Security Sales & Integration March 2023 - 26

SMARTS & PARTS
Tech Talk by Bob Dolph
bdolph.ssi@gmail.com
How to Prevent Potentially
Damaging Drip, Drip, Drips
TOOL OF THE MONTH
There have always been a few
features missing in water fl ow
valve shutoff devices. It looks
like the Water Dragon from
Alarm.com has nailed it. When
owners are away, the device
is designed to internally
detect leaks throughout a
house and notify accordingly.
Additionally, temperature
monitoring notifi es users of
potential pipe freezes. Alarm.
com bills the Water Dragon
as a " no-plumber-needed "
solution with " clip-and-zip "
installation.
Bob Dolph has served
in various technical
management and advisory
positions in the security
industry for 30+ years. To
share tips and installation
questions, email Bob at
bdolph.ssi@gmail.com. Access
content from his 20+ years as
Tech Talk columnist by going
online at securitysales.com/
author/bdolph.
26
▶ OUR JOB is to provide our customers peace of
mind. What is that worth? Well, we always hear
stories of how a home burglary caused family
members to now have that feeling of vulnerability.
A burglar alarm system gives them extra peace
of mind, and to many that feeling is priceless.
We've all seen how devastating a fi re can be,
especially if it goes undetected or unreported for
even a brief time. Understanding time is of the
essence in a fi re alarm response, the customer
feels secure in the knowledge that a basic monitored
fi re alarm system can ensure a rapid fi re
alarm response.
Th ere is another critical security service that often
goes overlooked by both the security dealer and
their customers. It can be devastating for property
damage if not attended to quickly and is a danger
that all households and businesses face: massive
property loss from nonfl ood water damage.
Did you know that one is six times more likely
to experience water damage than fi re damage,
and seven times more likely than a burglary? A
small leak can often lead to substantial damage.
Whether our customers want to admit it, water
leak damage is always in the back of their minds.
If presented properly, this is another great opportunity
for security professionals to come to
their rescue. Just imagine, a water pipe leak creating
hundreds of gallons of water, undetected
and unreported. One customer was noted in
saying that after a water pipe leak on their second
fl oor of the house, the house was never the
same to them again.
Yet despite the constant risk of water leaks,
only 6% of homes currently have a smart leak
detection system, according to an estimate from
Parks Associates. Another benefi t for the dealers,
additional services equate to more recurring
monthly revenue (RMR) sources. Let's look at
some of the diff erent types of water leak detection
technology.
A type that many are familiar with is the spot
or small area sensor. Th ese are super easy to install
and inexpensive. Because water is a good
conductor of electricity, these button-sized senSecurity
Sales & Integration MARCH 2023
sors have two electrodes very close to fl oor level
and will detect ponding water, possibly from a
leaking washing machine or hot water heater.
Th e water completes the circuit sending an alarm
either locally or monitored.
Th e next device is a whole-house water valve
fl ow unit, which is either placed in line with the
main incoming water pipe or mounted on top
of the main water valve so a lever can electrically
turn the manual water fl ow valve and eliminate
the need for a plumber to install. Both types
of electrical mechanical valves can be triggered
by independent water sensors, or internally by
intelligent fl ow sensors in the water fl ow valve
assembly. One of the popular water fl ow detection
technologies now being used is ultrasonics,
which can sense irregularities in fl ow from a dripping
faucet to a water pipe bursting.
Two popular water fl ow valve monitors are the
new Water Dragon from Alarm.com (see Tool of
the Month) and the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor
and Shutoff . Th e Water Dragon was recently
introduced at the 2023 Consumer Electronics
Show. Th e security trade always respects new devices
from Alarm.com, and this appears to be no
disappointment. When away, the Water Dragon
is designed to internally detect whole-house leaks
and notify accordingly. Small leaks when at home
will notify customers but not shut off in order to
avoid any untimely interruption. Temperature
monitoring will notify homeowners in cases of
possible frozen pipes.
Th e Moen Flo Smart Monitor is designed to
similarly shut off the main water valve in cases
of pipe leakage. It will also do a nightly audit of
the water system to pick up on any irregularities.
As you can imagine with any water fl ow device,
leak time is of the essence to you customers. Automatic
shutoff features can fi ll that bill. Th e drawback
of spot water sensors is no one really knows
for sure where that next home water leak will be.
Th at's why I think that the valve sensor combination
units are worth a serious look. Both systems
have smartphone apps that allow the customer to
keep tabs on daily water usage and alerts.
securitysales.com
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