Water shutoff sensor for DW (or other appliances)

15 years ago

Hi there,

Several months back, in a thread discussing dishwashers, an individual sought info about whether all Bosch DWs had the Aquastop feature, or whether other models had something similar. Aquastop is Bosch's trade name for their water sensor feature that shuts off the water when it senses a leak. Anyway, at the time, someone posted a response stating that it was possible to buy (I believe he said for about $5) a simple sensor/valve system that could be installed on any DW (and he recommended adding them to all plumbed applicances). Anyway, I cannot find the post (I've checked appliances, plumbing, and kitchens forums), or such an item on the internet (there is a $100 one from Smarthome). Does anyone out there know if this item exists, what it's called, and where to get it? THANKS!

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Comments (6)

User
15 years ago
The sensors are more than 5 bucks.

They are part of a system that sends info back to a valve on you main (or other) water supply and closes it when a fault is detected.

Some insurers give discounts for these systems.

Sensors are also available for hook up to your home alarm system to sound, or call central monitoring or just page you when a fault is detected.

Water Cop is probably the best known. Around $500 for a system. Stand alones just for Washing Machines are around $150.
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
Floodstop has been discussed on the kitchens forum a bit. If you google floodstop, you'll come up with several different companies. I don't know which is what. Igloochic was asking about them recently but I don't know if she's gotten to install them.
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llaatt22
15 years ago
Aqua-stop is one brand that has the main water line shutoff system. It's a few hundred plus installation.

Amazon has water leak detectors similar to smoke detectors - audible warning only for much less.
susanandmarkw
15 years ago
In our old home we had a small water leak from the ice maker's water line in our fridge--not enough water to see, but enough to damage our hardwood floor. So, this time, inspired by countless This Old House episodes, we got Floodstop products for other fridges' icemakers, our washing machine and both water heaters spending about $750 total (plus paid a plumber to install and an extra, ouch, $250 because they didn't do the washer set-up correctly the first time to accomodate the Floodstop) on all five systems which have an audible alarm AND are supposed to cut off the water if a leak is detected. My experience, maybe better in practice than in theory.

All five have had false alarms (bone dry, can't find any fault, still going off), which are an enormous pain, and the one time we did have water on the floor, from a leaking fridge, the alarm went off but the water valve didn't shut off as it was supposed to. When we received our new fridge (Whirlpool replacement) the installers said it would void our warranty to install the Floodstop. They could have been full of crap but once that built-in fridge was slid in and leveled, no way we were taking it out to install the Floodstop again (plus I was worried about the warranty issue) so that $100-$150 product is now sitting uselessly in our garage.

We're still using the washing machine and water heater models, as well as the one on our other fridge. They haven't gone off (knock on wood) in a while, so maybe all is well. The water heater units are fairly easy to reset, but because they're in our garage and an outside closet, respectively, you don't always hear the alarm until, oops, no hot water and when you go to see what's wrong you hear the alarm (one unit has done this once, the other twice).

-Susan W.
mando_p
15 years ago
I may have been the one that posted the original response about auto-shutoff valves. I don't recall writing that they were $5 though.

These devices, if set up right, are the cheapest and effective insurance against water damage in your home. I originally got mine my first washer kit from Smarthome EONS ago when the price was $60 or so. I see now that they are $130 or so. Still a cheap price to pay.

Oh, and my unit has actually "engaged" several times when my wife, still getting used to measuring the perfect amount of detergent for our then new FL washer, put too much detergent and caused an "over sudsing" condition. This triggered the unit and shut off the valves, as advertised.

We have a Miele dishwasher that has elaborate water leak detection system built in, that helped in sealing the deal on it's purchase.
mando_p
15 years ago
Oh...one other thing about the shut-off valves that we have...if power is lost (power outage, etc.), the valves automatically disengage (no water flow)...nice :)

Water shutoff sensor for DW (or other appliances)

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