When a water pipe bursts, know A financial world of pain awaits.
Not only will your house be flooded, causing thousands of dollars in damage to your personal property, but you'll also have to get a plumber to repair or replace the faulty pipe. You will potentially be faced with a heavy water bill as well. It's expensive.
But what if you could avoid this by installing just one computer? I am of course talking about smart water valves.
Smart valves are a relatively new innovation in smart home technology, so you may not have heard of them. The first was launched at the end of 2014 by the American DIY giant, Lowes. Since then, competitor products have been launched, but remain rather niche.
They come in two halves. The first is a sensor that detects water leaks. The other is a valve, which will immediately shut off the water supply when it detects problems.
Some, like the Lowes Smart Valve, are especially smart, and will turn off the water supply when they see a leak. could happen.
For example, many leaks occur when water in pipes freezes and expands, causing them to crack. To mitigate this, various smart valves will shut off the water supply when the inside temperature drops below freezing.
Another big advantage of smart valves is that they can connect via WiFi to central hubs, and some allow users to turn off the water supply remotely via their phones. That's handy if you've gone on vacation and forgot to turn off the water.
Of course, smart valves aren't the only aquatically oriented smart piece of equipment. There are also smart faucets 3 reasons why your next faucet should be a smart faucet 3 reasons why your next faucet should be a smart faucet People tend to think that smart faucets are naive and free. Is there really enough room for improvement to justify an upgrade? I'm here to convince you:yes! Read More
So what valves are available to buy? I decided to take a look at the market. This is what I found.
Smart water valves are incredible niche products. There is not the same range of competition that exists in other parts of the Smart Home industry. Despite that, there are a few products to choose from.
Let's start at the absolute bargain level, and take a look at the Salute Wireless Valve, available for $49.99 on Amazon.
This can be connected to a gas or water valve, allowing the user to close it however they wish. It can be controlled via the included remote or via an Android app. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it on the Google Play Store, which leads me to question its existence. There's no mention of an iPhone app, either.
Worse, it doesn't include a sensor, which was a glaring omission. So while you can't detect leaks as they happen, you can use it to shut off the water supply when you leave the house.
Reviews are mixed, too. Some are enthusiastic about it, saying it represents good value for money. Others are condemning for its build quality. Although the low price of this may be attractive, you definitely buy it at your own risk.
At $429.99, the FortrezZ Water Valve is the most expensive item on this list. But maybe, Just maybe , this one is worth it.
3/4" inch Wireless Z-Wave Water Valve; ID Code:ZC08-13040028 3/4" inch Wireless Z-Wave Water Valve; Cert ID:ZC08-13040028 Buy Now On Amazon $549.99
For starters, it supports the popular Z-Wave protocol, allowing you to control it from your Z-Wave hub (sold separately). It's also made in the United States, with most Amazon reviews reflecting its sturdiness and high quality. It also has a "no leak" guarantee, and the manufacturers guarantee that it will not leak for the life of the product.
Despite that, the high price may be a bit off-putting for some. Especially when you consider that this does not include the water sensor. You'll have to buy it separately for around $50.
Black wireless temperature and water sensor with LED; Cert ID:ZC08-11030007 Black Wireless Water Temperature Sensor with LED; Cert ID:ZC08-11030007 Buy now on Amazon
At $399.00, the LeakSMART Smart Home Kit falls well short of FortrezZ's offering. It also includes a wireless leak sensor, a self-closing valve, and a center hub to join these products together.
LeakSMART - First Generation Leak Prevention Kit - (1) 3/4" Main Water Shut-off Valve + (1) Sensor + Smart Home Hub LeakSMART - First Generation Leak Prevention Kit - (1) Valve 3/4" main water shutoff + (1) Sensor + Smart Home Hub Buy now on Amazon
This is a cheaper alternative to FortressZ's offering. It also allows you to control the system through a free app for Android and iPhone.
My only gripe with the LeakSmart is that it's another smart home device that ships with its own dedicated hub. It seems strange to me, when it works well with Lowe's Iris system, as well as the more traditional Zigbee protocol. If you're not sure which home automation hub solution works for you, check out this post by Joel Lee Which Smart Home Automation Hub Is Best For You? Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? For a while, people thought the idea was nothing more than a gimmick, but recent product launches have shown that smart home automation is starting to deliver on its promises. Read more.
It's fair to say that many of the smart valve offerings are expensive. The cheapest we saw was $50, with a very high average price, a lot elderly. But despite that, I am convinced that they are a profitable and worthwhile purchase, and every home should have one.
Why? Because the costs associated with a burst pipe are significantly higher than the costs associated with purchasing a smart valve.
According to State Farm Insurance, the average claim for a burst pipe is around $15,000. That says nothing about the sentimental value of objects that could be destroyed or damaged.
You shouldn't think that it can't happen to you either. Each year, 50 million American homes will experience frozen pipes. It's safe to assume a few million of these will go off.
Then there's also the fact that having one of these valves can save you money in the long run, as some insurers offer discounts to those who have the valves installed. One is Liberty Mutual, which is one of the largest property insurers in the United States. In a press release, Michael Robon, Senior Vice President of Liberty Mutual, said:
Your property insurance provider may not have any explicit policies when it comes to smart water valves, but it can help you get a discount when it's time to renew your policy.
Smart valves are not cheap. I'm not going to deny that. Despite the high initial cost, they could potentially save you a lot of money and trouble in the long run.
To learn more about smart home technology that protects property, check out these six smart smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. 6 intelligent detectors that protect your family and property from damage. 6 intelligent detectors that protect your family and property from damage. A truly smart home does more than save money. :Help protect your family and home. These smart detectors will keep an eye on things so you feel safe when you're home or away. Read more . While you're at it, check out Kannon Yamada's review of the D-Link Connected Home Bundle The D-Link Connected Home Bundle and D-Link Connected Home Bundle Review and D-Link Giveaway Sweepstakes It features high-definition security cameras, a water sensor, and a smart WiFi power switch. But is D-Link's vision of the smart home ready for your living space? Read more . While it's not a smart valve, it does come with a water sensor that will let you know if your house is flooding.
You. Are you planning to get a smart valve? If not, why not? Let me know in the comments below.
