The ravages of water from hidden leaks within homes and buildings can be devastating and expensive. Unintended water leakage within multifamily buildings is especially challenging and expensive because a single leak can easily affect an entire facility. It’s quite common for a single condo or apartment – or a light commercial enterprise in a multi-use facility – to spring a leak, with damage that can affect many others. Such leaks can very easily cause frustration and legal liabilities among tenants, often leading to the aggravation of remediation, mold and high, unexpected expenses.

It’s also a widespread problem. 

The good news is that today’s wireless technology can take care of these problems.

According to Kenneth Fox, vice president of sales and business development for Escondido, California-based Leak Defense, a Watts Brand, the best technologies continuously monitor properties for hidden leaks and, if one is detected, automatically shuts off the water and alerts homeowners, property managers or plumbing professionals. 

Multiple Solutions

“We’ve found that an on-site automatic control valve connected to a mobile app, combine to provide the easiest, most capable way to control water flow,” he adds. “With multiple ways to monitor sensors and the system, managers will have the best protection against potential loss, expense and hassle from water damage. Leak Defense technology works with any type of residential or commercial plumbing system.”

According to Fox, Leak Defense technologies have helped thousands of commercial, multi-family residents, building owners and facility managers easily monitor and protect their properties.

“Having the protection in place also offers a peace of mind that some have found to be quite surprising,” Fox explains. “With modern systems, the status of all leak detection components, from smart controls to sensors, should populate information on a convenient, user-friendly dashboard.”

According to Fox, leak detection and prevention systems are a game-changer. With a system in place, businesses can resume operations with a peace of mind that comes from full protection. Without leak prevention systems in place, business owners are either entirely exposed to costly losses, or forced to close as a result of denied insurance.  

Contemporary leak detection and prevention systems are capable of turning off water automatically if flow settings are exceeded, or shut off water to selected zones, or an entire building. They should also allow manual stopping of water via control or app, and provide round-the-clock monitoring and alarming of all devices – much like contemporary security systems, but with the added capability of “shutting the door” to deny entry. 

To have this remarkable capability, a Leak Defense valve must be installed on the main water line and downstream of the primary shut-off valve, pressure regulator, irrigation line and fire sprinkler line. All components “talk to each other,” with set parameters that allow total system shutoff if conditions warrant it. 

According to Fox, the Leak Defense Point of Leak Detector (POLD) is an excellent solution, when coupled with Leak Defense flow sensors, for residential homes or commercial locations to simply and easily protect a property from catastrophic water damage. These multi-point electronic leak detectors can be placed anywhere there’s a high risk for plumbing leaks, typically near appliances and fixtures; they will close the water supply valve and send an alarm if moisture is detected. 

‘Cross-over’

The technology is capable of catching all types of leaks, including those hidden under slabs, behind walls and in ceilings – and even with hot water recirculation systems.

Another problem for multifamily facilities is the challenge of “cross-over” – plumbing systems with this malady are especially vexing for leak protection technologies. Hotel, condo or multifamily buildings with cross-over challenges – apparent when one user depletes system pressure or the availability of hot water – also challenge the installation of leak detection and prevention components. 

“We had an especially troublesome case of cross-over at a multifamily building in Portland, Oregon,” Fox explains. “The problems that building managers were having there prior to the installation of the Leak Defense system included failing pressure balance shower valves – a challenge resulting from the push-pull effect of shared water piping between neighbors.” 

Managers also explained that the building had a hot water recirc system. So the question for Fox was this: “Would the installation of the Leak Defense system affect management’s ability to maintain the steady flow of hot water to all points of use?”

 “We took their concerns seriously, and looked closely into them,” Fox explains. “As we always do, we studied their entire domestic water distribution network. Once that was done, we explained that we would most assuredly be able to protect them from catastrophic water damage while also preserving the water recirc’s ability to do its job. As for the challenges they were experiencing with the pressure-balance shower valves, we were able to solve those as well.”  

 Fox stated that Leak Defense systems have been installed in thousands of condo units nationwide. And that not one single insurance claim has been filed at any facility where the technology has been installed. 

“So, preventing catastrophic leaks is the top priority of the systems we install,” he continued. “As for some of the other concerns expressed by managers of the building in Portland, such as preserving the ability of domestic water recirculation, and issues with shower valves stemming from cross-over, our system also solves those in stride.” 

 Fox explained that domestic hot water recirculation is now commonly a function that’s plumbed into large domestic water systems. For that reason, Leak Defense designers were quick to build-in capabilities that would permit DHW systems to operate fully, with no effect in performance. 

As for the challenge of cross-over and its troublesome influence on pressure-balance shower valves, he said that the problem is solved by strategic placement of check valves as part of the Leak Defense system. 

“Leak Defense products are available through our over 2,000 nationwide installers, wholesalers and rep firms,” said Fox. “Installer and facility manager training is conducted nationwide.”