“Easy to install. Directions semi-clear. So far works as advertised, but I'll know for sure when my hot water heater fails. Note that the valve is female-female, so if you hook a flex hose to it, you'll need a male/male connecting pipe.”
“This is an inexpensive insurance policy to hopefully stop a potential flood due to a hot water tank leak. Can you imagine what it would cost if your basement flooded? I’ve decided to put this next to the hot water tank and not in the drip tray under the tank because it also serves as an alarm if the sump pump was to fail, allowing water to back up in the basement; the sensor would sound alerting us that there is a problem. Installation was easy for me; I just had to tap into the main “PEX” water line and followed the instructions.”
“- Full port brass ball valve - Easy to remove the actuator from the valve for installation/service - Sensors can be daisy chained, can buy more sensors but they have to be wired together so for a big house impractical. - My next step is to add this to the home automation system, with an output module in parallel with the existing sensor which will short the sensor out and indicate a leak. This will allow for more Z-Wave, etc. sensors to be used to shut off the valve. Will also be able to control from phone, computer, etc., if desired. - There are NO/NC outputs available to tie into another device be it a siren or HA system. They are rated for 2.1A 24V, so in theory if you used this at a water heater you could actually have it pull AC power to the water heater through a relay so that the water heater wouldn’t dry-fire if the water is shut off for any reason. - There is a knob to manually override the valve. - The valve has a lot of stiction out of the box, hopefully with time and water this loosens up so it's easier to actuate both by hand and through the motor. - Battery backup is a nice feature so even if power goes out can still close valve without need for some external UPS. - AC adapter is universal input so can plug in anywhere. Manual only states 120VAC, wall wart says 100-240VAC 50-60Hz - Max shut off pressure is only 125 psi. Would be best to place behind a whole house regulator to make sure it will actually shut off when needed. - Easy wiring with connectors, screw terminals to secure wires. - The PCB has a spot for a second valve that is not populated with the connector or the corresponding components on the back of the PCB - Takes about 3 seconds to open/close. - Buzzer is ok but if it's hidden away in utility room might not hear it, but you will notice no water and then easily identify issue. - Sensor could come with some easy way to secure it. There are some holes but when you place it on the floor something that prevents it from moving would be nice. Sensor PCB is light and just the bend in the wiring can easily move it.”
“Second to a house fire, a major water leak is one of my biggest fears as a homeowner. Even though our hot water heater is in the basement and has the code-required drain pan that goes to a sump pump, it's almost ten years old, and I just don't see it being able to handle the full forty gallons of water that would come rushing out the bottom along with the cold water supply that would keep feeding it from a 3/4\ supply line. Shutting off the water supply is critically important if you want to prevent water damage”
“This is well worth the peace of mind that you get along with it being cheap insurance to keep your space dry and it’s from a brand you can trust. My brother has more acidity in his water and experienced a failed water heater that filled his basement with 3 inches of water. Now I am installing this in my home to prevent such a thing from happening to my family. The controls work well and allow you to use either a wired connection via a power supply you plug in or battery power should you not have an outlet nearby. Keep in mind, you need to check the battery life periodically to prevent a failure. While most homes these days have had plumbing pipes updated, the weak link remains at the water heater and this easy install shut off valve is something everyone should have if you have 3/4” or smaller cold water lines running into the water heater. Get yourself some cheap insurance from a brand you can trust.”
