Review of protection against water leaks “Aquastorozh”: device, advantages and disadvantages, installation rules

A pipe burst and the apartment was flooded - this is the nightmare of any owner of urban and suburban housing.And if it is located above the first floor, the anxiety is aggravated by the terrible possibility of flooding the apartment of the neighbors below, perhaps more than one. What to do? The modern answer to this question is: use protective system.

The article we presented describes in detail how Aquaguard works - protection against water leaks. We will tell you why you need to install this sensitive smart device. To help independent craftsmen, step-by-step instructions are provided, adherence to which will ensure high-quality installation.

The principle of operation of leakage protection

“Aquawatch” is a set of devices that can detect the presence of water leaks in the house and eliminate them literally in a matter of seconds.

Such systems work as follows: special sensors are installed on the floor in places where there are likely leaks, which react to a significant increase in humidity, i.e. for a leak.

The signal from the sensors is sent to the controller, which diagnoses a dangerous situation and completely shuts off the water supply to the part of the water supply system located in the apartment.

The water in the system runs out and the leak stops. The flow of tap water is controlled using special ball valves installed at the entrance of the water supply to the apartment.

The system of protection against major emergencies and the smallest leaks will eliminate the need to carry out repairs for yourself and the neighbors living below

The system is more than relevant where residents are absent most of the time, which does not allow a timely response to an emergency. Such automated systems are not cheap, but you should understand that repairing your own home and compensating your neighbors for a flooded apartment will cost much more.

Some people prefer a “cheap and cheerful” solution.They simply turn off the water at the riser every time they leave the apartment.

Not the most reasonable option, since the service life of the shut-off valve is not designed for such handling. It will have to be replaced soon. If you believe the reviews of those who already use protection against water leaks, the Aqua Guard is a reliable and convenient system.

This diagram clearly demonstrates the principle of operation of the Aquastorozh leak protection system: from the moment a signal about a leak is received until the locking mechanisms are activated, less than three seconds pass (+)

What is included?

To provide your home with reliable protection against leaks, it is enough to purchase a set of the following elements:

• controller;
• ball electric valves;
• leak sensors.

The manufacturer offers the buyer two options for completing the system: CLASSIC and PREMIUM. CLASSIC is one of the first options for completing the AquaStorh system.

It includes:

• CLASSIC PRO controller – 1 pc;
• half-inch ball stop valve - 2 pcs.;
• wired leakage sensor - 4 pcs.;
• power supply - 1 pc.;
• R14 battery - 3 pcs.;
• a set of wires for connecting sensors.

The “Aquaguard” PREMIUM set consists of the same set of components, but some of them are of a higher class. The kit includes a PREMIUM controller and improved PREMIUM wired leakage sensors - 4 pcs. The cost of the “Aquaguard” PREMIUM set is noticeably higher, so the classic version remains the best seller in this line of protective systems.

The standard “Aquastorozh” leak protection system kit includes all the elements necessary for its successful installation. All the necessary settings are already set “by default”

A pleasant and useful feature of “Aquaguard” is the ability to supplement a ready-made kit with almost any necessary modules and even assemble your own kit from individual elements. For example, the manufacturer supplies wireless sensors in addition to wired ones.

To install and connect them you will need a radio base. In addition, the buyer can assemble a system that suits him from four different versions of controllers, three types of electric shut-off valves, three types of sensors, etc.

The cheapest version of the controller from “Aquawatch” is CLASSIC. You can connect almost any number of wired CLASSIC sensors and up to six electric taps to it. It is possible to connect external devices via a low-current relay. The CLASSIC PRO controller is supplemented with a power bistable relay.

It allows you to connect a 220V load to the controller, for example, to be able to automatically turn off the pump. This option is useful for autonomous water supply to a private house. The PREMIUM type controller differs from the CLASSIC versions by increased power up to 40 W, as well as the ability to control open sensor circuits.

The device is designed to connect up to five lines of sequentially connected sensors, each line can consist of hundreds of such alarms. In addition, it is possible to connect another line on which there is no open circuit monitoring.

This type of branch circuit controller can be very convenient in a large home or apartment with a lot of plumbing.

Information about the specific location of the leak will allow you to quickly identify and repair the breakdown. As in the case of the CLASSIC PRO controller, the PREMIUM PRO modification is equipped with a bistable power relay for controlling additional devices. Otherwise, the design of this controller is no different from the PREMIUM version.

The controller housing consists of a main part that contains an electronic board and a battery pack. It provides backup power to the device in case the power supply is cut off for some reason.

The case dimensions are small: length 199 mm, width 120 mm and thickness only 30 mm, so finding a suitable place to mount it will not be difficult.

The housing of the controller for the “Aquastorozh” leakage protection system is very compact, it is not difficult to install it in a place accessible for observation and control.

