Water Leak Detection¶
Twelve leak sensors are installed under sinks and near HVAC equipment throughout the house. They sit flat on the floor and activate the moment they touch standing water.
Where the Sensors Are¶
| Location | Floor |
|---|---|
| Kitchen — under the sink | 1 |
| Butler's kitchen — under the sink | 1 |
| Powder room | 1 |
| Laundry room — near the washing machine | 1 |
| Master bathroom — left sink | 2 |
| Master bathroom — right sink | 2 |
| 2nd floor hall bathroom — left sink | 2 |
| 2nd floor hall bathroom — right sink | 2 |
| Bedroom 3 — under the sink | 2 |
| Office — under the sink | 3 |
| 3rd floor furnace | 3 |
| Attic air handler | Attic |
What Happens When a Sensor Detects Water¶
Both phones receive an emergency alert immediately. The notification:
- Bypasses silent mode and Do Not Disturb — it will sound even if your phone is silenced
- Names the exact location ("Attic Air Handler is reporting water. Check immediately.")
- Appears as a persistent alert until dismissed
This is treated as an emergency because a leak that goes unnoticed for hours can cause major damage. The alert is designed to be impossible to sleep through.
When the sensor dries out, a follow-up "All Clear" notification is sent to both phones automatically.
What to Do¶
- Go check the location named in the alert — don't wait
- Look for an active drip, overflowing appliance, or standing water
- Turn off the water supply to that fixture if needed (shutoff valve under the sink, or main shutoff)
- For HVAC equipment (furnace, air handler): the drain pan under the unit is likely full — call HVAC service
- If it's a false alarm (condensation, spilled water), dry the sensor off — it will clear automatically once dry
The sensors reset automatically once they're no longer in contact with water. You don't need to do anything to re-arm them.
Sensor Notes¶
The sensors report their status every minute as part of normal operation — this is visible in the system logs but doesn't trigger any notifications unless water is actually detected. This is normal behavior and can be ignored.