What is a water detector?

A water detector is a small electronic device that is designed to detect the presence of water and alert humans in time to allow the prevention of water damage. A common design is a small device that lays flat on a floor and relies on the electrical conductivity of water to decrease the resistance across two contacts. A battery then sounds an audible alarm in the presence of enough water to bridge the contacts. These are useful in a normally occupied area near any appliance that has the potential to leak water, such as a washing machine, refrigerator with icemaker, dehumidifier, air conditioner, or water heater.

Key benefits of having a water leak detector

  • protect your home, assets, and heirlooms
  • peace-of-mind
  • lower insurance premiums
  • prevents loss of claims free insurance discounts and higher deductibles/premiums in subsequent years due to water damage claim

Common sources of residential water leaks:

  • Water heater
  • Toilet tank crack
  • Washing machine hose rupture
  • Faulty or frozen plumbing lines
  • Refrigerator icemakers
  • Dishwashers
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Unnoticed plumbing pipe damage during renovations

Flooding Advice – Steps To Take

Advice from the Environment Agency

  • Keep a list of useful numbers to hand e.g.: your local council, the emergency services, your insurance company and Floodline.
  • Have a few sandbags or floorboards prepared to block doorways and air bricks.
  • Make up a Flood Kit, including a torch, blankets, waterproof clothing, wellingtons, a portable radio, first aid kit, rubber gloves and key personal documents. Keep it upstairs, if possible.
  • Talk about possible flooding with your family or those you live with. Consider writing a Flood Plan, and store these notes with your Flood Kit.
  • Make sure you know where to turn off your gas and electricity.
  • What about your pets? Where will you move them to if a flood is on the way?
  • Think about your car. Where could you move it to in the event of a Flood Warning?
  • Get into the habit of storing valuable or sentimental personal belongings upstairs or in a high place downstairs.
  • Think about medication. In the event of a flood, you will still need to take it.

Flooding – Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

  • Do wash your hands with soap and clean water after going to the toilet, before eating or preparing food and after being in contact with floodwater.
  • Do wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water several times particularly in the kitchen, until visually clean. Now use a food-safe disinfectant
  • Do ensure that any cuts or sores are protected with a waterproof dressing, from floodwater.
  • Do contact your Doctor if you become ill after accidentally swallowing mud or contaminated water.
  • Do ensure that floodwater containing oil, diesel etc is removed, by washing down the affected area with a detergent solution.
  • Do remove any coverings on airbricks, doors and windows as ventilation is essential to drywall cavities and voids
  • Do ensure that the house is properly aired to encourage drying and restrict mould growth
  • Do hot wash clothing, bedding and other soft/fabric articles including children’s toys etc (60°C or the highest temperature indicated on the manufacturer’s instructions). Large soft furnishings need professional cleaning
  • Do replace any manhole covers dislodged by the flood
  • Do remove any sandbags to weigh down manhole covers and plugs to sinks and baths
  • Do remove sandbag(s) from toilet bowl(s)
  • Do remove all outlet pluggings to washing machine and dishwasher
  • Do thoroughly wash all crockery, pots and pans and cutlery in very hot soapy water before their use. Use a food-safe disinfectant to sanitise them after washing.
  • Do ensure the water taps are cleaned and disinfected before using them for the first time.
  • Do put contaminated flood-damaged food in two black refuse sacks, seal effectively, and put out when your next refuse collection is due.

Don’ts

  • Don’t re-connect or switch on gas, electrical appliances or water pipes, which have been in contact with floodwater until a competent person has checked them.
  • Don’t eat any food that has been covered by or come into contact with sewage or floodwater.
  • Don’t use frozen food that has been at ambient temperature for a few hours or damaged/contaminated food.
  • Don’t allow children to play in floodwater areas and wash children’s hands frequently (always before meals). Wash floodwater-contaminated toys with hot water and disinfect them before allowing them to be used.
  • Don’t let young children play on affected grassed or paved areas until they have been cleaned down and restored to their normal condition.
  • Don’t use bottled water for bottle-fed babies, unless it is recommended by a doctor or health visitor. Boiled tap water should be safe to drink provided it is not grossly contaminated.
  • Don’t let very young children play directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floorings: possible sharp edges from boards, tiles, and flood debris

UK Fire Supplies is a trading name of ElectroFire Group Ltd. and offers the supply of fire safety products such as Fire Extinguishers and Fire Blankets

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