water detector recommendations

maskdbandt

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I was fixing a leaky faucet this week and realized that a good water detector in my basement would be handy to save the arcade games. I didn't even know they existed and seem pretty cheap. I'm very paranoid my faucet fix is not going to hold up as it was my third try where nothing about the faucet leaked. I kept dreaming of water streaming out of the faucet last night.

Anyone like theirs and does it really work? The only thread I found on this was about a deal on woot a few years ago: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=38257.

I want one that I will be able to hear from the main floor of the house at least but not loud enough my neighbors would hear it. I've heard that they aren't as loud as fire alarms.

Cheers!
Geoff
 
I have 2 of the LeakFrogs in my basement. They do exactly what they say they do. They have gone off only once, and there was not much I could do about that time, but they did work. They are about the volume of a smoke detector, maybe a little less. I will get some more next time they are on Woot for under sinks and stuff.

Chris
 
I have 2 of the LeakFrogs in my basement. They do exactly what they say they do. They have gone off only once, and there was not much I could do about that time, but they did work. They are about the volume of a smoke detector, maybe a little less. I will get some more next time they are on Woot for under sinks and stuff.

Chris

Thanks!

Many false alarms from condensation? I was thinking of getting a bunch and putting them around every water outlet in the house. I don't want to deal with all that potential damage. I guess I'll be needing a lot of batteries though.
 
Thanks!

Many false alarms from condensation? I was thinking of getting a bunch and putting them around every water outlet in the house. I don't want to deal with all that potential damage. I guess I'll be needing a lot of batteries though.

I have had no false alarms from the basement. They come with AAA batteries, and I have had mine over a year and the batteries are fine (I think). Maybe I should go check them, LOL.

Chris
 
I have had no false alarms from the basement. They come with AAA batteries, and I have had mine over a year and the batteries are fine (I think). Maybe I should go check them, LOL.

Chris

Heh! Yeah I wonder if they beep for low batteries like smoke detectors or not. That would really be horrible if they were to run out of juice right when there was a leak.
 
Heh! Yeah I wonder if they beep for low batteries like smoke detectors or not. That would really be horrible if they were to run out of juice right when there was a leak.

The directions (or lack of) do indicate a low battery chirp should occur. I think I will check to be sure, but I have read some reviews on Woot where people have forgotten they got these and then 2 or 3 years later they go off and save the day :)

Chris
 
The directions (or lack of) do indicate a low battery chirp should occur. I think I will check to be sure, but I have read some reviews on Woot where people have forgotten they got these and then 2 or 3 years later they go off and save the day :)

Chris

Lasting 2-3 years would be great. I would think if there ever was a significant leak while you're home, it would pay for all of them and batteries plus some. Our smoke detectors used to start chirping after just over a year so I just change them each year to be on the safe side.
 
I got mine from Harbor Freight and make sure they chirp for low battery. I do as they recommend for smoke detectors - change the batteries every new year. I'm anal and have a list - as a pinball and vid collector I hate leaking batteries.

One other thing that a lot of folks ignore but can cause a messy problem is the basement waste water ejector pump system. This is in addition to the one everyone pays attention to which is the sump pump/well for rain water. I have a leak detector monitoring mine. The pumps usually work for many years but the check valve wears out sooner. It saved me a real mess when the check valve failed and then to make matters worse the replacement check valve was defective and leaked (my luck - 25 of them on the shelf and I picked the defective one). The leak detector saved my bacon again.

Bill
 
I got mine from Harbor Freight and make sure they chirp for low battery. I do as they recommend for smoke detectors - change the batteries every new year. I'm anal and have a list - as a pinball and vid collector I hate leaking batteries.

One other thing that a lot of folks ignore but can cause a messy problem is the basement waste water ejector pump system. This is in addition to the one everyone pays attention to which is the sump pump/well for rain water. I have a leak detector monitoring mine. The pumps usually work for many years but the check valve wears out sooner. It saved me a real mess when the check valve failed and then to make matters worse the replacement check valve was defective and leaked (my luck - 25 of them on the shelf and I picked the defective one). The leak detector saved my bacon again.

Bill

Kind of off topic, but what is a waste water ejector pump?

Is that only if you have plumbing in the basement?

Chris
 
Kind of off topic, but what is a waste water ejector pump?

Is that only if you have plumbing in the basement?

Chris

Yes - for waste water (toilet, sinks). The ejector pumps the waste water up and into the sewer line. The ejector pump also has a "grinder" (think toilet paper and waste (poo-poo :D) that needs to be ground up) and that makes it different from a sump pump for rain water. A backup of the ejector well is a real unsanitary mess (don't ask me how I know :no:). The check valve prevents the waste water from draining back into the well. It is a one-way valve.

Bill
 
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Yes - for waste water (toilet, sinks). The ejector pumps the waste water up and into the sewer line. The ejector pump also has a "grinder" (think toilet paper and waste (poo-poo :D) that needs to be ground up) and that makes it different from a sump pump for rain water. A backup of the ejector well is a real unsanitary mess (don't ask me how I know :no:). The check valve prevents the waste water from draining back into the well. It is a one-way valve.

Bill

Yes, I guess water backup would definitely be better than sewage!
 
I got one of the cheap water sensors from Home Depot or Lowes... I tested it to make sure it works, and it hasn't gone off since (no false alarms, and haven't had any leaks). I put it right by my water heater and sump pump... hopefully I never need it.

DogP
 
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