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Prevents Needless Property Damage
A new product called WaterCop�, introduced by DynaQuip Controls, helps to reduce the anxiety many homeowners have about coming home from work or vacation and finding damage caused by leaky plumbing. This wireless detection and automatic water shut-off system works as an automatic valve for a home�s water supply line, which can be easily installed by a certified professional plumber.
"We�re excited about this innovative device because it uses the latest technology to provide 24 hours of protection, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There�s currently nothing quite like it on the market," said J. Rodney Bryan, Jr., WaterCop Co-Developer and Business Director. "Plumbing leaks can occur anytime, causing thousands of dollars worth of water damage to floors, walls, furniture, electronics, and irreplaceable family heirlooms. Installing WaterCop� is one way homeowners can create the peace of mind in knowing that their precious possessions won�t be destroyed by a mishap that could have been avoided."
The WaterCop� is a motorized ball valve, used to automatically turn off the main water supply when unwanted water is detected due to a leak or overflow. It should be installed on the main water line near the existing main shut-off valve. The device has two indicator lights, which indicate the position of the valve. If the red light is on, it means the valve is closed. The green light signifies that the valve is open, allowing water to flow freely through the plumbing system. An additional inexpensive option allows the WaterCop� to be connected to a home�s security system or home automation controllers. If a leak is detected by a WaterHound sensor and thus causing the WaterCop� to shut-off the water supply, it automatically triggers the alarm system, alerting the monitoring company that a security problem exists inside the home.
When installed properly, the WaterCop� and its team of WaterHound moisture sensors constantly monitor the home for water leakage. The WaterHounds are battery operated, wireless moisture sensor/transmitters which are strategically placed at certain locations throughout the home. If they detect significant amounts of moisture, a wireless radio signal is sent to the WaterCop� , which tells it to turn off the household water supply.
Some of the leading causes of water damage range from broken and frozen pipes to leaky appliances such as dishwashers and icemakers. Also, it is estimated that washing machine hose failures account for in excess of $150 million worth of damage to homes in the United States and Canada per year. Water heaters are another notorious culprit. Approximately five (5) million water heaters rupture on an annual basis
Does WaterCop help me qualify for a discount on my homeowner's insurance premiums?
Protecting your home from possible flooding increases your insurability. Contact your insurance agent directly to see if discounts are offered for automatic water shut-off systems or security system enhancements such as the WaterCop system.
Can the WaterCop work with my security or home automation system?
WaterCop systems are equipped with auxiliary low voltage contacts and can easily be wired into many existing home security networks with simple low voltage wiring (wiring not included). Please consult your security system installation professional for assistance.
How much water must be present for a flood sensor to sense a leak?
It literally only takes a few ounces of water to activate the system, assuming that the sensors are correctly placed in an advantageous location to detect leaks and puddling at the earliest possible moment.
Do I need a plumber to install the WaterCop system?
DynaQuip Controls recommends that the WaterCop control valve be professionally installed by a locally licensed plumbing contractor. Please ensure that WaterCop valve is installed in the water supply line in accordance with all local plumbing codes.
Where should I install the WaterCop control valve?
The WaterCop control valve should be installed on the main incoming water line, upstream from where the system begins to branch off to other appliances. It is also important to mount the valve so that the homeowner has easy access to the face of the WaterCop in order to reset the system in the event that it has been tripped.
Can the WaterCop system be installed outdoors?
The WaterCop control valve and sensors are designed to be installed indoors, in crawl spaces, basements, garages, attics, or other locations away from the elements.
How many WaterCop sensors can I use?
Each WaterCop system can support an unlimited number of flood and temperature sensors. Place sensors near or under washing machines, water heaters, icemakers, dishwashers, humidifiers, sinks, toilets, and other areas that are most likely to be the source of water leaks.
How long will the batteries in my sensors last?
A pair of standard AA alkaline batteries should operate a single sensor for about one year, assuming that the system was never tripped by a leak. A sensor will sound a low battery warning for approximately five to seven days prior to the batteries going completely dead. A/C adapters are available.
What is the maximum range between the sensors and the WaterCop control valve?
The WaterCop system has to a maximum transmission range of 200 feet. The effective working range may vary from home to home. WaterCop sensor repeaters (WHX1) are available to help increase range if necessary.
Does the WaterCop protect against frozen or burst pipes?
Although the WaterCop system cannot prevent your pipes from freezing, optional temperature sensors can shut off your water in the event that the ambient indoor temperature near pipes equipped with the temperature sensors drops below a preset temperature (approx. 38�F +/- 2�F).
How can I turn off my water supply manually using the WaterCop?
