Wireless Technology Makes Building Leak Detection More Affordable and Efficient

Jerry Kestenbaum, Founder, Aware Buildings

Whether it’s broken pipes or a leaky roof, water infiltration can lead to expensive repairs and increased insurance premiums if it isn’t detected before leaks escalate. Until recently, monitoring and preventing these leaks required costly sensor systems, putting them out of reach for some co-ops and condos. Now, wireless technology — specifically a system known as LoRaWAN — is making such monitoring more affordable. 

How it works. Unlike traditional wireless systems that use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, LoRaWAN operates in a lower radio-frequency range that enables it to penetrate walls (even those with steel inside, which are common in New York City buildings) and produce long-range, reliable signals. Essentially, “it sends out small data packets — just enough to report a temperature or a humidity level that can indicate leaks — but it’s incredibly stable over long distances,” says Jerry Kestenbaum, founder of Aware Buildings. 

With the new technology, sensors can be installed in buildings without the need for extensive rewiring. “Let’s say you’re putting two or three sensors inside each apartment under air conditioning units, behind refrigerators or in bathroom rooms, as well as in mechanical rooms or on the roof,” he says. “In a 150-unit building,that adds up more than 450 different locations. We would install five to ten gateway hubs, which are these little 5” x 5” boxes, strategically throughout the building, the sensors send signals to them, and the data is relayed to the Cloud, which sends an alert to our server.”

Communication chain. At that point, Aware sends alerts to the building manager or front desk staff by email, text and automated calls. “We can also trigger a loudspeaker alert on their computers, saying, ‘Attention, attention: a leak has been detected on the 7th floor,’” Kestenbaum explains. “People can click to confirm that they’re responding to the situation, and if they don’t we keep sending reminders or escalate the message to a higher priority.” In addition to detecting interior leaks, the sensors can also be installed outside buildings near storm-water drainage systems, which can be an invaluable aid for co-ops or condos in flood-prone areas. 

Added benefit. Leak detection systems can also help lower insurance premiums in today’s punishing market. Leaks are one of the most common claims, and insurance companies, which don’t like unpredictable risks, have been raising deductibles and premiums and dropping clients. “But even if you’ve had leaks, installing a detection system will show you’re actively preventing water infiltration damage with wireless technology,” he says. That, in turn, can improve your loss record, making it more likely to get lower rates in the long run. “And if your insurance company drops you and you have to find another company, you’ll be in a much stronger position.”