Picture this: You are a homeowner, and like every other responsible home owner, you have homeowners’ insurance. It’s time to renew your policy. However, this time around, your home insurance company has sent you a letter, stipulating that your home needs a water leak detection device with an automatic shut off in order for you to keep your home insured. Consider all the questions you might have. What is this device? Why do you need it? How much does it cost? These are all important questions, whether this project was an unforeseen insurance requirement, or one you decided was a good investment for your home.
What Is an Automatic Leak Detector?
Just like their name suggests, automatic water leak detectors (like the Flo by Moen) are electronic devices that automatically detect pressurized water leaks occurring in your plumbing system. They are installed on your incoming main water line riser, where your pressure regulator and whole home shut off valve should be located and should be accessible. Once plugged in and synced with an app on a smart phone or device, these devices will monitor all water leaving the system and automatically shut water off if a leak is detected – outside of your normal water using habits, or if the leak is constant. It will send you a notification, alerting you of the water loss AND will also allow you to shut the water off to your home from your smart device remotely, giving you the power to stop a potential disaster that would otherwise be unknown to you, and outside of your control.
Why Automatic Leak Detectors Are Needed
The largest cost an insurance company faces is the damage caused by water leaks – especially those that happen suddenly and continue to happen without warning. In attempt to battle this, insurance companies are now beginning to require that every insured house under their policy has some sort of automatic water shut off and leak detector to protect it. This is where the letter you may have received comes into play: They are notifying you that you will need to install this automatic leak detector and water shut off as an added line of defense of your home and policy. A device like the Moen Flo can save thousands of dollars in water damage, not to mention the headache of having your home (and life) ripped apart and rebuilt.
Discussing and Understanding Cost
The biggest and most pertinent question for a homeowner that must do a home project is always cost – especially those projects that are unplanned and unforeseen. There are several factors to consider when installing a Moen Flo on your main service riser:
- The size of your water main riser
- Location/space needed to install the unit
- Condition of the existing plumbing.
Size
Your water main will be a certain size, based on how large of a home and how many fixtures you have. These sizes range from ¾” pipe, up to 1 ¼” piping, with the price of materials increasing with each size increase of pipe.
Location & Space
Location of your water service is important. Most service risers are accessible, but can sometimes be in hard-to-reach areas, covered, or buried. Moen Flo Devices need to be accessible, which may require some extra work on your existing water main. These devices will also occupy their own space on your service riser when installed, and that is determined by all of the old, existing fittings and piping.
Condition
The condition of the existing plumbing plays a key role in the installation of your Moen Flo. More often then not, cutting, reworking, and touching your existing pressure regulator, shut off valve, or copper can open a can of worms. Its often best to install a new service riser to accommodate your new and much needed leak detection device, which will also affect the price. Not to mention: A Moen Flo device needs a working pressure regulation device installed before it, per the manufacturer’s specifications.
Understanding these factors that affect your price can help avoid a lot of confusion when presented with the estimate to have your Moen Flo installed. These estimates can range from approximately $1,000 for a fairly straightforward installation, and can cost as much as $4400 for larger piping or more in-depth installations, by a professional, licensed plumbing company. Our technicians at Guardian Plumbing are well versed experts on installing these devices. Give us a call for a free estimate today!