You can shut-off the water manually be either closing the traditional main water valve or using the switch on the face of the WaterCop motor. If a Water Control Wall Switch (RS100) has been installed, it can also be used to shut off the water supply with a push of a conveniently located button.
What happens to the WaterCop during a power outage?
The WaterCop control valve will remain in the position that it was in when the power failed. When power is restored, the system will remain in the position it was in prior to power failure and reactivate to standby ready mode. You can manually override the valve during any power failures.
What is the advantage of the WaterCop� system compared to a �whole-house� water shut off, based on minutes of water flow?
Our WaterCop system differs from a �flow-type system� because it detects water as soon as it starts to leak and reaches a sensor. Any water detected will cause the sensors to close the main water supply and stop the flooding. This means that you will have a very quick response to leaks.
Flow valves will ask you to determine and program how much flow is acceptable over a given amount of time before it will shut off the water supply. The main problem with this type of system is that the valve cannot tell if the flow is a result of a nice hot shower or water running out of the bottom of your ice maker. If you allow a reasonable 20 minutes of flow, you could be letting hundreds or thousands of gallons of water flood your home before it is stopped.
Insurance companies and plumbers alike recommend that you turn off your water before leaving your home for long periods of time. With the WaterCop system you can do this easily!! No programming! Simply push the red 'close' button on the valve. This means that no flow is acceptable and you have fully protected your home.
Which insurance companies are giving discounts? How much?
We are currently working with several insurance companies to educate policyholders about the benefits of automatic shut-off systems. Companies that publicly recommend our system include State Farm, Chubb, Fireman's Fund and AIG. Please ask your agent if additional discounts are available for installing the WaterCop system.
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Cherokee Contracting, LLC
Dominic Radosta
814 Golden Wood Trace
Canton, Ga. 30114
11/8/06
ABT Solutions
Attn: Mr. Tom Abt, via: email
CC: DynaQuip Controls
10 Harris Industrial Pk.
St. Clair, MO 63077
Re: Water Cop
Dear Mr. Abt,
I wanted to write this letter in reference to my experience with the Water Cop system that you installed in my home. For the record, I am the owner of a residential remodeling company, Cherokee Contracting in which we specialize in high end basement remodeling. That is to say, projects in the $60,000- $100,000 range. So my experience with water issues is from a professional level with years of experience remodeling.
I installed an ice maker, dishwasher and refrigerator in the bar area of my basement, as you are aware of. Prior to the installation of Water Cop, all of the plumbing was completed by a professional licensed plumber. Everything was holding fine for 60 days. I also installed high end hard wood floors; approximate retail value is $9,000. I had a leak in the ice maker supply line and had to replace wood, replace the carpet in the bedroom adjacent to the bar and complete a thorough clean up which included mold removal from the water sitting in the walls, under the floor, etc. The clean up and repairs totaled $1,200 (my cost) and I did most of the work myself.
Immediately after speaking with you about Water Cop and having the experience with the leak, without hesitation, I had you install the system in the basement and other areas of my home. The ice maker was repaired and all systems held for another 3 months. The Water Cop sensor was installed right under the ice maker supply line connection.
The other day I was home using a sink and the water suddenly stopped. I heard an audible alarm and I realized that I had another leak. The ice maker again sprung a leak and I immediately determined where the leak was located based upon the alarm. I shut off the supply line to the ice maker, removed the ice maker, and could see the leak was detected in the same spot it was initially. This time however, the leak dripped only a few ounces of water in which I cleaned up in 2 minutes! The only thing wet was a 4� circle where the sensor was located.
ABT Solutions
Water Cop
Page 2
I then pressed the green button on the Water Cop device to actuate the water main valve back open, and I was up and running within 10 minutes with no damage whatsoever!
I have to thank you for the recommendation of this fabulous devise. I have the following items to make very clear to your future clients:
ITEM #1: All homes will experience a water leak at one point or another. This is a fact. When you do construction, existing walls are being lifted and moved, new walls are being installed and all of the structure is experiencing constant pounding with all of the framing, etc. This activity will simply cause a leak at some point or another.
ITEM #2: The Water Cop System did exactly what you said it would do. It shut the entire system off and alarmed me of where the leak was coming from. I would hate to have experienced the financial ramifications of a prolonged leak and damage to my hardwood floors.
ITEM #3: ABT Solutions truly performed in a professional manner and was honest about what I was purchasing, made great recommendations on exactly what I needed and exceeded my expectations. The system went in quickly without issues, performed perfectly and saved me potentially thousands of dollars of repairs!
I would highly recommend ABT Solutions to anyone as I truly believe that each and every house will benefit from this company and this product. I could not be happier with my experience and you are welcome to use me as a reference.
