Escape of water is one of the most common types of claims seen by insurers in terms of domestic property damage, with insurers paying out £1.8 million for this type of claim every day*. Here, we discuss how leak detection tools can help.
Water leak detection systems have been designed to help mitigate escape of water claims, which, as we have already noted, cost the insurance industry billions a year. By identifying leaks early, these small hidden issues, which usually create much larger problems over a period of time – and are responsible for over half of escape of water claims – can be diminished.
There are two main leak detection systems we recommend to our private clients, approved by our specialist insurer panel at McClarrons Affinity: Leakbot and Waterlock. Here, we look at how these work, and their benefits, in more detail.
LeakBot
LeakBot can monitor your home 24/7 for leaks that you may otherwise not become aware of until much later, when more damage has been done. LeakBot can be monitored via an app on your smart phone and allows you to receive instant alerts should a problem be detected, wherever you may be. Both of these features mean that you can be informed at the earliest opportunity of a leak, which could have the potential to lead to catastrophic damage if undetected. The app is also used to activate your account, take you through the steps of installation for the LeakBot device itself and will guide you through the steps to take should a leak be identified.
In addition, if a leak is detected, the LeakBot team can arrange for an approved, expert plumber to come and find the source of the leak and fix it. Alternatively, you can select your own plumber – LeakBot will just want confirmation that the problem has been rectified.
LeakBot has a compact design making it easy to install in your home – it is simply clipped onto the internal mains water supply pipe. When installed correctly, LeakBot has the ability to monitor all of the hot and cold water pipes fed from the internal mains water supply pipe; it detects leaks by measuring both the air and water temperature in your home. If there’s a leak, there will be a consistent and sustained drop in temperature due to the leak drawing in colder water – LeakBot senses this and notify you of an issue.
The technology in LeakBot is able to identify the difference between normal water usage and a leak so it will only notify you if it detects an excessive amount of water being used for an extended period of time, meaning you won’t be bombarded with notifications every time water is used.
Other benefits:
- Battery operated, with batteries designed to last up to 3 years
- Award-winning technology
- Easy installation
- If a leak is detected, you can be notified by SMS text message, email and app notifications.
Waterlock
Waterlock, designed and created by energy company, Geo, provides a slightly different solution to LeakBot, it provides people with leak detection but also a water shut-off system, taking escape of water damage prevention a step further.
Like LeakBot, the Waterlock system is controlled via an app, allowing householders to monitor the status of their home and control the mains water supply when out and about, as well as being compatible with Amazon Alexa.
Waterlock’s system is made up of 3 parts – the Hub, the valve and control module and sensors. The Hub connects to your internet router, the valve and control module is then installed either next to, or in replacement of, your stopcock – this allows it to control entry of water into the home. The sensors for the system are then placed in areas of the home which are most likely to be at risk of leaks e.g. under the kitchen sink or in the bathroom. The combined sensors allow temperature, humid and standing water to be monitored and identified. Installation of the device, whilst quick (usually under 1 hour), is carried out by a trained professional.
Other benefits:
- Suitable for residential properties, second homes, unoccupied properties, blocks of flats, landlords, property management companies and SMEs
- Battery operated
- Alerts can be sent via email and app notifications
- Provides access for multiple users/members of the household
- 3-sensor and 6-sensor systems are available with additional sensors available to purchase separately
- Minimal maintenance required due to self-maintenance intelligence built-in
LeakBot vs. Waterlock comparison summary
| Feature | LeakBot | Waterlock |
| Core functionality and purpose | Detects leaks and alerts customer via app, email and SMS. Option to have emergency plumber sent out via the system. | Allows mains water supply to be controlled when customer is away from the property. The system detects leaks, low temperatures and high humidity, alerting residents via app and email. If a leak is detected, the system will automatically turn off mains water. |
| Method of detection | Measures air and water temperature to detect leaks | Physical sensors detect standing water (plus temperature and humidity levels). Only turns off water if a leak is detected. |
| Installation method | Self-installation | Professional installation |
| Suitable property types | Single dwellings only | Single dwellings as well as residential blocks |
Why consider a leak detection system for your home?
Clearly, the main reason to install a leak detection system in your home is to prevent major escape of water damage, helping you to keep yourselves, your home and your contents safe; if a leak is made known to you, you have the ability to stop the water supply and/or get the issue fixed before the situation worsens.
Not only this, having a system such as LeakBot or Waterlock in your home, can lead to better terms being offered by your insurer; this is because the systems reduce the chance of you needing to make a large scale escape of water claim – making your home a more attractive risk.
If you’d like to discuss any element of your household insurance with us, or would like to know more about either of the systems we’ve discussed here, please do not hesitate to contact our specialist Art & Private Client insurance team on 01653 602634 or by emailing affinity@mcclarroninsurance.com. Â
Find out more about the McClarrons Affinity home insurance services.
Sources:
* https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/home-insurance/burst-pipes-and-water-leaks/
https://leakbot.io/
https://geotogether.com/business/products-services/waterlock/
‘Say goodbye to hidden leaks, say hello to LeakBot’ promotional document from Covea Insurance
‘Waterlock Briefing’ presentation by James Rankin, CEO at Geo
