What Is a Whole House Shutdown Valve?
An automatic water shutdown valve is a device that prevents the damage to your house from the water leaks. It can detect the leak by monitoring the flow of water in the pipes or by noticing the water on the floor. If the flow is not normal, the system will trigger the valve that will stop the supply of water completely. There are two types of the whole house shutdown valve:- Moisture Sensor Automatic Water Shutoff Systems. They rely on moisture pucks that you scatter around your house. If water comes in contact with these pucks, the system will alert you and/or shut-off your water. To be protected you’d need around 10 or more of those moisture pucks around the house, particularly in the bathrooms, near the water heater, dishwasher, etc.
- Whole House Flow Based Leak Detection Systems with Automatic Water Shutoffs shut-off your water based on continuous flow. For instance, if it will detect that the water is running for 20 or more minutes, it will shut off the water supply. These systems help you catch minor leaks that mainly damage your water bill — like leaky faucets or toilets. However this system also protects you from the catastrophic leaks that can severely damage your house — such as broken pipes.