Flood Sensors

Flood alarms are devices designed to monitor (as an operational term) areas where there shouldn’t be any water. A leak in one’s washing machine, a faulty water heater or a damaged dishwasher, these defective household items could cause accidents and/or unnecessary expenses.

Know what these defective items are doing to your home before irreparable damage hits. Stop the eventual formation of molds by knowing something has a leak. Air conditioners, coffee makers, water coolers/heaters, these items all deal with water, thus the potential damage they could do, should they spring a leak.

Flood alarms, though loose in its name, are basically high level water alert devices, leak detectors, water sensors and drainage monitors, and their application could be “customized” to suit whoever’s need. Most of these devices come independent from each other, and can be mounted in countless ways. They are also mostly battery operated, and are very easy to install.

The most common place to find a flood alarm would be near the washing machine. The alarm system is setup in a way that in the event a leak should spring from the washing machine, the device would emit a 110 db alarm (though the sound decibel levels do vary from model to model, brand to brand). The alarm could go on sounding until the device’s batteries die out, or until someone comes to attend to the situation.

Though varying in appearance, flood alarms are devices with this “standard” look: a box-like device housing the siren mechanism is connected to the device’s sensor mechanism, which is mounted to the area in need of monitoring. Most flood alarms of this type are sensitive to the presence of water to 1/32 of an inch in depth. Having mentioned this setup, the device is basically one that beeps when it comes to contact with water.

Though not often called “flood alarms,” here are some devices which actually serve the same purpose as the labeled flood alarms do:

Floodline Pipe (pipe-in-pipe)

Used in critical areas where needed, pipe-in-pipe (also known as double containment systems) systems operate on a very basic logical foundation. There’s a primary inner pipe which is contained by the device, which is basically another pipe, only rigged with a detection system. In the event the primary inner pipe springs a leak, the contents are contained safely inside the container pipe.

The container pipe’s sensor is made of short stainless probes extended into the cavity created between the primary (inner pipe) and secondary (outer pipe), and upon the event when liquid escapes into the cavity, the sensor calls for the alarm’s activation.

Pad Sensor

Picture an A4 size piece of fabric. One could lay it on the floor, wrap it around a pipe, tie it around, or lay it out on corners. The “fabric” is actually a pad sensor, sensitive to the presence of water. Once it gets into contact with water, its alarm system (which is of course connected to it) would be triggered, alerting homeowners.

Absorbent Detection Cable

These detection cables are pretty useful for “monitoring” large areas, considering they come in cable form. It acts as a “wick” where the smallest amount of condensation or water is absorbed, therefore triggering the alarm system. Another nifty feature is that the cables have a “color change” system, where areas which have “detected” water change in color.

Bottom line, though different in device name description, these devices simply work and function the same way a flood alarm does.

As each home has its own varying list of demands, flood alarms or leak detectors or whatever name they come with, the application and applicability of these devices come along with those varying home differences.

The simple installation of a flood alarm could save you all the trouble of dealing with a problem too late.

A pinch of prevention is a pound of solution, after all.