What Is an Automatic Water Shut Off Valve?

A flood in your home can be catastrophic, leaving you with a costly and overwhelming mess to clean up. Even a small leak can cause extensive damage to walls, flooring, drywall, cabinets, ceilings, furniture, and more. If you live in fear of a broken pipe and a deluge of water in your home, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, has the solution to ease your stress: an automatic water shut off valve.

How Does an Automatic Water Shut Off Valve Work?

Water leak detectors and automatic shut off valves work together by monitoring your plumbing system and the water pressure moving through your pipes. There are three types of water leak detectors that identify problems in different ways:

  • A flow meter constantly monitors a pipe’s water flow rate. If the water pressure changes dramatically, the system recognizes it as a problem and cuts off the water supply to your home.
  • A flood sensor sits on the floor in an area prone to flooding, such as a utility room. When the sensor comes into contact with water, it turns off the home’s water supply.
  • Acoustic sensors are installed along water supply pipes and listen for the sound of tiny water leaks. These types of sensors are only appropriate for industrial applications.

Many flow meters and flood sensors also sound an alarm to alert people in the house. While these devices can’t prevent a broken pipe, leak, or pipe damage, they can stop the flow of water before the leak can cause a flood. This will keep the potential damages to a minimum.

Related Topic: How Do I Find My Water Shut-Off Valve?

Do I Really Need an Automatic Shut Off Valve?

Do you know where the manual water shut off valve is in your home? Can you safely say you will always be home when a pipe bursts or a leak appears? If you answered no to either of these questions, you would benefit from having an automatic shut off valve installed in your house.

While some homeowners are lucky enough to be home at the right time to notice a leak as it begins so they can shut off the water, many of these types of plumbing issues happen in the middle of the night when occupants are asleep or not home. Knowing that you have a system in place to automatically shut off the water and prevent catastrophic damage can give you peace of mind knowing a small leak won’t turn into a gigantic flood.

Providing Peace of Mind

Does an automatic shut off valve sound like the kind of home protection you need? If you’ve experienced a flood in your home or you worry about the consequences of water damage, it’s time to find out more. The professional team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing has everything you need to protect your home from water damage, including quality installation and service. To get started, give us a call or request a job estimate today.