Alarming Sounds from a Crawl Space: WaterWatch® Alarm

Yesterday it rained. Today it is raining. The forecast for tomorrow is more rain.

It is fairly common around this time of year for it to rain; consequently, it is fairly common around this time of year that we, Lowcountry Basement Systems, receive a few phone calls from clients asking us about a beeping sound under them home.

The sound they are referring to is their WaterWatch® alarm notifying them of a plumbing leak or pump failure. Our Service Team Leader, Brian Hunter, illustrates the use of the WaterWatch® alarm.

Brian: “The WaterWatch® alarm is a must-have for anyone with a sump pump installed in their crawl space or basement. Essentially, it is a red hockey puck looking thing that alerts the homeowner if there is a plumbing leak or if the secondary pump has been activated. Just because you hear the alarm don’t assume the worse.”

Brian Hunter, Service Team Member holds a WaterWatch® alarm above a SuperSump™.

The WaterWatch® alarm is inserted in the SuperSump™ through an opening on top.

At the end of the WaterWatch® alarm, there are two metal probes that conduct electricity.

A battery inside the WaterWatch® alarm puts out a small electrical charge from one metal prong. When the charge comes in contact with water, the water carries the charge to the other metal prong and the electrical circuit is made complete. The alarm goes off and notifies the homeowner of the water.

What can be done about the sound?

Brian: “Homeowners can easily stop the sound by removing the alarm. All that needs to be done is to lift the alarm out of the sump pump. There aren’t any screws, nails or tools required. It takes half a second to do.”

If you have any questions about the WaterWatch® alarm, give one of our team members a call at 1-888-520-0550.