Thing started beeping at 2am, caught a slow leak before it turned into a mess.
Had a similar experience—those water alarms are a solid backup, especially for the price. But I totally agree, nothing replaces just looking for rust or moisture yourself. I’d even say a flashlight check under the heater every now and then can catch stuff alarms miss. Still, for $15-20, it’s hard to argue against having one as a last line of defense. Just wish they made the batteries last longer...
Honestly, those water alarms are a lifesaver, but I’m with you—nothing beats just crawling around with a flashlight and getting your hands dirty. I’ve caught a couple of tiny leaks that way, before the alarm even noticed. Here’s my quick routine: every couple weeks, I grab a cheap LED flashlight, check for any weird shadows or damp spots under the heater, and run my hand along the pipes. If I spot rust or that crusty white stuff (calcium?), I know it’s time to keep an eye out.
One thing I do disagree on a bit—the batteries. I switched to lithium AAAs in mine and they’ve lasted almost two years. Not sure if it’s the brand or just luck, but worth a shot if you’re tired of swapping them out every few months. Also, if you’ve got pets, watch out—my cat thinks the alarm is her new toy whenever it chirps.
Anyway, for $20, it’s cheap insurance. But yeah, nothing replaces a good old-fashioned look-see.
Those alarms are handy, but I’m with you—nothing beats getting down there and poking around yourself. I’ve seen alarms miss slow drips plenty of times, especially if the leak’s just a little condensation or tucked behind something. That crusty white stuff is usually calcium, yeah, or sometimes magnesium from hard water. Either way, it’s a sign things are starting to go sideways.
Lithium batteries are a solid tip. I’ve had mixed luck—sometimes they last forever, sometimes not so much. Maybe my basement’s just cursed. And the pet thing... had a customer whose dog chewed up three alarms in a month. Guess it’s not just cats.
Honestly, for $20, it’s cheap peace of mind, but I always tell folks: trust your eyes and nose first. If you smell that musty dampness or spot rust, don’t wait for the beep. Water heaters love to go rogue at the worst possible time.
Yeah, I hear you on the alarms missing stuff—mine caught a big leak once, but totally missed a slow drip that ended up rusting the pan. I’m all about cheap fixes, but sometimes you just gotta get your hands dirty. That musty smell is the real warning sign for me... batteries or not.
That musty smell is always the giveaway, isn’t it? I’ve seen alarms miss those slow leaks more times than I can count. Honestly, sometimes the best “alarm” is just getting down there and checking for damp spots or rust. Cheap fixes are great, but if you see rust on the pan, it’s probably time to swap it out before it eats through. I’ve patched a few with epoxy in a pinch, but that’s just buying time. If you’re smelling must, there’s moisture hiding somewhere—worth pulling the cover and poking around.
