Yeah, sensors can be pretty hit-or-miss sometimes. Had a client last year who trusted one of those leak detectors completely, and it ended up missing a slow leak behind the fridge. By the time they noticed, the flooring was already lifting up and mold was creeping in. Not fun at all.
I agree, regular visual checks are definitely the way to go. Tech is great for alerting you to sudden, obvious issues, but those sneaky slow leaks are a different beast altogether. It’s surprising how much damage a tiny drip can do when it goes unnoticed for weeks or months. I always tell folks, nothing beats just getting down there with a flashlight every now and then and taking a good look around.
Curious though—were you using one of those standalone sensors or something integrated into a smart-home setup? I've heard mixed things about both. Some of the newer smart-home integrated ones claim to be more sensitive, but I wonder if that's just marketing hype or if they actually perform better in real-world scenarios. Seems like no matter how advanced these gadgets get, there's always some scenario they don't quite catch.
Anyway, good call on upping your walkthroughs. Honestly, every few weeks is probably ideal; monthly checks are fine too, but more frequent can't hurt. It might feel like overkill at first, but once you've dealt with water damage firsthand... yeah, you realize it's definitely worth the extra five minutes here and there.
Totally agree on visual checks—tech is handy but definitely not foolproof. A few quick points from experience:
- Smart-home integrated sensors do seem a bit more reliable, especially if they're placed strategically (near common leak spots like under sinks or water heaters).
- Still, I've seen them miss slow leaks too. Had a client whose smart sensor missed a tiny drip behind drywall... ended up being a pricey repair.
- Best bet is combining tech with regular manual inspections. Nothing fancy, just eyeballing pipes and connections every couple weeks or so.
Better safe than sorry, right?
Good points here, especially about slow leaks—those are sneaky and sensors often miss them. I've found moisture meters handy for checking drywall or hidden spots occasionally, but they're not exactly convenient for regular use. Curious if anyone's tried thermal imaging cameras for leak detection? Seems like they could catch hidden issues early, but I'm not sure if they're practical or affordable enough yet for everyday homeowners...
Thermal imaging cameras can be a real game changer, but honestly, they're still a bit pricey for most homeowners. I've used them on jobs where leaks were tricky to pinpoint—like behind tiled showers or under flooring—and they saved me hours of guesswork. But for everyday use at home? Probably overkill unless you're dealing with frequent issues or own multiple properties. Renting one occasionally might be the smarter move...or even hiring someone who already has the gear.
I borrowed a thermal camera once from a buddy who does inspections. Thought I'd get all fancy locating a leak behind my bathroom wall. Turns out, I spent an hour staring at colorful blobs only to find out the pipe was leaking exactly where I first suspected. So yeah, handy tool for sure—but unless you're regularly hunting invisible leaks or doing home inspections, probably better to rent one or just call someone who knows what they're looking at...
