Water heater leak

Water heater leaks growing problem...

Every year, more than 5 million tank-type hot water heaters rupture and cause major home damage in the U.S. and Canada. Hot water tank leaks are now one of the largest costs covered by residential insurers. The claims for water leaks caused by water heater tank failures and ruptures run into the hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

The reality is that the majority of traditional tank-type water heaters suffer a major leak before the internal components have reached the end of their service life. Accordingly, the only way most homeowners learn that they need a new water heater is when they come home from work or wake up in the morning to find their basement, utility room, etc. flooded with water.

Dealing with the direct impacts of a water heater leak are bad enough - cleaning up all of the water, drying your carpets, ensuring household effects are safe, etc. However, the real cost of a water leak comes in having to deal with insurance companies, contractors, etc. to repair damage to drywall, your home's foundation, or your hardwood / laminate floors, etc. Another even more serious concern is preventing mold from taking hold inside walls, floor spaces, etc. that may be more difficult or impossible to dry out completely.

Tankless water heaters less prone to leaks...

Tankless water heaters are less prone to the conditions that typically lead to leaks in traditional tank-type water heaters, including mineral scale, and thermal degradation of plumbing connections. For instance, since water is not subject to long-term storage at high temperatures in a tankless water heater, mineral scale formation is dramatically reduced. Further, Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater tankless water heaters use special stainless-steel coated heating elements to even further reduce mineral degradation, and all welds in the water chamber are welded with silver to dramatically reduce the risk of a leak due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Water leak detectors save money, time and hassle...

The failure of traditional tank type water heaters has become such a problem for insurance companies, that many are beginning to offer discounts on house insurance policies for homeowners who install active water leak detection systems (especially on recreational properties). Since water damage from a plumbing failure is almost an inevitable event if you own a home for a decade or more, we highly recommend water leak detection systems to all of our clients, especially if they are just building a new home (easiest time to install one). In addition to water heaters, residential water leaks commonly come from toilet tanks, washing machine hoses, refrigerator ice makers, water filtration / treatment equipment, diswashers, central humidifiers, and general pipe failures. A good water leak detection system will incorporate multiple sensors throughout the home at all points vulnerable to a water leak, and an automatic shut-off valve on the main incoming water line. Unfortunately, most water leak detectors feature a passive alarm and no ability to actually stop the leak, so if you are not home or close enough to hear the alarm, the leak may still cause damage before it is noticed.

The FloodStopper water leak detector is the best system we have found for all-round residential and light-commercial water leak detection. It features the ability to install up to 250 individual sensors (most homes will install 4-20 sensors), a high-quality automatic shut-off valve, an easy-to-use control panel, and optional wireless accessories for easy retrofit installation. Using sensors at all locations in the home that are vulnerable to leaks, the FloodStopper continuously monitors the home for a water leak. If a water leak is detected, the controller sends a signal to the shut-off valve on the home's main water supply line. The FloodStopper controller instantly closes the valve and shuts off the water supply to the home preventing the leak from becoming a flood that could cause thousands of dollars in property damage, and an immeasurable amount of inconvenience for the homeowners.

For more information on water leak detection systems, Click Here.