USE SIMPLESENSE TO DETECT LEAKS. USE SIMPLE SENSE TO AVOID THEM.

The purpose of our SimpleSENCE Water Leak and Freeze Detector is, well, simple: To identify water leaks in places not immediately visible – areas that do not come under your gaze on a regular basis. This includes the areas under sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms; next to the hot water heater; near pipes up in the attic, and more. The damage that can be caused from even a slow-dripping water leak can be catastrophic. That’s why SimpleSENCE was devised to catch them as early as possible.

Of course, what’s even better than detecting water leaks is avoiding them in the first place. Don’t get us wrong – we firmly believe that having our SimpleSENCE detectors strategically placed around the house is an idea that certainly holds water (we couldn’t resist). You can view them as insurance; you hope you never need them, but if a leak were to happen, you’d be mightly glad they were there.

Part of avoiding water leaks is avoidng the myths surrounding how leaks occur in the first place. So, in the interest of leak prevention, let’s see if we can bust a few myths regarding leaky pipes and how they can be caused.

Myth: If things keep going down my drain, it isn’t getting clogged.  

This is a commonly held misconception. Early signs of a clog include a slow-moving drain and waste fragments that remain on the discharge pipe. Blockages don’t occur all at once. It takes time for things to build up inside the pipes. Even a partially clogged drain can lead to a busted pipe. Make sure you’re treating your drains well by using hair catchers over the shower drain and filling the basin with water before you drain it.

Myth: You can always trust your water pressure regulator.

Not necessarily. While the water pressure regulator can provide vital information about the pressure in your home, you’re better off checking the pressure yourself. If the water pressure gets too high, it can cause flooding, a running toilet and, of course, leaks. You can read the regulator now and then as a backup, but nothing is better than what your own eyes tell you.

Myth: Leaks cannot be caused by your house shifting.

Believe it or not, the natural shifting of your house’s foundation can play a significant role in leak creation. The shifting causes the joints in your house’s plumbing to loosen and sometimes even completely separate, causing water leakage. It may be only a drop or two every minute, but over time this causes major damage to your house. Unless you have superhuman strength to stop your house’s foundation from shifting, you can’t do much about this one. Mostly, just be aware that this can happen – and make sure you have SimpleSENCE units all around the house, acting as your aquatic guardians.

Myth: It’s safe to flush baby wipes down the toilet if they claim to be flushable.

Flushing one or two wipes may be okay, but too many wipes can create a stubborn clog in your pipes. If you flush several wipes during a day, there isn’t enough time for each one to disintegrate - which can lead to burst or leaky pipes. Our advice? Just throw them in the garbage, regardless of the claims on the box.

Myth: Commercial drain cleaners are safe to use on a clog.

Yes and no. Many of the drain cleaners on the market contain chemicals that can erode your pipes, causing leaks or worse. However, using these products sparingly can be OK. Before immediately turning to one of these drain cleaners, try to unclog the pipe or drain yourself with a plumbing snake or even a wire hanger. Turn to the drain cleaner as a last resort – but try to avoid the ones that contain harsh, corrosive chemicals that can do more harm than good, like lye, hydrochloric acid and trichloroethane.

 

Myth: If the plumber says a leak is fixed, it’s fixed.

If you have a plumber fix a leak – particularly in an area that isn’t in plain view – you should check his or her work a few hours later to ensure the leak is fixed. Then check again a day or two later to make doubly sure there are no issues. Look, we’re not here to impugn the reputation or ability of any professional plumber. But we all have stories of contractors who didn’t quite fix something the way they were supposed to. Just consider this a peace-of-mind tactic - if it’s fixed, you’ll know for sure; if it isn’t, you can be saving yourself a lot of headaches and money down the road.

 There is a boatload of myths that demand to be dispelled; these are only a few of the most obvious. If you do a search on “plumbing myths,” you’ll find hundreds more. The point of them all is simply this: prevention of water leaks is the best way to avoid water damage, expensive repairs, and disruption of your life. But even if you take every preventive measure ever devised, you can still spring a leak. That’s where we come in.