Had a similar flood fiasco myself... but honestly, I'm skeptical about those smart sensors. Friend of mine installed them everywhere, and they kept sending false alerts—he nearly lost his mind checking pipes at all hours. Still prefer good old-fashioned insulation and regular checks.
"Friend of mine installed them everywhere, and they kept sending false alerts—he nearly lost his mind checking pipes at all hours."
Yeah, those sensors can be a bit jumpy. I had one go off at 3 AM once, stumbled downstairs half-asleep expecting a flood... turned out my cat knocked over her water bowl. Still, better safe than sorry, right? Curious if anyone's found a brand that's actually reliable.
I've seen a lot of sensors installed, and honestly, most of the cheaper brands tend to freak out over nothing. Had a customer once who kept getting alerts because of condensation dripping from his AC unit—talk about frustrating. But I've noticed the pricier ones with adjustable sensitivity settings usually do better. They're not perfect, but at least you won't be running downstairs every night for cat bowls or random drips...
"Had a customer once who kept getting alerts because of condensation dripping from his AC unit—talk about frustrating."
Yeah, I've seen that happen too. Those cheaper sensors can drive you nuts with false alarms. One thing I've found helpful is placing sensors strategically—away from common drip spots like AC units or pet areas. Also, if your sensor has adjustable sensitivity, start at medium and tweak it gradually. Takes some patience, but once dialed in, it's worth the peace of mind...especially at 2 AM when you're half asleep and panicking over nothing.
I get what you're saying about sensor placement, but honestly, I'd be cautious about moving sensors too far from potential trouble spots. Had a customer once who repositioned his sensor away from the AC drip pan because of false alarms—then ended up missing an actual leak that caused some serious drywall damage. Instead of moving them completely away, maybe try elevating them slightly or using a drip tray to catch condensation? Also, I've noticed some brands handle moisture sensitivity better than others, so sometimes upgrading to a slightly pricier model can save headaches down the road. False alarms are annoying for sure, but I'd rather deal with a few midnight wake-ups than risk missing something major...just my two cents.
