Glentronics, Inc. BWD-HWA Basement Watchdog Water Sensor and Alarm

Product Details

Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
ASIN: B000JOK11K
Item model number: BWD-HWA

By : Glentronics
List Price : ~~$19.95~~
Price : $12.68
You Save : $7.27 (36%)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Reduce the risk of water harm with this early warning technique For installation in sump pits or close to regions requiring water monitoring like hot water heaters, air conditioners, washing machines or beneath sinks. Calls for a 9-volt battery (Sold separately). Solid state circuitry is very sensitive and reliable. Detects water only 1/32-Inch deep when the alarm is placed on the floor. The Sensor has a 6-foot wire so it can be extended into a sump pit, or mounted on a wall and stretched to a different location. (Accommodates the addition of even more than 100 feet of wire, if needed). Loud 110dB alarm can be heard throughout the property. Battery-saver feature keeps batteries fresh longer. for 24 to 48 months
Water damage is 1 of the key ways that the value of a house can be diminished. Accidents will take place! Water heaters break down and water pours out, washing machines overflow, pipes put on thin and leak - and when these items take place, water will begin to destroy your house. Probably the most dangerous aspect of water damage is that it can happen with almost no sound - you could not know you have a leak until your basement is flooded! Now, you can reduce the risk of water damage with this Water Alarm. The Water Alarm needs only a 9-volt battery (battery not included), and when placed on the floor it can detect water that is only 1/32"deep! This is thanks to solid state circuitry which is highly reliable. The Water Alarm also has a 6-foot sensor wire, so that you can extend it into a sump pump, or simply mount it on a wall to stretch it to a different location. Plus, up to an further 200 feet of wire can readily be spliced in to produce extra length. When the Water Alarm detects water it emits a loud 110 decibel alarm (as loud as most automobile horns)! And do not worry that you will miss this alarm if you are out of the property when water is very first detected - the Water Alarm will sound continuously for 2-3 days (based on current battery life). Give consideration to one for the basement, one for the kitchen, the bathroom, or anywhere that water could possibly turn out to be a hazard. Maintain your property secure and secure with the Water Alarm. Assembly level/degree of difficulty: No Assembly Necessary.

Technical Details

Requires a 9-volt alkaline battery (not included)
Battery-saver feature only uses energy when the alarm is sounding for a long battery life
Use to detect leaks before costly water damage is caused
Detects as little as 1/32 -Inch of water to offer an effective early warning system
Loud 110 dB alarm can be heard throughout the house

Customer Reviews

A year ago I got into a bit of a "emergency preparedness" mode, and among other things, bought one of these devices, installed it in my water heater pan and then forgot all about it.
At 12:30 a.m. a couple of nights ago, an alarm began ringing. I had no idea what it was, except that it wasn't a smoke detector (not as loud as that) but after wandering around the house for a bit, I followed the sound to the basement and found a small amount of water in the water heater pan. The alarm turned off as soon as I pulled the sensors out of the water.
It was soon obvious this was no small leak. Over the next 12 hours until we got the water heater replaced, we easily bailed 30 or more gallons of water out of the bin we placed to catch the overflow from the pan.
Had the alarm not sounded, it could have been 24 hours or more before the leak was noticed. The basement storage room where the water heater is located, and the adjoining (carpeted) rec room would have been flooded, requiring a major effort to dry them out and damage/destruction of a number of items. Drying out the basement to prevent mold would have required the rental of some high-powered dehumidifiers (been there, done that).
This item did exactly what it was supposed to do. After reading some of the reviews indicating some lack of reliability, I may well install a couple of extras in the basement as backup, and putting some in other locations, such as under/near the washing machine, under sinks, and under the dishwasher, seems like a good idea.
Important tip learned during the water heater replacement:
The expansion tank intalled with the water heater has a shorter life span than the heater itself, and when it fails, the pressure from expansion of heating water then causes damage to the water heater tank itself, shortening its life. To test whether the expansion tank has failed, tap along the side of the tank starting from the bottom. There should be a noticeable change of pitch between the bottom (which contains the bladder full of water) and the top, which should contain air. If it sounds the same all the way up, the bladder has failed and the entire expansion tank has filled with water, preventing it from doing its job of relieving pressure in the water heater tank. Replacing the expansion tank is much cheaper than replacing both it and the heater, and may keep your heater going for years longer.

I installed this in my sump pump basin. Over the winter condensation collected to the extent that it set off the alarm. This happened twice. The contacts should have been designed to dangle separately from a support. The support collected the moisture causing the two contacts to complete the alarm's circuit.
There is no switch to turn off the alarm - so while it is screaming LOUDLY you have to take the battery out. I don't know why it didn't stop after I dried the moisture from the contacts.