Loyal readers may recall the failure of our Moen Flo whole-house water shutoff system to detect a drip. How about a more granular approach?
Have a flow sensor and shut-off valve for every room in the house in which there is plumbing, e.g., kitchen, laundry, bathrooms.
Put an occupancy sensor in each of the above rooms and, for the washing machine, a current sensor at the plug to tell if the machine is on. (Alternatively, use the network of cameras that a home should have for assisting with misplaced objects.)
Now the system doesn’t have to be that smart. If there is a sudden water draw from a bathroom that isn’t occupied then shut off the water to that bathroom. Have an override switch by the main light switch, of course, in case AI isn’t as smart as imagined.
How could one do occupancy sensing without either a massive privacy issue or an uglification of the house? Here’s an outlet that combines app-switchable power, night light, CO2 and VOC measurement, temp and humidity sensor, and occupancy sensing (via radar):
(Legal to install in a bathroom or kitchen counter, I think, if there is a GFCI circuit breaker.)
What’s the obvious flaw in this plan? Given that insurance companies will give a discount for the Moen Flo, which will allow at least hundreds of gallons of water to trash a house before it does any shutting off, I would think that insurance discounts over the years would more than pay for all of the tech. I guess there is an ongoing maintenance hassle, especially if flow is measured via impellers. Still, when you consider the $200,000+ cost of cleaning up after a flood, I think it is worth it.
Those 24Ghz sensors are 40 years old. We used to make the lights go out in school by not moving enough.
I had my 70-y/o FL house re-piped five years ago with all new PEX fresh water lines from the street ($3500). Last year I re-lined the sewer lines ($6000). I’ve installed an exterior-mounted tankless NG water heater ($1600). Washer is in a lower, concrete floor level with a sunp pump in the laundry room with discharge to the street. No dishwasher. X flood zone rating (I think this is the best rating). Recent quote for flood insurance was $700.
After reading this, not the first time I’ve thought this week about bringing back live-in servants. Teach the houseman where the manual main and fixture shutoff valves are.
We are going to have to think of *some* use for all these post-AI surplus people.
For the whole house product, what about having a camera that looks at the water meter and sees if water is being used with no one home?