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Some Facts About Water Leaks:

  • Water leaks can cost you thousands of dollars in damages.

  • Water leaks are easy to locate with our low cost monitor.

  • Learn more about the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor
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Robs Personal Water Leak Story:

Four years ago I found the floor in my laundry room too hot to stand on. The hot water heater was always churning and my water bill was very high. I called a plumber and he told me I had a "slab-leak". A break in the hot water pipe under my foundation which was under 4" of concrete. The floor was hot because beneath it, water was streaming out and pooling under my house. In a short time the water would have eroded and undermined my foundation and found it way up into my walls and grow toxic black mold. Fortunately, it was a hot water leak, but if it was a cold water leak, I would not have detected it until it was too late!

I asked the plumber how this happens and will it happen again after he fixes it. He told me that copper piping is buried under the foundation directly into the soil and routed to come up into each bathroom, laundry room and kitchen. Builders used this practice because it was easy to install and the pipes made no water flow noise while buried underground. Copper pipes can live many years underground before ever needing service. However, different soil compositions react in various ways with copper pipe. Some soils have a high acidity level and others have a high level of alkalinity. Either way spells doom for a cooper plumbing system. Leaks usually start out very small, the size of a pinhole. Over time and water flow, the tiny hole grows larger and larger until, in my case, the hole was flowing 5 gallons a minute! Short of re-piping the entire house, the same thing will eventually happen to all the copper pipes in my house. Unfortunately re-piping is $8K to $15K and it doesn't guarantee the new work wont leak again in time.

The plumber told me that if I could somehow read the water flow and make sure it stops flowing over a period of time, I could tell if I had a leak. Even after a long shower, the water stops flowing. I went on-line and found no slab leak solution that would work in my house, so I decided to build one myself.

I adapted a thermal air flow sensor to operate in water. Its stainless steel construction would not contaminate my water supply nor would it ever corrode. The water flow sensor hooked up to a simple programmable timer, that started a clock when the water started flowing. When the water stopped, the clock reset. If the clock ran past its setting, it would sound an alarm and I knew that I had a leak. In short I had a "robot" who would do what the plumber instructed me to do.

Since then, I decided repackage the whole water leak sensor and offer it to other people since the plumber told me he repairs over 30 slab leaks a week, and his company repairs over 300 slab leaks a month!

So far, I have caught 2 more slab leaks in my house and saved countless gallons of water by catching stuck toilet flapper valves or shut off valves flowing into overflow tubes. Faucets not fully turned off in less frequently used bathrooms and sprinkler valve breaks have saved me thousands of gallons of water in the course of a year.

In a time of saving precious resources, water leak detection makes sense. The money insurance companies pay out to flood damage repairs is in the billions of dollars per year, and that does not cover the inconvenience of moving out during the repairs or the loss of irreplaceable personal property.

In my opinion, every homeowner should be protected from fire and flood damage. A smoke or fire alarm can save lives, while a water leak alarm can prevent a flood that can destroy irreplaceable personal property and cost thousands of dollars.

Rob

 

What can YOU do to deal with Water Leaks?

Basic Overview How The Bravedo Water Alert Works... :

This Bravedo Water Alert looks at all the water flowing into the house and if the water does not stop flowing for less than 20 minutes, it starts beeping. The water can not only be coming out from the faucets or tub or toilet, but coming out from places that we can't see, like behind the walls, under the floor or up in the attic. The water we can see flowing for more than 20 minutes is wasteful, the water we can't see flowing is a disaster waiting to happen! Either way, we want to prevent waste and damage, so this device helps us know what's happening by quietly looking at all the water flowing and sending out a ring-tone or text-message when there is a problem.

Detailed Overview How The Bravedo Water Alert Works... :

When attached to the main water supply line of a house, the Bravedo Water Alert measures the duration water has been flowing non-stop and sounds an alarm after a preset time.  For example, if you have a toilet with a stuck flapper valve and it causes the flow to run for more than a preset time, usually 30 or 60 minutes, the Bravedo Water Alert would sound an alarm to allow you to investigate WHY the Bravedo Water Alert sounded the alarm. You would likely look at your water faucets and toilets and hear the toilet with the stuck flapper valve. Instead of finding out in hours you find out very quickly!

