Sensors are great, but honestly, they're only as good as their calibration and setup. I've dealt with plenty of situations where the sensors were technically "working," but placement or sensitivity was off just enough to miss early warning signs. Manual checks shouldn't just be occasional—they should be strategic and thorough. Maybe combining scheduled visual inspections with sensor data reviews is a better approach than random spot-checks, which can sometimes be too hit-or-miss...
Couldn't agree more about sensor placement. Had a job last winter where the homeowner installed leak sensors under sinks and near the water heater. Good idea in theory, but one sensor was placed just a bit uphill from the actual leak point. Water pooled away from the sensor, and by the time they noticed, the damage was pretty bad. Sensors were working fine, just not set up right. Regular visual checks would've caught that sooner.
Apps and sensors can definitely help, but relying solely on tech without solid manual inspections isn't something I'd risk. Combining both methods like you mentioned seems like the safest bet... especially when dealing with water damage.
"Apps and sensors can definitely help, but relying solely on tech without solid manual inspections isn't something I'd risk."
Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way myself. Had a sensor near our washer, but it didn't trigger until the water had already soaked into the drywall... pricey mistake. Now I do quick visual checks weekly—tech's great, but eyes-on beats surprises any day.
Same here, had a similar issue with a leak under the kitchen sink. The sensor was there, batteries fresh and everything, but it didn't catch the slow drip that warped the cabinet floor. Ended up noticing it myself when grabbing cleaning supplies. Tech's handy, sure, but nothing beats a quick peek under sinks or around appliances every now and then. Learned to trust my gut and eyes more than an app notification...
Had a similar experience, but honestly, the app saved me big-time once. Was out of town and got an alert—turned out to be a burst pipe. Tech isn't foolproof, sure...but sometimes it catches what our eyes can't.