The electronic board has a number of connectors for connecting main and additional modules to the controller. To connect wired sensors and shut-off valves to the device, six connectors are provided. The external battery pack is connected via a separate six-pin connector.

In addition, there are two more connectors: micro USB and RJ-45. The first allows you to connect another power source, the second is a universal option for connecting the controller to other systems.

The current status of the protection system is displayed on the front control panel. Next to the “Close” and “Open” buttons there is an indication that allows you to immediately obtain information about the position of the shut-off valves. On the PREMIUM (+PRO) controller panel there are five additional LED indicators that display the status of the sensor connection lines.

The controller board also has two 20 farad ionistors, which act as internal additional power elements. These supercapacitors provide the system with electricity for one hour, which allows you to quickly respond to an emergency even in the absence of external power supply.

Two ionistors installed on the controller board of the “Aquastorozh” leakage protection system provide the device with an additional power source for one hour

Electric shut-off valves of the “Aquastorozh” system look very compact. At the same time, only 5 V are needed to operate them, and the time required to change the position of the mechanism is 2.5 seconds. Small dimensions and minimal power are achieved through the use of TEFLOSIL technology.

It consists of a combination of a springy silicone gasket and two Teflon gaskets, which can radically reduce friction between the moving and stationary elements of the tap.

This diagram makes it possible to compare the design features of a conventional shut-off valve and the Aquawatch device. Minimal friction allows the use of a small electric motor, which explains the compact dimensions of the cranes (+)

Of course, most of the time electric cranes are in a quiet position. This, as is known, can lead to souring of the mechanism. In order to move a clogged faucet, 5 V power is definitely not enough.

To prevent this dangerous phenomenon, a self-cleaning function is built into the system. It works very simply: once a month the controller closes and immediately opens the taps. This is quite enough to keep the mechanisms in working order.

The design of the Aquastorozh leak sensors is simple and reliable. Inside there is a board with contacts. When water gets inside the sensor, the contacts close and send a signal to the controller.

The sensor body consists of a plastic base and a chrome plated cap. The base can be fixed in such a way that there is a gap of one millimeter between the floor and the sensor.

The wired sensor of the “Aquastorozh” leak protection system is designed very simply.It consists of a plastic base, a board with gold-plated contacts and a chrome cap

This will protect the system from false alarms due to water drops accidentally falling on the sensor. The lid also performs the same protective function. “Aquastorozh” leakage sensors are highly sensitive. Just 10 ml of water will immediately trigger the protection system and turn off the water supply.

Wired leak sensors “Aquastor” are connected in series. CLASSIC type sensors have three connectors. One of them is designed to connect to the controller or the previous sensor in the chain. Two more sensors can be connected to the remaining connectors, making it easier to install these devices in suitable locations.

The capacitor installed on the PREMIUM sensor board of the Aquawatch leakage protection system allows the controller to determine its status as normal, emergency and wire break

PREMIUM type sensors are equipped with a feedback function. Their presence allows the controller to determine the line on which the connection has been broken.

Such sensors are installed at the end of each line, and in the middle you can use simpler CLASSIC type sensors. For serial connection of wired sensors, special wires are used. They are very thin, they can even be hidden in the seam between tiles, for example, in the bathroom.

Advantages and disadvantages of the system

In general, the feedback on the operation of the Aquastorozh systems is positive. Of course, this is not a very cheap option for protection against leaks, but it is one of the most reliable and convenient among analogues.

The advantages of “Aquawatch” include the following points:

• low control voltage - only 5 V;
• availability of backup power;
• reliable electric shut-off valves;
• intelligent tap cleaning system;
• no need for constant power supply when the shut-off valves are in a static position;
• the ability to adjust the sensitivity of leakage sensors;
• the number of sensors is almost unlimited;
• the presence of an audible signal about a leak, as well as the ability to turn it off;
• light indication on the controller panel;
• simple installation;
• stylish design;
• the ability to connect the controller to other systems;
• high quality, confirmed by certificates;
• warranty period 2 years.

The low control voltage ensures that in the event of a short circuit, no one in the household is at risk of a serious electric shock, and that metal communications will not be exposed to dangerous voltage: water pipes, heating battery connection circuits and so on.

The presence of a backup power source from the battery pack and ionistors inside the controller ensures that the system operates even in the event of a complete power outage.

The controller of the “Aquastor” leak protection system can be installed even under the sink, although here it will not be very convenient to control the operation of the device

The controller monitors the condition of the batteries and reports that these batteries need to be replaced. In addition, the system can only operate on backup power if there is no possibility or desire to connect it to the general power grid. Brass ball valves are extremely reliable and provide sufficient flow capacity despite their compact size.

They perfectly withstand increased loads in emergency situations, while consuming a minimum of energy.In the closed or open position they require no electrical energy at all.

Power is needed only when the position of the taps changes. The system for regular intelligent cleaning of these devices has already been described above. The presence of adapters allows them to be used with pipes of different diameters.

