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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/4/2007 4:05:32 PM
Posts: 2, Visits: 2 |
| I own a multi-unit apartment building. I am continually having issues with leaking toilets or faucets. But the biggest problem is: the tenants don't notify me. So then a $20 repair job also comes with a $500+ water/sewer charge.
I have one water meter in the basement, with one line supplying six units. I need a device which will automatically shut off the water in the event of a leak. I'm not sure if it would be better to have a constant flow detection system or to have excess usage as a trigger, but I need something that will shut the water off, thus ensuring that the tenants will immediately call me.
I have searched the Internet, but have not found a suitable device. Any help or comments would be appreciated.
Thank you |
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 9:02:38 PM
Posts: 282, Visits: 3,505 |
| How about installing "sub-meters" on each unit, so that they pay for what they use. You are probably looking at about $200 per meter; and, would need to read each meter on the same frequency that your water utility reads the main meter.
Jeff Naumann
(310) 540-0045
FAX (310) 540-0337
http://www.jeffnaumannassociates.com/ |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/4/2007 4:05:32 PM
Posts: 2, Visits: 2 |
| Sub-meters would not work well, as some of the units share a bathroom, sort of an old rooming-house arrangement. It's a nice building, but old.
I would rather just include water with the rent, that makes it easier. The overall water usage is actually not too bad. It only spikes when there is a leaky fixture. I just want some form of an alert that there's excess usage occurring.
thanks |
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 9:02:38 PM
Posts: 282, Visits: 3,505 |
| I have one water meter in the basement, with one line supplying six units. I need a device which will automatically shut off the water in the event of a leak. I'm not sure if it would be better to have a constant flow detection system or to have excess usage as a trigger, but I need something that will shut the water off, thus ensuring that the tenants will immediately call me.
I have searched the Internet, but have not found a suitable device. Any help or comments would be appreciated.
I don't think that there is such a device. Assuming that you are trying to detect faucets and toilet valves that are just allowing water to be used, rather than water leaking into the walls or onto the floor, how would any "device" be able to tell the difference between "leakage" and normal usage?
I think that all you can do is make it clear to tenants that you want to fix any malfunctions as soon as they occur; and, make it easy for them to report the problems. On the other hand, if some of the tenants just want to screw around with you, and cause you excessive problems, I don't what you can do except for developing the best possible relationship with them.
Jeff Naumann
(310) 540-0045
FAX (310) 540-0337
http://www.jeffnaumannassociates.com/ |
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| | | Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/26/2008 10:40:45 AM
Posts: 46, Visits: 45 |
| | A technically viable solution (though I'm uncertain if it'd be cost effective) is to install a flowmeter with data-logging capability on the incoming main. If at no time during a 24-hour period it reaches zero flow then that would be a relatively certain indicator that a leak exists. |
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