Water flow detection is based on they physical principles of a thermal anemometer using sophisticated electronics to heat a small section of pipe while two sensors monitor the amount of energy necessary to maintain a preset water temperature. Flow is sensew when the water carries away heat within the pipe. The system electronics causes more power to compensate for the loss of heat caused by the water flowing. The unheated sensor uses a patent pending algorighym to monitor the relative water temperature to ensure proper operation regardless of the absolute water temperature. Water flow that exceeds the timeout limit triggers an alarm condition which can signal the homeowner in numerous ways including an audible siren or wireless connection to a preexisting alarm system.

Why do people need The Bravedo Water Alert?:

Everyone uses water which is made available to us in a pressurized form and controlled with simple on and off valves such as faucets, washing machines, water heaters, and toilet valves. However, if there is malfunction in any of these systems the result is inevitably a flood or some type of water damage.

Every house has safety systems designed to protect the homeowner from property loss. Fire Alarms, smoke detectors, electrical circuit breakers, burglar alarms, etc... to name a few. The Bravedo Water Alert is what is missing in every household. We wish to demonstrate why your household would benefit from the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor.

This Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is designed to help protect and alert homeowners when conditions exist that can result in flood damage. Malfunctioning wiring depends on circuit breakers to protect the homeowner from an electrical fire. Malfunctioning plumbing with no warning can literally bring a house down in a matter of hours. As such having the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor will protect you from water damage.

Other devices can signal an alarm when water touches its probes, but water can travel through walls and fixtures and never reach such probes. Water can erode the foundation of a house and drop it into a muddy sinkhole over time, long after black mold grows within the walls fed by a continual source of water and bacteria.

This Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is designed to detect and alert the homeowner of these problems long before any possible water damage or property loss can result.

People who own vacation homes or work all day can potentially arrive home to a total disaster with water pouring from under their front doors or garage door.

This Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor can alert owners even while they are away that a potential flood is in the making. The cost to repair a flooded home is staggering and inconvenient and in some cases the losses can be irreplaceable.

Can you afford not to be protected from this type of damage?


Comparison between Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor and DynaQuip Water Cop:

Why if the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor a better solution than a DynaQuip Water Cop? The reason to own either product is the same... to protect homeowners from flood damage due to plumbing malfunctions. The method of detection is vastly different with each product.

DynaQuip Water Cop senses water using point of leak detection. Their sensor(s) must be placed in direct contact with water before an alarm is signaled. When placed in areas particularly susceptible to water leak, under washer machine, behind toilets, under hot water heaters, etc.  Point of leak detection provides the quickest level of response over any other sensor.

The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor senses all water flowing into the entire structure, which includes the water seen and unseen by point of leak detection systems. While the point of leak detection may save a kitchen floor, the Water Alert Flow Monitor can save the entire house from catastrophic damage by catching leaks that may undermine or erode the foundation; by catching leaks that provide constant feed water for in-wall mold spores; by catching leaks that can bring a ceiling down to the floor below it! Most importantly the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is also resource friendly because it can also catch leaks that waste water down the drain due to leaking faucets or toilets, which, of course, is something point of leak detection cannot do.

Both systems are easy to install.

DynaQuip Water Cop requires one battery powered point of leak detection sensor for every location that could possibly leak water. As many as 20 sensors in some larger homes when accounting for vanitys, laundry rooms, kitchen, tiolets, water heaters etc... and batteries don't last forever! Also, the last time I put the towels under the vanity I knocked over the point of leak detection sensor!

Water Alert Flow Monitor requires only one sensor clamped onto the main water supply line coming into the home. This AC powered system takes care of reading all water flowing and does not require routine battery replacement which assures the system is always on guard.

Both systems may be integrated with auto-shutoff valves. A qualified plumber or homeowner can install an electric valve that turns the water supply off in the event of an alarm signal.

Both systems can employ wired or wireless operation when connected to an alarm company control panel.

Both systems have the endorsement of insurance companies and in many case reduce the premium rates significantly.

The purchase price of both systems are very similar when similarly equipped. A larger home with many point of leak detection sensors will easily cost mere than the single Water Alert Flow Monitor system. However, combining both point of leak detection with Water Alert Flow Monitor provides for a very comprehensive flood protection strategy.

