Those sensors are handy, but honestly, I wouldn't rely on them alone. Had one tenant whose sensor didn't trigger during a major burst—ended up costing me big time. I'd still recommend regular checks and good old-fashioned shut-off valves...just in case.
Good point about regular checks...but how often do you actually test your shut-off valves? Mine tend to get stuck if I don't turn them every now and then, which kinda defeats the purpose. Any tips for keeping them working smoothly?
I hear ya—mine seized up completely last winter, right when I needed it most. Now I give 'em a quick twist every couple months and spray a bit of silicone lubricant around the stem. Seems to do the trick...better safe than sorry, right?
Good call on the silicone spray, that's saved me a few headaches too. Another thing I've noticed is that older valves sometimes just get brittle and snap off when you least expect it—had one crumble in my hand last year. Ever thought about swapping yours out for quarter-turn ball valves? They're pricier upfront but way less hassle down the road...
"Ever thought about swapping yours out for quarter-turn ball valves? They're pricier upfront but way less hassle down the road..."
Yeah, totally agree on the quarter-turn valves. I swapped mine out a couple years back after one of those old gate valves snapped clean off in my hand—talk about a mini heart attack moment. The ball valves are definitely worth the extra bucks, especially when you're scrambling to shut off water in an emergency.
One thing I've been wondering though: has anyone here installed one of those automatic leak detection systems? I've seen some that can actually shut off your main water supply automatically if they sense a leak. Seems like it could save a ton of headaches (and money) if you're away from home when something decides to burst... Curious if they're reliable enough yet or still kinda gimmicky.
