Most systems are best installed indoors but can be outdoors as well with some additional accommodations, in non-freezing zones and are installed after the meter at a single point on the water main where the line enters the home. They are typically installed downstream of irrigation systems and automatic pool refill lines.  They must never be installed on or before fire suppression lines. Systems that include a control panel or wall switch must have those components installed inside the home where it can be conveniently accessed or on rare occasion when absolutely unavoidable, mounted up on a wall in protective weatherproof boxes outside and within communication reach of the valve system and/or Wi-Fi footprint if wireless.

Flow-based systems use a variety of technology styles to see flow but primarily it boils down to flow timers and flow volume measurement to determine intended water flow unintended water flow. If water flows longer than the predetermined time and volume it is set for, the system will assume it is unintended flow or a leak, and will shut off the water and alert you audibly and through an app notification. Settings for these allowances can differ between HOME and AWAY modes.

Many insurance carriers offer a discount on your policy for confirmation of a qualified installed device and some are quite substantial. You should check with your broker to see if you would qualify and what the discount would be. Discounts depend on several factors:

1. Who your insurance carrier is
2. The state you live in
3. Whether or not your installation meets carrier requirements
4. Whether or not your system is monitored for alarm notification
5. Other policy credits you are already getting

Installation times can vary depending on your plumbing size and configuration or the number of sensors you use but most installations can be completed between 2 and 4 hours.

Call a technician from your central alarm company to come to your home to make the connection to their alarm panel. The connection is relatively simple and can be completed in under an hour in most cases. Relay switches are necessary for some applications and we offer them for purchase with your system to make the alarm connection process easier.

Not necessarily. The most significant factor for triggering alarms in timer-based systems is the length of time the water runs continuously. The typical length of time chosen for the ‘HOME’ mode is about 45 minutes and dishwashers and washing machines only draw water for relatively short periods of time during fill or rinse cycles (about 5-15 minutes). The pause in water flow between these cycles will reset the timer even if the pause is only for a few seconds. Showers are usually turned off between uses from one person to the next so assuming each shower is shorter than the ‘HOME’ timer and they do not overlap to create continuous water flow beyond the timer limits, it will not trigger the alarm. If you find that this is an issue, you may simply increase the HOME timer to allow longer water usage in general or only when you have many guests.

Yes. Shutting off your water is as easy as pushing a button on the control panel, wall switch or valve face depending on your system.

Yes. The preferred option is to install the timer system valve downstream of the irrigation branch line so that the lawn can be watered continuously and unmonitored by the flow sensor. This allows the greatest level of system sensitivity and protection for the house. If this is not possible, timer based water alarms can also be wired to be overridden by irrigation systems and other devices so that those devices can draw water without triggering an alarm. Caution must be taken when choosing this approach to be sure that the overriding devices do not disable the water alarm for such long periods of time that the level of security the water alarm offers is significantly reduced. We can custom tailor an approach based on our clients’ individual needs.

Sensor based systems are unaffected by flow so nothing must be done to the system to accommodate the flow for extended periods. Timer based systems can be temporarily bypassed with a BYPASS mode or disabled which will allow you to run the water for extended periods of time without activating the alarm or shut-off feature. If the system is disabled, you must reactivate it after you are done using the water for your house to be protected again.

Timer based systems use a flow-sensor that can detect as low as a half ounce per minute of water or less. Sensor based systems use water sensors with a pair of probes and can trigger an alarm as soon as those probes touch water.