For example, if you have abasement that can flood by the failure of a sump pump a point of use leak detection system will be a very valuable asset to have.

 

Water Alert Flow Monitor

Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor

Water Alert Flow Monitor Product Description

The Water Alert Flow Monitor is a water flow and alarm system for detecting leaking water pipes or fixtures in residential and commercial building structures. The sensor probe has no moving parts to wear out and can detect water flow as little as a few ounces of water per minute. If water flows continuously for a preset time without stopping, it triggers an alarm. The alarm function can be set to alert the homeowner or a surveillance company monitoring the premises. This means, if your water does NOT stop flowing for more than 30 minutes an alarm will sound telling you to investigate the origin of the leak. It could be as simple as a stuck flapper valve in your upstairs toilet

An alarm condition could indicate a faulty valve or a more serious condition known as a “slab leak”. An undetected slab leak can cause flood damage to a structure costing thousands of dollars, and possibly rendering the property uninsurable, from a resulting insurance claim. No point of leak detection system will tell you this condition exists, none.

The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is attached directly onto the main water supply and detects all flow conditions. The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor will not only detect water loss under the hot water heater, or dishwasher, or an icemaker like other competitive devices, but the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor will detect water loss for the entire structure. A comprehensive system may include optional moisture sensors together with the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor. This configuration will ensure both immediate and long-term protection of the structure and its contents. Resource conservation is also promoted by detecting unknown water loss long before thousands of gallons escape down the drain or into the structure’s foundation. For example, no point of leak detection system will tell you have a stuck flapper valve in a toilet.

The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is easy to use and attractive. The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor enclosure provides real-time status and operation of the system. A POWER indicator shows the system is active while a TRIP lamp reveals the instantaneous use of any water flow. The ALERT lamp will indicate an alarm condition, sound a built-in beeper, and also activate a wired alarm company system. Water flow sensitivity and time to alarm are easily adjustable using simple thumb dials.

When the Water Alert Flow Monitor is connected to an auto-dialer telephone device, it can alert anyone by telephone that a problem exists. When connected to an electric water valve, it can shut-off the water automatically until the system is manually reset. Other devices may be connected to the Water Alert Flow Monitor to coordinate moisture and over-pressure sensors as well as leak detection throughout the entire structure. Wireless operation is also available for signaling where wires prove difficult to install.

Water Alert Flow Monitor Installation

This Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor does not require any plumbing or special electrical connections. The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is simply matched to accommodate the pipe size supplying the structure. The main incoming copper pipe section should be scrubbed clean and free from oils and other contaminates in the area where the Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor is installed. Wiring to an external alarm system is a nice option if the on-board alarm is too far away to be heard. A low voltage power pack, which plugs directly into any convenient AC receptacle, is all that the Water Alert Flow Monitor requires to function properly.

Water Alert Flow Monitor Maintenance

There are no user serviceable parts that require maintenance or service. The system should be protected from the elements and kept dry. Air drafts and direct sunlight exposure may affect the operation adversely and should be kept to a minimum. Some pipes may have internal lime-scale build-up that slows the response time of the system while detecting flow, however normal operation is still provided.

Water Alert Flow Monitor Operation

The Water Alert Flow Monitor does not require any special operation or handling. The Bravedo Water Alert Flow Monitor simply detects and indicates if there is water flow. If the water flow does not completely stop at least one time during the preset time limit, it displays and sounds the alarm. A reset switch may be pressed to silence and reset the alarm. This may also be accomplished remotely from a wired alarm company system. The system will also automatically reset the alarm after the water has stopped.

The time limit is set by adjusting the TIME dial. After a reset, the ALERT lamp flashes once for each 10 minute interval, that the time limit will be set. Ex. 6 flashes x 10 minutes = 60 mins or 1 hour of continuous uninterrupted flow before the alarm sounds.

The amount of water flow required to activate the timer can be set by adjusting the SET dial and helps to calibrate the system <ROBERT> to the attached piping. The TRIP lamp glows to indicate when the water flow in the pipe exceeds the preset level.

