Water leak sensors are vital for commercial building owners to ensure their facility is protected from water damage. The longer a water leak in a commercial building goes undetected, the more damage occurs.
But where exactly are these sensors placed or installed?
This article covers everything you should know about the best location for leak sensors in commercial buildings. We also provide information on sensors you can easily install to protect your commercial space.
What Are The Best Locations for Leak Sensors in Commercial Buildings
The best locations for leak sensors in commercial buildings are in areas that are less seen by your tenants. Examples of this would be near the pipes under your sinks, within utility closets, and in basements.
Areas with higher foot traffic tend to have a high self-reporting rate for most common leaks. That being said, you will want to have leak sensors in these areas too. This ensures that your building is protected even when the building is out of use (such as on holidays).
The best locations for leak sensors in commercial buildings are:
In bathrooms
Near faucets and drinking fountains
Basements
Plumbing and HVAC access points
In Utility Rooms
Around ice machines
In Building Amenity Areas
In Bathrooms
Toilets in commercial buildings, particularly ones with public restrooms, are frequently used. As a result, there is more tear and wear on toilets than you would expect from other types of plumbing in commercial buildings.
Bathrooms are also at a high risk of flooding due to sinks. In addition to normal wear and tear, sinks in high-traffic areas are also prone to damage due to physical obstructions. As most bathroom sinks utilize an S-shaped pipe, it is easier for water leaks to occur.
A leaking toilet may seem manageable as the malfunctioning parts are inexpensive and easy to replace. However, if the leakage is neglected, it can result in significant long-term water loss, damage to other toilet components, and increased water bills.
Near Faucets and Drinking Fountains
Leaky faucets are common and often neglected problems in commercial buildings. Similarly to toilet leaks, they are generally caused by damaged or worn components.
Faucets and drinking fountains located in break rooms or office snack spaces are particularly at risk for leaks related to misuse. From food debris to accidental tampering, these high-risk areas are most likely to cause large-scale damage.
Even coffee machines may be hooked up to a water faucet can cause significant damage unexpectedly!
Basements
Leaks in basements can come from a variety of sources. Often, key building equipment is hidden in the basement and is the most likely cause of ongoing leaks.
Sometimes the leak can come from outside. This is particularly true if your basement has a ground-level access point, such as a window. In these instances, water overflow is often a concern due to potential contaminants.
Therefore, if any exposed piping is running through the basement, the Moreover, underneath the basement windows are a perfect location to place water leak sensors if there are window wells.
Plumbing and HVAC Access Points
While it can be challenging to detect leaks that start within walls, there are still ways you can use smart water sensors to monitor the areas where you suspect these leaks may take place.
One common area to monitor is the plumbing access points and around your HVAC systems. This, combined with regular maintenance, can help you prevent water leaks in commercial buildings.
In older buildings, the indoor plumbing access point is often referred to as a House Trap. If your multi-family home was built before 1989, then you may be in particular need of monitoring devices.
In Utility Rooms
Utility rooms are often located in storage spaces, closets, and basements. As with most low-foot-traffic areas, that means these spaces are less likely to have visual reporting from tenants.
Even worse, these areas tend to have utility sinks or even showers. While these are typically industrial sinks that can handle more debris and use than typical sinks, they are also more likely to have to contain contaminated waste water in the event of a water leak.
Around Ice Machines
Ice machines are an often overlooked water source, particularly in commercial buildings like hotels, retail store break rooms, or commercial kitchens.
Ice machine locations tend to be in areas less frequented and therefore can be easy to miss. Sometimes they are paced in their own "vending closet", which makes them hard to monitor visually by cameras as well. More often, they are tucked away in storage spaces and backrooms that have light foot traffic.
Ice machines are often left running around the clock, including through the night and over holiday weekends. This is why ice machines should be a top priority for placing leak sensors!
In Building Amenity Areas
The building amenity areas are high-risk areas inside commercial buildings where water leaks can cause massive damage to the entire building. Such amenities include gyms, party rooms, etc.
Placing leak sensors strategically near appliances and fixtures in these areas helps eliminate the risk of water leaks.
Therefore, you avoid relying on daily walkthroughs to report anomalies or problems when you can install leak sensors that have 24/7 monitoring.
Leak Sensors For Commercial Buildings
Commercial leak sensors are different from regular ones. For instance, they are stronger and have longer battery life. They can also operate within a system of sensors, giving you comprehensive insights into your building.
We have highlighted some details about our two most popular water leak sensors, the Droplet Duo™ and Droplet Pro™. However, you may want to check our article on the best water leak sensors for more detailed information.
Droplet Duo™
The Droplet Duo™ is one of our favorite sensors. This dual probe sensor has 3M adhesive pads for secure surface attachment.
Its transmitter sends a notification to your email, text, or phone call when it detects a water leak.
Droplet Pro™
The Droplet Pro™ is another top option for commercial building leak sensors. Its body includes internal magnets that allow the unit to be mounted to iron surfaces like equipment and beams.
With sensing capabilities along the length of its 3-meter-long cord, you are able to cover a large surface area with this leak sensor!
Final Thoughts on Leak Sensor Locations in Commercial Buildings
Leak detection is vital to protecting your commercial building from damage caused by water leaks. By installing leak sensors in the right places, you can be sure that your commercial building is safe from water leaks.
Considering your building's foot traffic, visibility, and various potential leak points can help you determine how many sensors you will need to prevent major damage in your building.
If you need help determining what locations in your commercial building may benefit the most from having water leak sensors, please reach out to us at contact@perceptivethings.com. Our team is happy to help you!
Do you have leak sensors in your commercial building? We would love to know where you installed them via the comments section below.
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