What damage can leaks and floods cause
Frequent. Destructive. Expensive. These three characteristics describe floods and leaks, regardless of how massive they are.
They happen more often than fires or burglaries. Leaks and floods are number one in the ranking of everyday disasters. According to statistics, in one district (of 333 private houses) there are 1 fire, 9 burglaries and 27 plumbing leaks that happen per year. In Spanish homes, a leak occurs every 13 seconds.
Cause damages. So serious that they are evaluated by the international Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, IICRC.
Scientifically speaking, there are 4 degrees of water damage. The gradation depends on the porosity of the materials and their ability to absorb the water.
In simple words, the mold grows even if water–damaged areas are dried within 48 hours. The musty smell may never disappear. The wooden floor rots, the drywall gets soaked and crumbled. Appliances deteriorate. Electrical wiring becomes dangerous because a short circuit can cause a fire.
They cost a lot of money. 13 billion dollars. 707 million pounds. 275 million euros.
This is the annual cost of water damage in the US, UK and Spain, respectively. Countries and currencies can change, but the financial losses remain tremendous.
There are domestic floods and floods caused by natural disasters. Natural phenomena are not in the focus of this article, but they can be taken into account in the national statistics.
In addition to global damage, the leaks can be “slow”. They cannot be detected immediately, and they also lead to costs. A leaky tap that leaks at the rate of one drop per second leads to the loss of more than 11 thousand liters of water per year (3000 US gallons). That’s the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers. A 3 mm crack in a pipe results in 945 liters of water leak per day (or 250 US gallons). You can fill an aquarium with this water and launch a small shark in it.
Possible leakage sources
- Defective plumbing
- Water pipes
- Water heater or boiler
- Heating radiators
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
One has to keep in mind that plumbing has a service life and requires systematic preventive maintenance. For example, descaling of the boiler should be carried out at least once a year, and the water supply hoses of the washing machine should be replaced after an average of 8–9 years.
Regular inspection is necessary, but it does not guarantee against sudden failures.
In apartment buildings, the human factor (for example, a forgetful neighbor) can cause a problem.
How to keep risk areas under control
Solution: transfer the unnecessary concerns to the Ajax system.
Wireless leak detector LeaksProtect does not require installation, remains maintenance-free for years and operates 24/7. The device is only 14 mm high. Just put it in a place with the risk of flooding. For example, under the washing machine or sink.
The electric actuator WaterStop can be installed both on a bundled RuB valve and a third-party valve. It is compatible with valves complying with ISO 5211 standard. Therefore, a plumber can install a ball valve one day, and an installer can fix an electric actuator and connect the device to the Ajax system another day.
In case of a washing machine leak or a pipe burst, WaterStop will shut off the water supply by LeaksProtectalarm, and Ajax apps will instantly notify about the accident.
With the help of Relay or WallSwitch automation devices, third-party electric water shutoff valves can also be integrated into the Ajax system.
👉 How to do that
Why Ajax
Why do you need a security system when you can buy a simple detector with a water shutoff valve?
The difference is in three main criteria:
Scaling ability
Up to 200 devices can be connected to the Ajax hub. LeaksProtect detects leaks, and through scenarios can automatically control multiple WaterStop shutoff valves, stopping the water supply to the house, floor, or even to a certain room by the signal of the detector — it all depends on the specific tasks. WaterStop consists of an electric actuator, a shutoff valve, and a mount connecting them. The shutoff valve can be selected to your requirements without any restrictions: it is available in three sizes — ½, ¾ or 1″. The water supply can also be controlled remotely in the Ajax apps and manually with a button or lever on the enclosure. Other manufacturers’ systems offer 5 times less number of supported detectors and zero maneuverability in control.
Endurance
Most water leak detection systems are powered by electricity and in case of its absence do not last more than 1–2 days. The Ajax water leak detection system is autonomous: LeaksProtect operates from a pre-installed battery for up to 5 years, and WaterStop — up to 3 years with the option to connect an external 9–12 V⎓ power supply: in this case, the pre-installed batteries of WaterStop would act as a backup power source.
The hub can also be connected to a portable battery with the help of power supply units 6V PSU. Thus, the system provides security at facilities with low-voltage or unstable power supply.
👉 New opportunities for security business with Ajax PSU
Reliability
Ajax provides two-way communication of security system devices at a distance of up to 2,000 meters without obstacles. This is unattainable for traditional water leak detection systems. The Jeweller radio protocol uses authentication to eliminate spoofing and encryption to protect against data theft. All these are the reliability elements allowing the Ajax system to respond quickly to both small leaks and large floods. Houses, apartments, huge industrial and commercial facilities remain under reliable protection with Ajax.
