Water shut off valve

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

Prevent Flooding with a Water Shut Off Valve

To prevent flooding due to a leaking water heater, install an automatic water shut off valve that will detect the presence of water beneath the water heater and turn off the water supply before there is extensive damage.

How water shut off valves work— Automatic water shut off valves generally consist of a high-quality brass valve, an attached electric control box, and moisture sensors. The valve installs “upstream” of the water heater directly into the plumbing line.  The moisture sensors are placed on the floor under the water heater or in the drip pan.

If a leak is detected, the sensors transmit a signal to the control box, which shuts off the water supply and closes the valve. Until you manually reset the valve, the water will remain turned off.

The water shut off valve sounds an alarm if a leak is detected, alerting you that it has been engaged. When you are away, more complex units can be connected to a home alarm system or an auto-dialer to send you phone, text, or email notifications.