Your home is probably one of the biggest investments you ever make. But even if you take precautions in making it a safe place to live — such as installing reliable door locks and carrying out routine maintenance — there’s a hazard that’s typically harder to anticipate: water damage.
One of the biggest challenges associated with it is how quickly a leak can fill a home with water. The problem often gets much worse if you’re out of town and can’t immediately turn off your abode’s main valve to stop the flow of water.
However, the Wally system has all those things in mind and offers technology to accommodate them. It senses leaks around your home and can turn off the main water supply valve after detecting them. Then, it sends a text message to you and anyone else on your approved list of contacts to let them know of a potential issue.
An Interconnected System
Installing Wally in your home is simple. It has a hub you can connect via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable and put in a central area of your residence. There are also small sensors you place around the home in any areas or rooms that could be prone to water leaks.
For example, you might put some near your washing machine and the kitchen sink, plus in all the bathrooms. In addition to being sensitive to water, the sensors also register readings of temperature and humidity.
Also, you connect the Wally sensors to your shutoff valve, which is a part of your water main. Rest assured, as long as you pair a sensor to the valve, it still operates even if you lose power and an internet connection in a home. The valve has four lithium batteries that work for up to four years, and the hub can run on a battery backup, too.
The valve automatically turns off the water supply to your home in seconds, actionably minimizing the extent of flooding. However, you can also activate the feature manually by pressing a button on the valve, or by using the complementing Wally Home app.
Wally also works with Alexa and IFTTT.
A Product You Can Afford
One of the questions you’re wondering about probably relates to price. You might be surprised that the Wally setup is very budget-friendly, and it’s easy to expand the system by buying more sensors as needed. The starter kit, which includes the hub and one sensor, is $99.99. Then, each additional sensor costs $34.99. Also, the water shutoff valve starts at $249.99 for the 3/4-inch size, which is the most common in modern homes.
You can set up the hub and sensors on your own in a few minutes. However, it’s recommended to hire a plumber to install the valve.
Water Damage Occurs in a Wide Variety of Ways
Before they deal with the effects of water problems in a home first-hand, many people don’t realize that excess water can cause far more complicated issues than just a soggy floor. It can reduce the structural integrity the home’s foundation, stimulate mold growth and permanently damage electricity-powered items.
It’s also important to realize how winter’s colder temperatures can cause water to seep into a residence. Think of the complications of large amounts of snow melting and the resultant liquid coming into an unprotected home. Don’t forget that water expands as it freezes, too, and that phenomenon can cause pipes to burst.
Avoid Extensive Damage With Professional Help
Although there are ways to prevent problems with your pipes in cold temperatures and reduce the probability of water damage in other ways, the Wally system gives you extra peace of mind. You can even sign up for Rapid Response, an optional, centralized monitoring service.
If a sensor detects a problem, a representative contacts you and helps figure out the severity of the issue, as well as the best way to handle it. If necessary, a certified plumber gets dispatched to your house for additional assistance.
The Wally system simplifies water damage protection in your home. There’s no need to invest in complicated or bulky accessories.
You can put the non-obtrusive sensors around your residence in all the places you think are at risk for flooding, then feel confident you’ve done something smart to limit the likelihood of a costly problem that could ruin your home.
Images provided by Wally Labs