Specifications

Control Panel Size – 3”H x 5”W x 1”D

Power – 24VDC Transformer @ 2Amps

Power Wire - Up to 20 feet, 18awg min. AC cord included

Sensor –Thermal Dispersion Operation, Uses two Clamp-on Fittings

Alarm Output – opto-isolator, pulls to ground

Reset Input – opto-isolator, 10K pull-up, short to GND for reset

Siren-Alarm– 2.3Khz @ 80 decibals

Rotary Controls – Two ¾ turn, thumb dials SET sets the flow sensing time limit and TRIP adjusts the flow rate that trips the alarm.

Optional – RS232 Computer interface for analysis and calibration

Water Leak Flow Alarm CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

The calibration of this unit is not very complicated. It comes out of the box with a preset factory sensitivity that can read reasonably low water flows. However the TRIP SET adjustment must be set by the operator during installation. This adjustment has a range that can sense from whether there is water in the pipe to all faucets at full open. Somewhere in between the installer needs to make this adjustment.

The best way to achieve the correct trip setting is to set the time knob to minimum.
This allows the system to stay active and read flow without triggering the alarm.
Shut off main water supply in the house.
Wait for a few minutes for the system to settle.
Dial the TRIP SET knob until the TRIP LED comes on, then back it up until the LED just turns off.
This sets the minimum flow reading to no flow since the water has been shut off in the entire house.
Go back to the water shut off valve and while listening carefully, open the valve fully.
If water is heard rushing through the valve and pipes, chances are there is already a leak since the plumbing system didn't hold and the water pressure replace what escaped with more water.
The unit is now calibrated to the plumbing at the most sensitive setting.
Some houses have "noisy" pipes and water circulates but does not leak out. In this case, readjusting the TRIP SET for higher trip levels may be needed.
As before, dial the TRIP SET knob until the TRIP LED comes on, then back it up until the LED turns off.
When finished with this adjustment, be sure to return the TIME dial into position to reactivate the system timer.
Press reset or power cycle the unit to complete the installation.

The Headaches of a Water Leak...

Those who have experienced the pain of a water leak in the past know the headache and hassle of trying to clean up the mess, let alone worry about the expensive repairs. Most likely if you are here you have experienced a water leak.

Unfortunately, in our society we usually need to experience a disaster before we will take the means to implement prevention measures for such disasters. A water leak is one such disaster that can be prevented, and there are some simple and affordable prevention options.

There are many reasons to protect your home from water damage. Hardwood floors are indeed a major issue if you experience water damage. In most cases the floor will need to be removed and replaced; this is also true for carpet. In some instances water leaks are not covered by home insurance policies, and almost always flood damage is not.

Cleaning up a water leak and paying for the bill to restore the damage done is the most heart wrenching issue of a water leak.

There are a few articles out there about different types of water leak prevention options, here is a quick and easy to understand summary of the different options:

1. Simple Leak Detector

* A device that is place in an area of your home where you think water damage could occur, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or washing machine room.

* The device has sensors that will detect water or moisture and sound a loud alarm to notify you of a potential problem.

* The device does not stop the leak, you must do it manually.

* Cost ranges usually from $20-100 each..

2. Appliance Specific Leak Detector & Auto-shutoff

* A device that is directly attached to the water supply of a appliance such as a washing machine, refridgerator, icemaker, water heater, etc.

* The device may sound an alarm when a leak is detected or it may not.

* The device will automatically shut off the water supply to that specific unit. For example if you have a water heater unit and your water heater leaks it will turn off the water supply to the water heater, all other appliances will still work such as your fridge, washing machine, etc.

* Cost usually ranges from $100-$400 per unit.

3. Complete Detection & Auto-shutoff System

* A complete wired or wireless leak detections system for your entire house.

* Water sensors are placed throughout the house in every room or key locations.

* If any sensor detects a leak it will turn off the main water supply to your entire house.

* Some unit may have built in notification systems to page you or contact your home security service provider if you have one.

* Cost usually ranges from $199-$500

4. BravedoWater Alert Flow Alarm System

* This system can find leaks that none of those above can, for example none of the systems can tell you that you have a slab leak or a toilet flapper valve is stuck.

* The BravedoWater Alert Flow Alarm System can send the alarm signal to turn off your water supply if the water flows too long catching catastrophic leaks before they happen.

* The BravedoWater Alert Flow Alarm System can page you or contact your home security service provider if you have on

All of these options are good and have pros and cons. You can get protection for as little as $200 and as much as $400

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