Makes me wonder if it’s worth swapping them out even if there’s no sign of trouble yet.
Honestly, I’ve never seen a braided line fail in any of my rentals, and I’ve swapped out plenty of those old plastic ones after a close call or two. The peace of mind is worth the few extra bucks, at least for me. Insurance is a mixed bag—sometimes they’ll cover water damage, but only if you catch it quick and can prove it wasn’t due to neglect. Did you ever have to deal with a slow leak that went unnoticed? That’s where things get messy, both with repairs and the insurance folks.
I had a slow leak behind one of my units a couple years back—tenant didn’t notice until the floor started warping. Insurance barely covered half after all the back-and-forth. Ever tried those leak sensors? I’ve thought about sticking a few behind the fridges, just in case.
Leak sensors are definitely worth it, especially if you’re renting out. I put a couple under the kitchen sink and behind the washer after a similar scare—never thought about the fridge till now. Have you looked at the battery life on those things? I’ve heard some only last a year or two, which seems like a hassle if you’ve got multiple units to check. Still, way cheaper than new floors. Did you end up finding a sensor that actually alerts your phone, or just ones that beep?
I’ve tried a few different leak sensors, and honestly, the ones that just beep aren’t much use if you’re not home. The WiFi-enabled models are a bit pricier up front, but they’ll send an alert to your phone wherever you are. I picked up a 3-pack from Govee for around $40 on sale, and they’ve worked well so far. Battery life’s been decent—about two years in my experience, though I do swap them out every 18 months just to be safe. It’s a small price compared to dealing with water damage.
If you’re worried about the hassle of checking batteries, some of the app-connected ones will actually warn you when the battery’s low. That’s saved me a headache or two. I’d say it’s worth spending a little extra for the peace of mind, especially if you’ve got tenants or travel often. Still, I get the concern about adding more gadgets to keep track of... but after paying $300 to fix warped cabinet bottoms from a slow fridge leak, I’m not taking chances anymore.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think those cheap beep-only sensors were enough—until I came home to a puddle under the fridge and a repair bill that made my wallet cry. The WiFi ones are a game changer, especially if you’re out a lot or, like me, tend to forget about stuff until it’s too late. I’ve got a couple of Moen sensors and yeah, the app nags me when the battery’s low, which is honestly more reliable than my memory. It’s a bit more upfront, but compared to the cost of fixing water damage or replacing warped floors? No contest. Still, sometimes I wonder if my house is just going to turn into one big notification center...
