A good leak protection system must be able to identify all possible damage cases in reasonable time. Damage cases can be of very different types and occur with very different probability.
Typical damage cases are:
- Over the years, a metal pipe rusts from the inside. The rusted area only has a small orifice where only a few drops of water escape. Since the metal pipes are mostly installed in the wall or on riser manholes, no one notices the small defect. Due to further corrosion, the orifice widens, and the entire wall is moistened. If the damage is visible to the owner, it is usually too late.
- There is more frequent damage around the sinks. The flexible hoses between the corner valve and faucet leaks, the corner valves can tear off due to thermal and mechanical stress.
- Water from the washing sink can get under the wash basin due to overflows or simple flooding.
- The connection between pipe segments is realized by mechanical coupling elements, so-called ‘fittings. Depending on the connection technology used, the soldering or pressing points on the fittings can tear off. This quickly leads to a considerable leak of water.
- Installations such as boilers, water storage tanks, instantaneous water heaters or filters connected to the drinking water can leak. Water escapes at connection points or by simply rusting through the outer wall of the installation equipment.
- A jammed toilet flush does not leak water. However, good leakage protection will recognize this malfunction and warn against unnecessary waste of water.
Effective leakage protection systems must detect all these cases and even more using suitable sensors or a combination of sensors. The following five principal damage events play a role:
1. The sudden leakage of a lot of water by tearing off a pipe or other installation.
2. The unusually long leakage of water due to a normal size leak.
3. The permanent leakage of very little water through a so-called micro leak.
4. The overflow of water from the sink / bathtub due to misconduct by the residents.
5. Unusual water withdrawal, for example from a jammed toilet.