Thank you and best wishes to your company,
Dominic Radosta, CEO
Cherokee Contracting, LLC
770-294-5343
From: Jim Akin [mailto:
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Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 10:37 AM
To: '
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Subject: WaterCop
From: Jim Akin, General Manager,
Northwoods Condominium Association
Vail, Colorado
Date: March 23, 2006
To: Condominium Board Members:
Northwoods number one emery is water. Our Board takes a very aggressive pro-active approach towards controlling water damage. Thus two years ago we installed the WaterCop in all the common areas of our four condominium buildings where there is a source of water; i.e. washer machines, ice makers, utility sinks, etc. We also offered the WaterCop system to our owners for installation in there homes. All seven of our town homes and three of our condominium apartment owners have thus far installed the WaterCop system. In both the common areas and in the homes we have had many incidents where the WaterCop has activated and saved the owners and the Association considerable costs in water damage and repairs. Within the last year we have had three major incidents in condo apartments where there was not a WaterCop system installed. Had there been such a system, the owners and the Association would have saved many thousands of dollars in water damage repairs. Consequently, the NCA Board recently directed that all total remodels must have the apartment�s water source re-engineered and the WaterCop system installed. They further directed where feasible and appropriate, all condo apartments will be retrofitted with the WaterCop system to be funded out of the Association�s capital improvement budget.
It is my opinion and the opinion of our Board, had more owners installed the WaterCop two years ago when we made the initial installations, many owners and the Association would have benefited in unnecessary water damage repairs. We highly recommend the WaterCop system for the controlling of water damage to condominiums and town homes.
Sincerely,
Jim Akin
Jim Akin
General Manager
Northwoods Condo Assoc.
Telep: 970.476.3486
Fax: 970.479-9093
Cell: 970.376.4151
Email:
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
July 16, 2006
*Section: *Homefinder
*Edition: *Main; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
*Page: *HF3
A CLOSER LOOK
Water woes pour on fast and can be devastating
/ *F*.*N*. *ROSENSTOCK*
For the Journal-Constitution/
If you've ever been plagued by a water leak or a burst pipe in your
home, you know this can turn into a nightmare. That's especially true in
the summer or holidays if the trouble hits when you're on vacation.
The cleaning, repairing or replacing of damaged floors and walls will
eat up time and money faster than you may have ever imagined. Then
there's the mold threat. You may even need to call in a professional
cleanup crew and fixer-uppers to keep that creepy mold at bay. And if
you're getting ready to sell your home, think again: Mold or the threat
of it could kill a deal.
The trouble really pours on quickly. "A broken washing machine hose
loses about 2 gallons of water in 12 seconds," says Tom Abt of ABT
Solutions, the authorized Georgia distributor for WaterCop. "That's
about 40 gallons of water an hour." He says that WaterCop, a patented
product designed and invented by DynaQuip Controls, can turn off water
in six to 10 seconds.
The system is composed of a $300 actuator and a $25 valve purchased
separately. The valve, available to fit various sizes of pipes, is
attached to the main waterline. The actuator plugs into the valve and
runs on electricity, so it's necessary to have a socket nearby. Abt says
it can run on a backup UPS battery "like the kind of backup used for
computers."
Sensors that run on two AA batteries or a power transformer are the
third component.
The sensors cost $45 for a single probe and $54 for a double probe,
which accommodates side-by-side areas such as a sink and dishwasher. The
company recommends enough sensors for the most likely areas in a house
where a water leak might occur: refrigerator, dishwasher, kitchen sink,
water heater and washing machine.
"Some people add sensors under every sink," Abt says. There is no limit
to the amount that can be used. A wall switch is available for $30 and
might appeal to folks who don't want to trek into the basement to turn
the system on after a shutoff.
Abt said some insurance companies offer discount vouchers for
installation if your home gets a WaterCop. "By law, every house has to
have a smoke detector," he says, but water damage can be just as
devastating as smoke or fire damage.
Although the system is described as simple to set up, the company
suggests the valve be installed by a plumber. WaterCop isn't available
in retail stores, but it can be ordered from the distributor.
For more information, visit www.watercop.com. To order, call ABT
Solutions at 770-573-7243.
If you have a question or topic that you would like to see answered or
discussed in A Closer Look, send it to Homefinder, A Closer Look, AJC,
Eighth Floor, 72 Marietta St., Atlanta, GA 30303, or send e-mail to
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Photo
F.N. ROSENSTOCK / Special
A WaterCop installed at the main waterline can turn off water in 10
seconds if there's a leak or a pipe bursts.
Copyright 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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