Expertise: Water Damage Remediation

Water damage affects nearly 14,000 people in the U.S every day and research shows that overflowing toilets, clogged toilets, faulty fill valves, aged gaskets and failing plastic parts have caused over hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs. That could mean anything from new flooring to new Sheetrock, new finishes, mold remediation—and possibly even owner displacement while repairs are ongoing. All of this could lead to rising insurance premiums and unnecessary stress for homeowners and tenants.

There are several ways to avoid water damage, however, and aquaHALT is one of the most affordable and effective water sensors on the market. It is designed and patented to help lower insurance premiums and prevent water damage within your home, rental, condominium, co-op or investment property.

House & Home spoke with aquaHALT founder Greg Capizzi to learn more about the importance of installing a leak detection system.

What does aquaHALT provide to its consumers?
aquaHALT is the first battery-operated, automatic shut-off valve for toilet bowls. When water is detected around the toilet bowl, the aquaHALT will close the water supply valve at the source without disrupting the rest of the home, building or fixtures in the unit.

It provides a sense of assurance and it is a top-quality product. We provide a product that has everything you need and if water is detected on the floor, the source is turned off immediately. It is that simple. aquaHALT was designed to install it and forget about it. With our busy lifestyles, we do not need another app to worry about regarding the possibility of a leak.

Can aquaHALT be installed on other fixtures in the house?
aquaHALT was designed and patented specifically for toilet bowls. Current research shows that most water leaks in a household are from toilet floods and/or washing machines that do not have a water sensor device installed. Washing machines have a local power source, so it makes the most sense to have a hardwired electronic device installed for a washing machine. Since toilet bowls do not have a local power source, we wanted to provide a battery-operated device that could work for such an application.

How does aquaHALT compare to other water detection systems?
There are a couple of different water-sensing devices out there, which all operate in their own function. There are water-sensing devices that are installed on the main water lines for your home. Once activated they turn off the entire house. Such devices are costly and sometimes come with a yearly subscription since they are connected to an app for your phone. Most are Wi-Fi based and communication could be an issue since Wi-Fi is not a stable source for detecting leaks.

Water-sensing devices that are Wi-Fi based only send a notification. These systems cost much less, and have battery-operated sensors that are placed all over the house. Once activated they send a signal to the main unit, in turn sending an alert. So, these systems are sending you an alert while water is constantly flowing, creating more and more damage. Hopefully, you even get that alert since Wi-Fi is not a stable source for communicating.

aquaHALT is a DIY water-sensing device since a plumber or electrician is not required. It is battery operated and gets installed right behind the toilet bowl, below the toilet tank. The device can be installed in such a way that it is barely seen upon approach. It has a hardwired sensor to ensure a leak will be detected and stopped. It is non-invasive and is installed with 3M double-sided tape. Once the device is activated it will beep until it is physically reset. The device comes with all that is needed—an extra stainless steel water line, wired sensor and batteries.

aquaHALT by Water Automation
(732) 631-3225
WaterAutomation.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 23, Issue 3 (Spring 2023). 
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