Floods do not happen very often but when they do they’re catastrophic and are a major inconvenience to tenants while longer term impacting your insurance costs and/or your ability to economically renew your coverage. We have provided a summary of two levels of awareness and protection that are available and may be worthy of consideration for your building(s).
What is the difference between a Flow Sensor & Flood Sensor? Which is right for you?
As part of our mandate to help you “measure to manage” we have deployed a substantial number of flow sensors in the past four years with the primary objective being to support and strengthen your understanding of how your buildings use water and what if any changes can or should be made to reduce your consumption and/or that of your tenants.
The majority of our flow sensors are affixed to one of three areas;
- The city meter(s)
- Tenant Sub Meters already in place and/or
- Check meters on specific pieces of equipment
From these installations we have answered a lot of questions about Leak Indicators, High Usage Alerts and reported anomalies with your water usage.
Increasingly we are encountering flood or “water escape events” that are either not being detected and/or not being detected early enough to properly mitigate or contain the water that has escaped. To this end, we are seeing an increased appetite to deploy Location based Flood Sensors to enhance your protection against these events.
The “Location” based Flood sensors are situated in high-risk areas that are prone to flooding and provide an additional layer of protection by enabling a phone call response system when there is an event that is detected.
If you believe you are ready to increase your protection and/or you are curious about Flood sensors we have prepared an outline and summary of how Flow Sensors and Flood sensors differ from and complement one another. This information is meant to assist you in evaluating if flood sensors are a good fit for you, your operations team and your building(s).
We work with four (4) separate hardware / IoT suppliers all of which offer some variety of flood sensors to complement our flow sensors and/or smart water meters.
Flow Sensors
Function: Flow sensors are designed to measure and monitor the flow rate of water within a system. They provide real-time data on the quantity of water passing through a pipe or plumbing system.
Installation: Flow sensors are typically installed directly in the water supply line or plumbing system to measure the flow rate accurately. They can be integrated into various points of a building’s water distribution system, such as the main water supply line or individual branch lines.
Measurement: Flow sensors use different techniques to measure the flow rate, such as electromagnetic, ultrasonic, or paddle-wheel sensors. They provide continuous data on the volume of water flowing through the system, usually in gallons per minute (GPM) or litres per minute (LPM).
Purpose: Flow sensors are primarily used for monitoring water consumption, detecting leaks, and optimizing water usage efficiency in buildings. They can help identify abnormal flow patterns, excessive consumption, or irregularities that may indicate leaks or inefficiencies in the plumbing system.
Flood Sensors
Function: Flood sensors are designed to detect the presence or accumulation of water in areas where it should not be. They are typically used to identify and alert users about potential water leaks, flooding, or water damage.
Placement: Flood sensors are strategically placed in areas prone to water-related issues, such as basements, near water heaters, under sinks, or near appliances like washing machines or dishwashers.
Detection:<< Flood sensors use various detection methods, such as moisture-sensitive probes, conductive plates, or water-absorbing materials, to identify the presence of water. When water is detected, they trigger an alert or alarm system to notify users.
Purpose: The primary purpose of flood sensors is to provide early warning about water leaks or flooding incidents. By promptly detecting and alerting users to potential water damage, they help mitigate risks, prevent property damage, and allow for immediate action to be taken to address the issue.
Next Steps and Pricing
If you are interested in property specific pricing and/or further understanding of how many flood sensors are required to provide adequate protection for your property please contact bob.langlois@water-controls.com or at call us at 416-625-7801.
Flood sensors can be purchased (~ $150) with ancillary monitoring costs of $36./sensor or they can be added to your existing subscription agreement.
If you are looking for a solution for your OWN home we would encourage you to check out the great suite of products from Flume. This is a wifi based solution that is not recommended for multi-family or commercial settings but is a great solution for your personal home environment.
This link provides a 20% discount where you elect to purchase a Flume product / solution.
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