The electric taps that come with the Aquawatch leak protection system can be connected to half an inch of pipes. For installation with communications of a different size, you will need an adapter

During a long absence of the owners of an apartment or house, anything can happen: turning off the water supply, turning on and off the electricity. But if, when a leak occurs, “Aquawatch” turns off the water, accidental switching of the taps to the “Open” position is impossible under any circumstances.

The sensitivity of the sensors can be adjusted by raising them above the floor. Accidental drops will not trigger the system, although you should not spill drinks or other liquids directly where the alarms are installed. The number of sensors that can be connected to the controller is considered unlimited. The length of the wires allows you to cover almost any area.

Triggering of the system in an emergency is accompanied by a characteristic sound. To prevent noise from being distracting or annoying, this alarm can be turned off and the valves will remain in the closed position. There is a special button for this. Of course, after eliminating the leak, the sound should be turned back on.

The controller can be integrated into a security system, made part of a smart home, or connected to other external devices via two special outputs. Installation of the “Aquawatch” system is also very simple.The controller can be hung on the wall, and the sensors can simply be placed on the floor. Additional repair work is not necessary.

Different elements of the system are connected using different plugs, so it is simply impossible to confuse the connection points. No need to solder or screw anything. You can buy a ready-made system or assemble your own from individual components for a specific situation.

In addition, “Aqua Watchman” can always be modified or improved with the help of additional modules. Both the sensors and the controller look stylish and modern. If it is not possible to hide the control unit in some closet, no problem. It will look great on the wall too.

The disadvantages of the “Akvastorozh” system include not the most convenient way of determining the position of shut-off valves, the so-called “focus on the microphone”. Similar protection systems Gidrolock and Neptun use optical and electromechanical methods, respectively.But practice shows that this option is quite acceptable for the average user, especially when there is a light indication.

To install wireless sensors, you will have to buy a not too cheap radio base. In the Gidrolock system, it is quite simple to install the antenna. However, in most cases, you can use wired alarms without problems.

The number of activations of the locking mechanism of the “Aquawatch” is relatively small: 10 thousand movements versus 100 thousand for the Neptun system. But practice shows that this resource is quite enough for several years of work.

Features of installation and assembly

The design of the system is relatively simple and the installation process is a bit like assembling a children's construction set. The most difficult stage is installing shut-off valves at the beginning of the apartment’s water supply system.

These elements are very compact in size, so there are usually no problems with choosing a suitable location for installing the cranes. After this, you need to assemble and hang the controller with the battery pack attached to it on the wall in a suitable place. There should, of course, already be batteries inside the unit.

This diagram shows the installation procedure for individual elements of the Aquastorozh leak protection system. No repair work is required for this (+)

Now you should install wired sensors in places where there are likely leaks: under the bathtub, kitchen sink, near the toilet, etc. Where it is not possible to lay wires, wireless alarms are installed. Then the wired sensors are connected in series with wires, inserting them into the corresponding sockets. The wires are connected to the controller.

After this, the system with wired sensors can be considered ready for operation.

To connect wireless sensors, you will need to install a radio base and then perform the following manipulations:

• briefly press the “+1” button;
• wait for the blinking light indicating the cell intended for this sensor;
• close the contacts on the wireless alarm;
• wait for a short beep, which indicates successful setup.

By the way, if you purchased a ready-made kit with wireless sensors, you do not need to configure them, everything has already been done.

If an emergency does not arise, you can forget about the existence of the “Aqua Watchman” in the house, but it will remind you of itself in the following cases:

• if the batteries of the backup power supply or wireless sensor are discharged and need to be replaced;
• if communication with one of the wireless sensors is lost;
• if a wire break is detected.

These signals must be responded to accordingly, otherwise the system will regard the situation as an emergency and turn off the water even in the absence of an obvious leak.

If an accident does occur, the controller will beep. All wireless sensors will also produce an alarm sound.The sound can be turned off, but you should not open the taps until all sensors have been drained, otherwise the system will again go into an emergency state. Luckily, there are two options that allow you to disable the sensors for one hour or 48 hours.

The first option is convenient if there is no time to dry the sensors or the house is being wet cleaned. The two-day shutdown mode is used for situations where contact with water may be longer. In any case, the system will automatically turn on the sensors after the set time has elapsed.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

An overview of the features of the Aquawatch system can be found here:

A detailed overview of the “Aquaguard Expert” kit is presented in this video:

In this video you can see detailed recommendations for installing the “Aquastorozh” system:

Of course, “Aquaguard” is a convenient and reliable leakage protection system. It clearly performs its functions and requires minimal attention for maintenance. Even if there is never a leak in the house, “Aquaguard” will save its owners from unnecessary worry.

Would you like to talk about how the leakage protection system works in your home/apartment? Would you like to share technological nuances known only to you? Please write comments in the block below, ask questions, express opinions, post photos on the topic of the article.