Honestly, I’ve seen both sides of this. Had a customer once who caught a slow leak under their sink thanks to a detector—saved them a ton of hassle. But I’ve also been called in after alarms went off for nothing but condensation. Tech’s great for early warning, but it’s not a magic fix. I’d say keep the gadgets, but don’t toss that plumber’s number just yet… sometimes old-school is still the best backup.
Tech’s great for early warning, but it’s not a magic fix. I’d say keep the gadgets, but don’t toss that plumber’s number just yet…
Had a tenant call me at 2am once—water sensor under the hot water tank went off. Turned out to be a tiny drip, but it saved the floor. Still, I’ve had more false alarms than real ones. I keep both: gadgets for peace of mind, plumber’s number for when things get real. Wouldn’t trust an app alone to spot a pinhole leak behind a wall... sometimes you just need someone who knows what they’re looking for.
Plumber on speed dial vs. plumbing apps—what's your go-to?
Wouldn’t trust an app alone to spot a pinhole leak behind a wall... sometimes you just need someone who knows what they’re looking for.
- Had a similar situation last winter—sensor caught a slow leak under the kitchen sink, but by the time I got there, it was just condensation from a cold snap. False alarm, but better safe than sorry.
- Still, I’ve had those sensors miss stuff too. Had a pipe sweating inside a wall and didn’t know until the paint started bubbling. No tech caught that one.
- Plumber’s number is always in my phone. When things go sideways, I want someone who can actually fix it, not just send me another notification at 3am.
- That said, I do like the peace of mind from the gadgets. They’re good for catching the obvious stuff—overflowing laundry tub, sump pump failure, etc.
I’m curious—anyone tried those smart shutoff valves? The ones that’ll cut water automatically if they sense a leak? I’ve thought about installing one in my oldest unit but not sure if it’s worth the hassle or just another thing to maintain.
Also, how are folks handling tenants who ignore alerts? Had one who just unplugged the sensor because it was “beeping too much.” Not sure if that’s a tech problem or a people problem...
Smart shutoff valves are a mixed bag in my experience. They can save your bacon if you’ve got a burst pipe while you’re out of town, but they’re not foolproof—seen them trip over a little condensation or a loose fitting and shut off the whole house. Maintenance is another thing folks forget about. As for tenants ignoring alerts, that’s a classic people problem… you can’t tech your way out of someone unplugging stuff because it’s “annoying.” Still, I’d rather deal with a false alarm than a flooded basement.
I hear you on the false alarms—had one go off at 2am once because of a tiny drip under the sink. Woke up thinking the house was about to float away, but nope, just a loose connection. Still, I’d rather get woken up for nothing than come home to a swimming pool in the basement.
Maintenance is a biggie, though. I think a lot of folks install these smart valves and then forget they even exist until something goes wrong. I try to check mine every few months, just to make sure it’s not stuck or gunked up. Not exactly fun, but beats the alternative.
As for tenants unplugging stuff... yeah, that’s a whole other headache. I’ve taped notes to outlets before, but if someone’s determined, they’ll find a way. At the end of the day, I still keep my plumber’s number handy. Tech is great, but sometimes you just need a human who knows what they’re doing.
