Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | May 29, 2002 08:00pm | #1

   Do a net search for "flow fuse".

2. 
   BillHartmann | May 29, 2002 08:43pm | #2

   There are water detectors that will shut off the watter to the house.

   But there is a simplier system. It is make by some of the same people that make the washer faucet/drain boxs and valves.

   It consists of a pair of solenoid valves and a controller. You plug the washer into the controller. So that when the washer is running it turns on the water to the washer.

   Watts is one brand

   https://www.wattsind.com/watts/showprod.cfm?&DID=9&User_ID=42505&st=2715&st2=-82542784&st3=49732876&CATID=61&ObjectGroup_ID=245

1. 
   UncleDunc | May 29, 2002 09:11pm | #4

   Both of these ideas make sense, but I don't like critical systems that depend on grid power. I wouldn't use a pellet stove for backup heat, and I wouldn't own a gas water heater with electronic ignition. I know they save money over a pilot light model, but I would find it extemely annoying to have water and gas pressure and still not be able to take a hot shower because the electricity was out. It happened to a friend of mine in an ice storm. Gas and water worked, but no hot water for a week.

   Mechanical systems also fail, but where I live (Boulder, CO), the electricity is notoriously unreliable. If I were worried about burst pipes, I would install two flow fuses (from different manufactureres) and a test valve.

   I've started turning the water off in my house when I'm going out of town.

2. 
   4Lorn1 | May 30, 2002 03:54pm | #9

   Cool device. Thanks for the link. Once I found out I could find the information without having to sign in, Duh, I found it very helpful.

   As I read the specs these units will default closed, valves will close or remain closed, without power. Makes sense. Without power I don't think the washer will need any water anyway. I don't understand the comment on using several units from differing manufacturer.

   I might additionally turn off the manual valves to the washer, assuming I remember to, if I went on vacation but that would be as much redundancy as I think I could stand. Too many hazards. Too little money.I could see myself getting frustrated and calling a plumber, after tearing up the plumbing trying to find out why my automatic flow valves were not working. The plumber would calmly open the manual valves I closed and present me a bill. Doh. I see the electrical equivalent of this, tripped GFIs, on a regular basis.

1. 
   UncleDunc | May 31, 2002 01:43am | #10

   >> I don't understand the comment on using several units from differing manufacturer.

   Sorry. I tred to be brief and ended up being cryptic.

   The valves I was suggesting, the flow fuses, are purely mechinical. They are normally open and close only when they detect too much water going through. If you installed one and didn't include a way to test it, and it failed in the open position, you'd never know it until you came home to a basement full of water. The reason I suggested putting a test tap just downstream from the flow fuses is because it would be more convenient to test that way than going around the house to turning on all the faucets.

   If you bought two of them from the same manufacturer, they would probably be from the same lot and if it was a bad lot, would presumably be equally likely to fail. If you got two from different manufacturers, assuming reasonable reliability to start with, the probablility of both of them failing in the open position would be vanishingly small. (That also assumes the failure isn't caused by some really unusual mineral condition in the water that would affect all valves.)

   As you noted, a solenoid valve that defaults to closed when the power is off won't prevent you from using the washer, but if it fails in the open position, it also won't prevent the flood.

   Edited 5/30/2002 8:08:25 PM ET by Uncle Dunc

3. 
   JohnSprung | May 29, 2002 08:53pm | #3

   I just put a pair of valves right above where the machine goes.  Turn them on to use it, turn them off when you're done.

   -- J.S.

1. 
   UncleDunc | May 29, 2002 09:13pm | #5

   You can even get special valves that do the hot and cold both with a single lever.

4. 
   KCPLG | May 30, 2002 05:02am | #6

   An option I install on a lot of homes is a normally closed solenoid valve on the main water so you can turn the water on or off from a conveniently located switch or hooked up in conjunction with your alarm system so when you set the alarm to away or unoccupied the water goes off. You need to plumb this with a bypass as the valve closes when the power is off.

1. 
   jacek | May 30, 2002 05:21am | #7

   Thanks KC and all for a quick reply and some great sugestions.

   I am a newby on this forum and I am very pleased to find the builder/architectural community so very vibrant and helpful.

   Looking forward to tapping in to the collective knowledge in the future.

   Jacek

1. 
   MikeR | May 30, 2002 06:46am | #8

   I just installed a FloLogic in my new home as I found it to offer the best of all features as far as flood prevention is concerned.  They're not cheap but neither is a flooded house.

   No, I'm not a salesman, just really happy with this unique product.

   I think it might be http://www.flologic.com ?

   Mike Rimoldi

5. 
   bikerXski | Jun 05, 2002 12:23am | #11

   Being an electrician, industrial, first and a wannabe nail bender second, I built a system. Have a well pump that can be shut off using a contactor. We have cheap "Curtis" boards where I work. They sense conductivity and trip a relay. Can set sensitivity.  Used old 300 ohm (remember that?) antenna wire stripped about every foot for sensing wire. Installed under basement baseboard. Has saved a couple floods already. If you can find a low voltage conductivity sensing board cheap, a system with a valve for city. or shutting the pump off like mine, is cheap. Only need to find an old industrial electrician with time on his hands.

1. 
   Rein_ | Jun 05, 2002 06:50am | #12

   Simple solution: braided hoses.

   If the washer fails and leaks, flow detectors won't know anyway. Braided hoses are less likely to fail over time. Fix the problem at the source.

1. 
   bikerXski | Jun 27, 2002 11:47pm | #13

   duh, run a leg of sensor wire under washer and any other possible leak, like water heater, dish washer. Braided is good, but anything can fail. Like the solonoid valves that let water into the washer sticking open. Seen that, braided hose will not help.